Newhouse Applauds Start of U.S.-Canada Renegotiations of Columbia River Treaty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) applauded the start of formal renegotiations of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) to take place May 29th and 30th in Washington, D.C.

"These vital negotiations have been long overdue, and I applaud the Trump Administration for getting the ball rolling on renegotiating this treaty that has a tremendous impact on our way of life in the Pacific Northwest," said Rep. Newhouse. "The Canadian Entitlement especially must be updated so that the renegotiated management of the Columbia River proves to be an equitable arrangement that benefits both countries. I look forward to working with the administration throughout this process."

Rep. Newhouse joined colleagues in a bipartisan request urging President Trump to commence negotiations with Canada on the CRT as soon as possible.

Background:

Updating the Columbia River Treaty, which has not been revised since it was ratified in 1964, will allow the U.S. and Canada to find solutions for management of the river that could provide new opportunities for cooperation on clean energy solutions, flood control, and economic growth in the Pacific Northwest region. In 2016, Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) joined U.S. House and Senate colleagues to call on the U.S. State Department under President Obama to finalize its negotiating parameters and to press Canada to appoint a lead negotiator. Both actions are required for formal discussions to begin. Full text of the letter can be found here.