Letter opposing H.R. 2073 – “Defending Our Dams Act”
September 2, 2025
Snake River Waterkeeper joined a large coalition of salmon advocacy groups in voicing our strong opposition to H.R. 2073, or the “Defending Our Dams Act.”
If passed, H.R. 2073 would permanently ban the use of federal funds to replace any of the services provided by the lower Snake River dams, regardless of the benefits those projects might offer. It would dismantle historic progress by Northwest Tribes and policymakers to develop and implement the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative – a comprehensive strategy to recover salmon while replacing existing dam services, creating jobs, investing in clean energy, and modernizing infrastructure. In short, the bill doubles down on a failed status quo and blocks pathways to solutions.
Read our letter: