July 21, 2026
Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Risch, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize the hydropower licensing process, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act
.
Sec. 2. Ensuring proper scope of Federal reservation license conditions
Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 797(e)) is amended, in the first proviso, by inserting to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on such reservation, so as to provide
after deem necessary
.
Sec. 3. Ensuring proper scope of prescribed fishways
Section 18 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 811) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting , to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on the population of a species of fish in the applicable river system
before the period at the end.