Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson said Wednesday that his effort to save wild Snake River salmon by breaching the four lower Snake River dams is alive and well despite not being included in federal infrastructure legislation.
The conservative Republican representing Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District spoke at a salmon-orca webinar hosted by the Nez Perce Tribe and said when his dam removal concept was released a year ago, he viewed the Biden administration’s infrastructure push as a timely vehicle. But the $33.5 billion idea, known as the Columbia Basin Initiative, failed to win quick support from the administration and other members of the Pacific Northwest’s congressional delegation and was not included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Some, like fellow Republicans Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington’s 5th Congressional District and Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington’s 4th District, lambasted Simpson for the plan and said the dams are critical infrastructure needed to produce affordable and reliable power and help farmers get the crops to market. Despite the blowback, Simpson said he continues to talk to people about the idea and believes it is gaining traction and will eventually become law.
The Nez Perce Tribe has supported dam removal for more than 20 years and was an early backer of Simpson’s plan. Nez Perce leaders rallied support from other tribes in the Pacific Northwest and across the country. (Lewiston Tribune)
