Dam Bill Reaction
I'm Bob Larson. A bill to help manage lower Snake and Columbia River dams to protect fish while supporting clean, renewable energy, has made it through the House and is on its way to the Senate.Washington Representative Dan Newhouse says it's still early and there's a lot more work to be done ...
NEWHOUSE ... "I've not had the opportunity to cross the rotunda and visit with my colleagues in the Senate since the bill passed, but I will do that. I will be spending a lot of time on the Senate side to not only work with our Washington state Senators, but certainly others in the region as well. I think that support will be key if it comes from the Senators of the impacted area, the whole Pacific Northwest."
But, Newhouse says it may not be an easy sell ...
NEWHOUSE ... "I do know that Senator Murray has some issues with HR 3144. She has made some public statements about that, but she has also come out publicly supporting the vital infrastructure that we have in the dams. So, I'm hopeful that with a concerted effort here, but also by having a lot of input from her constituents and my constituents that we can make progress on this important legislation."
Newhouse partnered with Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and other Northwest Representatives to create the legislation they say is crucial to growers and transportation in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.