IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1176 

Expressing disapproval of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative entered 

into by the Biden administration. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 29, 2024 

Mr. NEWHOUSE (for himself, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. FULCHER, 

Mr. BENTZ, Mr. ROSENDALE, and Mr. ZINKE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing disapproval of the Columbia Basin Restoration 

Initiative entered into by the Biden administration. 

Whereas about 95 to 98 percent of juvenile fish survive after 

passing through each of the 8 Federal dams within the 

Columbia-Snake River System; 

Whereas 90 percent of the renewable energy generated in the 

Pacific Northwest region of the United States is provided 

by the Columbia-Snake River System; 

Whereas roughly 1,800,000 homes receive clean energy generated by the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little 

Goose, and Lower Granite Dams, collectively known as 

the 4 Lower Snake River dams; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1176 IH 

Whereas the 4 Lower Snake River dams generate more than 

1,000 megawatts of carbon-free hydroelectric energy and 

have the capability to generate over 3,000 megawatts; 

Whereas between 50,000,000 and 60,000,000 tons of cargo 

worth approximately $3,000,000,000 are barged annually 

through the Columbia-Snake River System, including 

through the 4 Lower Snake River dams; 

Whereas between 40 to 60 percent of all United States wheat 

exports are shipped through the Columbia-Snake River 

System, mostly on the Lower Columbia River through 

deep-water draft ports; 

Whereas an environmental impact statement published on 

October 8, 2020, by the Army Corps of Engineers, the 

Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bonneville Power Administration found that the 4 Lower Snake River dams 

should not be breached and that Federal restoration efforts should instead be focused on improving and maintaining hydroelectric power assets while working to improve salmon passage; 

Whereas on October 15, 2021, the State of Washington announced plans to assess whether to breach the 4 Lower 

Snake River dams; 

Whereas on October 21, 2021, the Department of Justice announced a settlement reached between the parties of National Wildlife Federation, et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. (Case No. 3:01–cv–00640–SI) (in this 

resolution referred to as ‘‘NWF v. NMFS’’), which included a stay on the case until July 2022 and led to mediated discussions to resolve the litigation; 

Whereas on September 13, 2023, members of Congress sent 

a letter to the Council on Environmental Quality expressVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:34 Apr 30, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1176.IH HR1176

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1176 IH 

ing concerns with the mediation discussions resulting 

from NWF v. NMFS and urging the Council to utilize 

the remainder of the stay on the litigation to productively 

engage with all the parties in the mediation process; 

Whereas on September 27, 2023, the Biden administration 

released a memorandum titled ‘‘Restoring Health and 

Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish 

Populations in the Columbia River Basin’’ (88 Fed. Reg. 

67617), outlining a plan for fish migration in the Columbia River Basin; 

Whereas on December 14, 2023, as a product the mediation 

discussions resulting from NWF v. NMFS, the Biden administration entered into a memorandum of understanding with Washington, Oregon, the Confederated 

Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the 

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of 

Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Institute for Fisheries Resources, the Sierra Club, Idaho Rivers United, 

the Northwest Sport Fishing Industry Association, the 

NW Energy Coalition, the National Wildlife Federation, 

Columbia Riverkeeper, the Idaho Conservation League, 

and Fly Fishers International to implement the Columbia 

Basin Restoration Initiative; 

Whereas throughout the mediation discussions resulting from 

NWF v. NMFS, key stakeholders and community members directly impacted by the litigation were left in the 

dark as negotiations proceeded behind closed doors; 

Whereas the Biden administration and dam-breaching advocates are intent on achieving a de facto breach of the 4 

Lower Snake River dams by opening the gates to reduce 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1176 IH 

the water below the minimum operating levels for hydroelectric power generation; 

Whereas the decision to breach the 4 Lower Snake River 

dams ultimately lies with Congress, which must authorize 

the matter, not the Biden administration; 

Whereas the Biden Administration has irresponsibly made 

commitments regarding the Columbia River Basin, which 

are dependent on congressional appropriations that have 

not been promised, negotiated, secured, or allocated: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that the 4 Lower Snake River 

3 dams are the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest re4 gion of the United States and are vital to a strong 

5 all-of-the-above energy strategy; and 

6 (2) disapproves of the Columbia Basin Restora7 tion Initiative, as proposed in the memorandum of 

8 understanding filed on December 14, 2023, in the 

9 District Court for the District of Oregon in NWF v. 

10 NMFS. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS