WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the announcement of a preliminary agreement between the United States and Canada on the Columbia River Treaty:
“For 60 years, the Columbia River Treaty has provided coordinated flood control for the Pacific Northwest, in turn providing significant hydropower opportunities for both the United States and Canada, as well as irrigation and navigation throughout the region. In my home state of Idaho, all of these benefits have and continue to contribute to our economic growth and success. We have been working on a renewal of the treaty for several years.
“Today’s announcement of a preliminary agreement between the United States and Canada looks promising, but as always, I look forward to seeing all the details. I also expect that a final agreement, an Article II treaty requiring the Senate’s advice and consent, will be submitted by the president to the Senate for our review.”
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