Congressman Harris Announces FAA Grant for Salisbury Regional Airport Runway Rehabilitation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), announced that the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport has been awarded a $1,710,000 grant through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.

The grant will fund the final phase of a project to rehabilitate approximately 1,200 feet of Runway 14/32, to maintain the runway’s structural integrity and improve its long-term reliability. 

Statement from Congressman Harris:

“I applaud the FAA for funding the final phase of runway rehabilitation at Salisbury Regional Airport. This project will extend the life of the airport’s runway and keep it operating safely for years to come.”

For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Stop Sale of Jet Engines to Turkey

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to stop the $700 million sale of F110 jet engines to Turkey. Such a sale would undermine regional stability and pose a threat to U.S. allies while rewarding a repressive, dictatorial, and revengeful government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The regime of Turkish President Erdogan has made repeated threats of military action against NATO allies and other partner nations throughout the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Sale of these jet engines to Turkey will embolden it to pursue those threats. Turkey already is destabilizing the region with its continued illegal occupation of Cyprus, antagonism toward Greece, close association with designated terrorist organizations, support of Azerbaijan’s campaigns against Armenia, and threats to invade Israel. We should not be rewarding Erdogan’s bad behavior by expanding Turkey’s military might.”

The Trump administration formally notified Congress of the transaction on June 24, opening a 15-day review period during which lawmakers can move to block the sale. The resolution introduced by Congresswoman Titus provides a platform for Congress to act.

The F110 jet engines are intended for Turkey’s next-generation KAAN combat aircraft, a project Turkey has pursued as part of its broader effort to expand its military capabilities.

The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) gives Congress the statutory authority to review major foreign military sales. Through a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, Congress can officially halt or block an arms transfer during the review period.

Congresswoman Titus expressed concern that the Trump administration is committed to further aiding Turkey with advanced platforms like the F-35 in violation of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. “President Trump saying he has a ‘gift’ for Turkey that will make it ‘very happy’ should alarm all of us. Congress needs to act now to stop the administration from aiding an enemy of our allies.” 

Griffith Announces More Than $4.4 Million HHS Grant to People Incorporated of Virginia

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded People Incorporated of Virginia, based in Abingdon, Virginia, a $4,446,323 grant. The funding supports head start and early head start projects. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“People Incorporated helps serve communities in Southwest Virginia.

“This grant for more than $4.4 million helps People Incorporated deliver head start and early head start services to local families in our region.”

BACKGROUND

According to its website, People Incorporated of Virginia offers early head start services to Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Washington Counties as well as the City of Bristol.

People Incorporated lists four head start centers based in Southwest Virginia.

In 2024, Congressman Griffith entered formal remarks in the Congressional Record to celebrate the organization’s 60thanniversary.

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Representatives Panetta, Ross, DeLauro Introduce Bill to Deliver Faster Relief for Taxpayers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in introducing a bill to improve transparency between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax refund claims.

Currently, there is no requirement that the IRS pay or deny refund claims within a set timeframe. As a result, claims can spend years in the IRS’ queue without a decision, leaving taxpayers with no clear answers or recourse. The bill requires the IRS to respond to tax refund claims within one year of receiving a taxpayer’s return. It also ensures that any refund paid after that period is adjusted for inflation and includes interest to compensate taxpayers for the delay.

IRS employees work diligently to serve taxpayers and process refund claims, but their work has been undermined by staffing cuts under the Trump administration. Thousands of IRS employees have been laid off, resulting in fewer claims processed and growing backlogs. Since 2019, the number of backlogged tax claims has doubled to more than two million. This bill will create a clear process to ensure refund claims are paid or denied in a timely manner, with taxpayers guaranteed a sufficient explanation for any IRS decision.

“The backlog in cases at the IRS has left way too many hardworking taxpayers waiting way too long for their hard-earned refunds,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our RETURN Act would help restore accountability, efficiency, and transparency by requiring the IRS to respond to refund requests within one year and explain the reasoning behind any denial. This legislation would help ensure a more responsive tax system so that all Americans can efficiently and effectively receive their tax returns.”

“Americans in North Carolina and across the country work hard for every dollar they earn, and they deserve prompt responses when they file their tax returns,” said Rep. Ross. “At a time when too many families are stretched thin by rising costs, they should not be left wondering whether they will receive the money they are owed. This bill will help ensure tax refunds are processed in a timely manner and require the IRS to provide clear explanations of its decisions to the American taxpayers.”

“We are in a cost-of-living crisis,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Americans are living paycheck to paycheck – if the government is responsible for a late refund, they should ensure that Americans are made whole because of it. I am fighting to put more money in working and middle-class Americans’ pockets – to help them get ahead and thrive.”

Full text of the bill is available here.

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Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Secures $850,000 for City of Mercedes to Expand Stormwater Management System

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Contact: Alexis Torres

Mercedes, Texas — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) was joined by City of Mercedes’s City Manager Alberto Perez and other local leaders to announce $850,000 that he secured in Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding to upgrade, repair, and increase the drainage capacity of their storm sewer system.Specifically, the funding will be used to improve the collection and safe discharge of stormwater segments of the stormwater system, including the expansions and installations of reinforced concrete pipes, manholes, inlets and roadway reconstruction near South Vermont Street and South Washington Street as well as along Willacy Street, Heindrick Avenue, and North Street. It also includes an expansion and new storm sewer infrastructure and roadway restoration along West Third Street and South Colorado Avenue.

“Improving public safety and strengthening our local economy requires resilient infrastructure that can withstand the frequent challenges of extreme weather in South Texas,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “I proudly fought in Congress for this federal investment to help improve the City’s stormwater system and ensure our homes and businesses are protected from heavy rainfall and reduce the risk of flooding. Together, alongside the City of Mercedes and all our neighbors, we will continue to build a safer, more prosperous community.” 

“On behalf of the Mayor, City Commission, and the residents of Mercedes, we sincerely thank Congressman Vicente Gonzalez for recognizing the importance of investing in our community’s infrastructure. These federal funds represent a significant investment in public safety, flood mitigation, and the long-term resilience of our City. Stormwater infrastructure is one of the most critical investments a community can make. These improvements will help protect neighborhoods, businesses, public facilities, and transportation corridors while improving our ability to respond to increasingly intense rainfall events experienced throughout the Rio Grande Valley,” said City Manager Perez.

According to the City of Mercedes, the total estimated project costs approximately $2.08 million. The $850,000 Community Project Funding delivered by Congressman Gonzalez today will be put toward construction costs.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Gonzalez successfully secured $12.6 million in federal funds for 15 community projects this past year, including improvements to the City of Mercedes’ stormwater management system, to directly support the needs of the 34th Congressional District of Texas.

Smith Statement on Death of Doug Leafgreen

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) released the following statement after learning of the death of Doug Leafgreen, former Mayor of Gering and Nebraska Highway Commissioner.  

“An avid outdoorsman and servant leader, Doug will be deeply missed by all who knew him. I am grateful to have called him a friend. He will be remembered for his strong faith, his leadership in local government, and his dedicated service as a Nebraska Highway Commissioner. Please join Andrea and I, in extending our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Melody, their children, grandchildren, and the entire Leafgreen family.”

Davids Highlights Olathe Manufacturer’s Role in Historic Artemis II Mission to the Moon

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

OLATHE, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Mid-State Aerospace in Olathe, a small Kansas manufacturer whose components helped make NASA’s Artemis II mission possible — the first crewed flight to travel around the Moon in more than 50 years. 

During the visit, Davids highlighted her successful efforts earlier this year to push the Trump Administration to reverse funding cuts to a manufacturing program that provides critical technical assistance to Kansas manufacturers.

“Mid-State Aerospace is exactly what Kansas manufacturing looks like — skilled workers, a small team doing big things, and products that end up supporting some of the most complex missions our country undertakes,” said Davids. “When I visited this company a few years ago, I saw firsthand the kind of precision and pride that goes into their work. I’m glad I got to come back and see how that same work helped power a mission around the Moon. It’s a reminder that Kansas manufacturing is part of America’s story.”

“At Mid-State Aerospace, we believe that the next giant leap for mankind begins with precision manufacturing right here at home,” said Robert Somers, Vice President of Operations, Mid-State Aerospace. “By serving as a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier for the Artemis mission, our local team is proving that the road to the Moon runs directly through our community’s hard work and dedication. We aren’t just building aerospace components; we are manufacturing the future of space exploration.”

Davids first visited Mid-State Aerospace in 2022 with former U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. Today, Davids once again met with company leadership and employees to tour the facility and highlight the role Kansas manufacturers play in advanced aerospace supply chains and national space exploration efforts.

Artemis II marks a major milestone in NASA’s efforts to return humans to deep space exploration, and Kansas companies like Mid-State Aerospace played a role in building key components used in both the rocket and spacecraft systems that supported the mission.

Last year, the Trump Administration cut off Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) funding, forcing Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) to lay off nearly half its staff and putting local jobs and economic growth at risk. In response, Davids introduced the Defend American Manufacturing Act, legislation to restore and protect critical funding for MEP programs — the primary source of support for KMS. Following Davids’ advocacy and bipartisan pressure from Congress, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) restored funding to the MEP program.

 

Manufacturing plays a critical role in Kansas’ economy, accounting for 86 percent of the state’s annual exports. In 2024, KMS helped create or retain 2,339 jobs, spurred $122 million in new investment, saved local businesses $14.3 million, and generated $328 million in sales statewide. In Kansas’ Third District alone, KMS assisted 552 manufacturers and supported more than 30,000 manufacturing employees last year.

Norcross, Bacon introduce resolution to establish “National Learn to Swim Week”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON — As temperatures hit historic highs this week and Americans across the country flock to cool off in the water, Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Don Bacon (NE-02) have introduced a bipartisan resolution to establish a “National Learn to Swim Week,” which would begin each fourth Sunday of June. 

Roughly 4,000 people fatally drown in the United States each year – a total that numbers 11 unintentional deaths per day. Children are especially threatened while on the water: Drownings are the leading cause of death among kids aged 1 to 4, the second-leading cause for ages 5 to 14. Yet according to the National Institutes of Health, swimming lessons alone can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88 percent. 

Norcross and Bacon’s resolution calls on schools, youth organizations, and government to support and promote swimming lessons and back the United States National Water Safety Action Plan, which emphasizes knowledge of threats in and around water, life jacket use, and other water safety measures. 

“Swimming, kayaking, and other water recreation have been a huge part of my active lifestyle,” Norcross said. “Spending time on the water is fun and healthy, and while it does come with risk, those issues are almost entirely preventable with the right training. I appreciate my friend Congressman Bacon for working across the aisle to set up more communities for success around water.” 

“Every child should have the opportunity to learn basic swimming and water-safety skills,” Rep. Bacon said. “With thousands of fatal and nonfatal drownings each year, we should be doing more to support swim instruction, public awareness, and community partnerships that prevent these tragedies. I’m glad to join Rep. Norcross in introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize National Learn to Swim Week and promote a skill that can save lives.” 

Full text of Norcross and Bacon’s resolution can be found here
 
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: 

“The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) fully supports the introduction of this important Resolution.?The NDPA has been promoting swim lesson for years because we know learning to swim is an important way to prevent drownings in both pools and open bodies of water,” Alissa Magrum, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance said. “The statistics supporting this life saving skill are quite clear — formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88%. Proof positive that this Congressional Resolution is well timed as we start swim season around the country.” 

“Learning to swim is an essential, lifesaving skill that is proven to reduce the drowning risk among young children by 88%,” Karen Cohn, co-founder of the ZAC Foundation said. “With child drownings on the rise and a new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission underscoring the alarming risk of childhood drowning, action has never been more urgent. We are grateful to Rep. Donald Norcross for introducing this congressional resolution that highlights the critical need to increase awareness of the importance of learning to swim — and to Rep. Don Bacon for his unwavering support and leadership in addressing the drowning crisis.” 

“Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation applauds Congressman Norcross and Congressman Bacon for the introduction of this Congressional Resolution designating the 4th?Sunday in June as the start of?National Learn to Swim Week.?Learning to swim is not just a life skill. It is a lifesaving skill,” said Katey and Scott Taylor, founders of Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation. “Enrolling children in swim lessons is a critical and underutilized layer of protection especially when one considers that drowning remains the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4.?Swim season is now in full swing, and Abbey’s Hope urges all parents to enroll their children in swim lessons to prepare for this season and beyond.” 

“Drowning is the number 1 cause of death to children aged 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 4 to 15. Eleven people die each day from unintentional drownings in the United States.?Alarming statistics, no doubt,” Eric Lupton, CEO of Life Saver Pool Fence said.? “Ensuring everyone has access to swimming lessons along with other water safety ‘layer of protections’ like pool fencing and pool alarms will, most certainly, save lives.?Life Saver Pool Fence unequivocally supports this bipartisan Congressional Swim Lesson Resolution. We will support it this year and every year going forward.”  

“The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) strongly supports establishing National Learn to Swim Week as a meaningful step toward reducing drowning, a leading cause of death among young children,” Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance said. “We know that formal swim instruction and layers of protection save lives, and this effort helps raise awareness about the importance of access to swim lessons and water safety education for communities across the country.” 

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Reps. Chu and Morrison Lead Democratic Women’s Caucus to Demand Trump Admin Reinstate Terminated Funds for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Grants

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. —On Thursday, July 2, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Reproductive Healthcare Task Force Co-Chairs, led 79 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) and the Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, demanding the immediate reversal of the administration’s cancellation of 53 active Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP) grants, totaling to $68 million in funding. In addition to reversing the cancellation of funds, the letter calls on HHS to provide the rationale behind each cancellation, justifications for canceling the grants, and explanations for redirecting the funding to programs not previously authorized by Congress. 

TPP grants authorized by Congress are used to lead evidence-based programs that reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and other health risks for young people and have long been appropriated in a bipartisan manner. Since the enactment of TPP, millions of women and girls across the country have positively benefited from increased health-education and support programs.

In their letter, the Members explain that TPP is critical to helping young people make health decisions that lead to reduced sexual risk:

“In fact, the contributions of the TPP Program were also acknowledged in a September 2017 unanimously-agreed-to-report from the Bipartisan Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, who highlighted the TPP Program as an example of a federal program developing increasingly rigorous portfolios of evidence. Rigorous evaluation and evidence-based practices are essential to the continued success of teen pregnancy prevention efforts for which millions of dollars have already been invested.”

The Members highlight the impact TPP’s resources and education has had on reducing teen birth rates in the U.S. and helping young people thrive:

“The teen birth rate has fallen 81% since 1991 and 72% since 2007. The outcomes of this program save lives as teenage pregnancies are at high risk for health complications. Specifically, teenagers 16-19 years old face increased risk of preterm birth, and teens 15 years old and younger are even more vulnerable to health complications. Overall, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program has an established history of investing in community-driven strategies, identifying new curricula that work through rigorous evaluation, and supporting their implementation with fidelity.”

The Members also emphasize the harm of removing and redirecting funds from TPP programs, which will undermine the program’s ability to help young people and disrupt critical research:

“Redirecting funding from the TPP program jeopardizes access to the high-quality health education, support, and resources that Congress intended. Abrupt and arbitrary disruptions on grounds unrelated to the core aims of the TPP program undermine the ability of the program to serve its congressionally intended purpose of giving young people the knowledge and tools needed to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and promote positive experiences, relationships, and environments that help our nation’s youth thrive.” 

Read the full letter HERE

In addition to letter leads, the letter was signed by Reps. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), April McClain Delaney (MC-06), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Julie Johnson (TX-32), William R. Keating (MA-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam T. Liccardo (CA-16), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley M. Stevens (MI-11) Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (MS-02), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Marc A. Veasey (TX-33), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

Members of the Oregon Delegation Oppose Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin. 

“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,” write the lawmakers.

BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.

“When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,” emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

The lawmakers concluded, “We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.” 

Full text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:  

Dear Administrator Kavulla: 

We write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.  

The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.  

When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA’s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.  

Further, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.  

We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region. 

[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions  

[2] Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. (2022, February 10). Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery. P.88-91.