WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urging them to finalize an agreement between the U.S. and Canada to modernize and strengthen the Columbia River Treaty. The letter comes on the 10-year anniversary of a key milestone in the negotiation process.
In the letter, Senators Risch and Cantwell emphasize the benefits of a modernized treaty regime, including improved flood response and better management of shared water resources. They also highlight opportunities for cooperation in areas such as grid modernization, increased electricity exports, and collaboration on technology solutions like artificial intelligence.
The Columbia River Treaty, which has been in place for over 60 years, has been crucial in managing hydropower operations and flood risk management in the Columbia River basin. However, without modernization, the flood control provisions of the treaty will expire in September 2024, requiring the United States to request Canada's assistance for flood control operations.
Senators Risch and Cantwell have been leading efforts to modernize the Columbia River Treaty and have consistently met with U.S. negotiators, the Biden Administration, and Canadian leaders to push for progress. They previously sent a letter to President Biden, signed by the entire Pacific Northwest congressional delegation, urging him to prioritize treaty negotiations.
In their recent letter, Senators Risch and Cantwell stress the importance of avoiding uncertainty and potential disputes that could arise from further delays in concluding the negotiations. They point out that any new obligations under a modernized treaty would require Congressional action, and with a condensed legislative calendar next year, time is of the essence.
The senators also express their concerns with the current Canadian entitlement and emphasize the need for reasonable and defensible compensation that can gain approval from the U.S. Congress.
In conclusion, Senators Risch and Cantwell urge President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau to renew the focus of their teams and consult closely with the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament to complete the work on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty.
The full text of the letter can be found [here](insert link).
Sincerely,
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To learn more, click on this link: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-cantwell-call-for-swift-conclusion-of-columbia-river-treaty-modernization
