Resources
Clean Energy

Proposed FY 2019 House Energy and Water Appropriations Legislation Includes Dam Protections

May 08, 2018
Clean Energy
Press

House funding legislation includes language to stop forced spill order; provides support for Yucca Mountain

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2018) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statements on the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water’s approval in a subcommittee markup of legislation that would end the current forced spill order by requiring federal funds used to operate the Federal Columbia River Power System hydroelectric dams to do so in a manner that is consistent with the Army Corps of Engineers’ 2017 Fish Operations Plan.

“Dams and fish can coexist, and this language in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill is another avenue for us to stop the spill at the Columbia and Snake River dams,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “We have to get this done to protect our dams, our fish, and ratepayers in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you to Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee for including this critical provision in the bill.”

“This legislation includes language I worked to include to stop the forced spill order at the lower Snake and Columbia River dams,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It also continues congressional efforts to support the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, providing funding for statutorily-required activities to store the nation’s nuclear waste – including waste stored at Hanford. I will continue to push these priorities as well as robust federal investment in Hanford cleanup and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as the legislation moves to the full committee.”
 
See below for the language approved by the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water related to the use of federal funds to operate the Federal Columbia River Power System hydroelectric dams (page 61, line 8):
 
SEC. 506. None of the funds made available in this Act, or federal funds provided from any other source, may be used to operate the Federal Columbia River Power System hydroelectric dams in a manner that is inconsistent with the Army Corps of Engineers’ 2017 Fish Operations Plan.

# # #

Recent Posts

Oct 10, 2024
Standing with Israel

McMorris Rodgers Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Foster Alignment of Middle East Partners, Counter Iran

Washington, D.C. – Today, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve security and military readiness between the United States and Abraham Accords nations. The Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act would connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders through an exchange program to foster greater integration and alignment.  This […]

Oct 7, 2024
Agriculture

McMorris Rodgers Helps Introduce Bipartisan 4-H Week Resolution

Washington, D.C. – Today, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) helped introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate the week of October 7 through October 12 as “National 4-H Week.” She was joined in introducing the resolution by the co-chairs of the 4-H Caucus, Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), David Scott (D-GA), and Henry Cuellar […]

Sep 24, 2024
Standing with Israel

Abraham Accords Caucus Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Promote Peace and Tolerance in Education

Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the Abraham Accords Caucus, Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and David Trone (D-MD), have introduced a bipartisan resolution encouraging the U.S. Department of State and civil society organizations to further the goals of the Abraham Accords by promoting peace and tolerance through education across […]