[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 126 (Thursday, July 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I rise today to convey my support for the 
Columbia River Federal Power System. The congressionally-authorized 
Federal dams on the Columbia River System bring unparalleled benefits 
to the Pacific Northwest and stand as an example to other hydropower 
projects worldwide. The system's capacity to generate always-on, 
baseload carbon-free power is vital to the Northwest. As many other 
parts of the country have experienced rolling blackouts, the dams in 
the Columbia Basin have consistently kept the lights on.
  In the Northwest, we enjoy numerous other benefits from this 
infrastructure, including flood control, irrigation, navigation, and 
recreation. Due to its remarkable lock and dam system, even my 
landlocked home State of Idaho benefits from a seaport, sending Idaho's 
agricultural and manufactured products around the world in a cost-
effective, low-carbon manner. As additional challenges have risen, 
scientists and managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have 
adapted under the direction of Congress to ensure the dams are still 
simultaneously beneficial to humans and our natural environment.
  It is due to these important considerations that I speak on the Water 
Resources Development Act before the Senate today. Among a list of 
studies that can generally be measured in acres or at most counties is 
a sweeping and far-reaching study directed at aquatic habitat 
restoration in the Columbia River Basin. The Columbia River Basin spans 
nearly 260,000 square miles over seven States. This is not just another 
small, localized review, but instead authorizes an exhaustive study on 
aquatic restoration in one of the largest basins in the country.
  I have long supported improving salmon and steelhead populations in 
the Northwest. In fact, I worked tirelessly with colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to pass legislation--ultimately supported by the 
entire Northwest delegation--to address the predation that was 
devastating salmon populations before they had a chance to go upriver. 
However, what I cannot support are the constant efforts to remove the 
benefits provided by our hydropower system under the guise of salmon 
recovery or ``aquatic restoration.''
  We have studied this river and these dams ad nauseam. Most recently, 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the 3-year Columbia River 
System Operations review, which intentionally and specifically 
considered whether dam breaching was necessary for fish recovery and 
determined the opposite. It has been proven, time and again, salmon and 
hydropower dams do, can, and should coexist. It is futile and 
irresponsible to spend further taxpayer dollars considering dam 
breaching. But this reality has not prevented the administration or 
other political actors from continually pushing against the intent of 
Congress to protect both the species and the numerous benefits from the 
Columbia River Federal Power System.
  With this in mind, let us revisit the ecosystem study in title II. I 
deeply appreciate the chairman and ranking member's attention to this 
issue and work to create suitable limitations to ensure this study will 
be held strictly to the congressionally authorized purposes of the 
system and considerations that would maintain the energy, flood 
control, navigation, irrigation, and other benefits it currently 
provides. While I still regard this study as too far-reaching and 
unfocused to result in timely proposals for anadromous fish recovery--
yet again wasting taxpayer dollars better utilized elsewhere in the 
region--with this vital check, I am able to support this version of 
WRDA overall and the many essential water infrastructure priorities 
contained within it. Should this proposed study be signed into law, I 
will take special notice and trust that it meets congressional intent 
of preserving the Columbia River Federal Power System, all of its 
current infrastructure as authorized by Congress, and its innumerable 
benefits.
  Despite political maneuvering from the administration, it is an 
irrefutable fact that decisions regarding the Columbia River Federal 
Power System are solely the responsibility of Congress. I look forward 
to continue working with my colleagues to identify solutions to salmon 
recovery that do not inhibit the clean energy, flood control, 
navigation, agricultural, and recreation benefits of our Federal Power 
System.

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