Bill Summary
The "Defending our Dams Act" is a proposed bill that aims to prohibit the use of federal funds for the purpose of studying or altering the Lower Snake River dams. This includes any studies related to the potential removal of the dams and any technical assistance for the process. The bill also states that no spillage operations can be carried out on the dams unless approved by the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration. The bill defines the Lower Snake River dams as four specific dams in the state of Washington.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect individuals who live or work near the Lower Snake River dams, as their livelihood and quality of life may be impacted by the prohibition on use of Federal funds for the dams.
2. This legislation may also affect organizations and companies that rely on the Lower Snake River dams for power, flood control, or navigation, as the prohibition on spillage operations could limit the availability of these resources.
3. The Defending our Dams Act may also have a significant environmental impact, as the prohibition on dam removal technical assistance could hinder efforts to study and potentially remove the dams, which could have implications for the local ecosystem and wildlife.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2073 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2073
To prohibit the use of Federal funds to allow or study the breach or
alteration of the Lower Snake River dams, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 11, 2025
Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Fulcher, and Mr. Bentz)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of Federal funds to allow or study the breach or
alteration of the Lower Snake River dams, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Defending our Dams Act''.
SEC. 2. LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS.
(a) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds.--No Federal funds may be
used to allow, lead to, or study the breach or functional alteration
of, including study of power, flood control, or navigation replacement
of, or provide dam removal technical assistance for, the Lower Snake
River dams.
(b) Prohibition on Spillage Operations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army, acting through
the Chief of Engineers, may not carry out any spillage
operations on any of the Lower Snake River dams unless such
operations are approved by the Secretary and the Administrator
of the Bonneville Power Administration.
(2) Considerations.--In determining whether to approve
spillage operations under paragraph (1), the Secretary and the
Administrator shall consider all Columbia River System
operations.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Lower Snake River
dams'' means the following dams in the State of Washington, authorized
by section 2 of the Act of March 2, 1945 (chapter 19, 59 Stat. 21):
(1) Ice Harbor Dam.
(2) Lower Monumental Dam.
(3) Little Goose Dam.
(4) Lower Granite Dam.
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