Sen. Risch Pushes Bill to Block Snake River Dam Removal Without New Law
The Northwest Energy Security Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for review. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
This bill is supported by a specific group of Republicans and faces strong opposition from environmental groups and some tribal nations, making it difficult to pass a divided Congress.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Multiple Pacific Northwest tribes have long advocated for removing the lower Snake River dams to restore salmon runs that are central to their treaty fishing rights, cultural identity, and food security. By effectively blocking dam removal unless Congress passes a new law, this bill makes it much harder for tribes to achieve salmon restoration goals they have pursued for decades. The bill locks in the 2020 operating plan without requiring additional tribal consultation.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Lawmakers from the Pacific Northwest introduced a package of bills, including the Northwest Energy Security Act, to prevent the federal government from removing four dams. The move counters Biden administration efforts to prioritize salmon restoration through potential dam breaching.
A Republican-led bill to block the removal of four dams on the Lower Snake River has renewed Congressional debate. The legislation aims to protect the Army Corps and BPA's rights to control operations, following the Trump administration's reversal of previous salmon restoration agreements.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Northwest Energy Security Act
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