Rep. Cliff Bentz

Maddy summaryHR 3397, the WEST Act of 2024, requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its 2023 proposed rule titled "Conservation and Landscape Health" (published at 88 Fed. Reg. 19583). The bill mandates that the BLM Director must immediately withdraw this specific proposed rule and cannot take any action to finalize, implement, or enforce it or any substantially similar rule. This bill directly affects the BLM agency by halting the regulatory process for this conservation-focused rule. It is a procedural measure that prevents the rule from moving forward, without creating new policy or impacting other entities.

Maddy summaryHR 764, the "Trust the Science Act," requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a specific 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects gray wolf populations by changing their federal conservation status. The bill's key provision mandates that this reissuance cannot be challenged in court, eliminating judicial review of the decision. The bill focuses solely on procedural implementation of a prior rule, not broader scientific policy.

Maddy summaryHR 8160, the Breaking Irresponsible Energy and Commercial Habits Act (BREACH Act), prohibits the Secretary of the Army from breaching federally operated dams under specific conditions. It blocks dam breaches that would increase carbon emissions by over 10%, reduce commercial navigability of the waterway, or raise prices for shipped goods (including agriculture) by at least 10%. The bill requires the Army Secretary to consult with the Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, and state agencies before making such decisions. This directly affects federal dam management decisions and commercial shipping interests reliant on waterways managed by federally operated dams.

Maddy summaryHR 8161, the Electric Act, prohibits the retirement of federally operated hydropower dams (managed by the Interior or Army) if such retirement would raise electricity rates by more than 10% or decrease energy reliability by more than 10% in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or California. It requires the Secretary to replace 100% of the retired dam's baseload generation (the minimum power supplied to the grid) within 30 days of retirement. The bill directly affects federally managed hydropower facilities in the specified western states by setting strict financial and reliability thresholds for retirement decisions. It defines key terms like "baseload generation" and specifies which federal agencies (Interior or Army) oversee different dam operations. The law aims to prevent grid disruptions and rate hikes from decommissioning federal hydropower sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (through the Chief of Engineers) to acquire and install acoustic sound technology at Bonneville Dam to deter seals and sea lions (pinnipeds) from gathering there. It specifically prohibits using underwater firecrackers or similar methods and authorizes $400,000 for this purpose. The law aims to prevent pinnipeds from recolonizing the dam area, directly affecting dam operations and local wildlife management. It focuses on a specific technological solution for a localized wildlife management issue at the Columbia River dam.

Maddy summaryHR 8157 prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (via the Secretary of the Army) from conducting spillage operations (releasing water through spillways) at four specific Lower Snake River dams - Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite - without prior approval from both the Secretary of the Army and the Bonneville Power Administration. This requires the Army and Bonneville to jointly consider all Columbia River System operations before approving such activities. The bill directly affects dam management decisions related to water flow, which impacts fish migration (particularly salmon), power generation, and river operations. It does not change existing dam operations but adds a formal approval step for spillage.

Maddy summaryThe ACRES Act (HR 8159) prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from breaching any federally operated dam if the replacement energy project would require at least 5% more land area than the dam itself occupies. It directly affects federal dam management decisions and energy projects seeking to replace dam operations. The key provision requires the Army Secretary, in coordination with the Interior Secretary, to conduct a study analyzing the land area occupied by the dam before considering any breach. This law aims to prevent dam removals that would significantly expand the land footprint of replacement energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHRES 1176 is a House resolution expressing disapproval of the Biden administration's Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, formalized in a December 14, 2023, memorandum of understanding (MoU) with multiple stakeholders. The resolution cites the 4 Lower Snake River dams' critical role in providing carbon-free energy for 1.8 million homes, generating over 1,000 megawatts of power, supporting 40-60% of U.S. wheat exports, and moving 50-60 million tons of annual cargo. It argues the dams should not be breached, disapproves of the administration's commitments in the MoU, and states those commitments depend on unsecured congressional funding. This resolution does not alter policy but formally opposes the initiative through a statement of congressional disapproval.

Maddy summaryHR 8156 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit to Congress an updated report on the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within 120 days of the bill's enactment. The report must specifically address the CEQ's role in the Lower Snake River dams litigation case, including whether it meets its legal duties under environmental law and whether its functions could be handled by another agency. It also mandates details on the CEQ's use of outside contractors, its reliance on non-governmental organizations, and staff connections to groups involved in environmental cases. This procedural bill directly affects Congress, which will receive the report to inform oversight of the CEQ's operations.

Maddy summaryHR 8155, the Ratepayer Funding Alternative Act, requires the Secretary of Energy to develop alternative funding methods for the Bonneville Power Administration's fish and wildlife program that avoid passing these costs to ratepayers (electricity customers). The Secretary must consult with other federal agencies and submit a report detailing these alternatives to Congress within six months of the bill's enactment. This bill directly affects Bonneville Power Administration ratepayers, who currently pay for the program through their electricity bills. The legislation mandates the creation of funding alternatives and a report but does not change current funding practices.