Protecting Columbia River Salmon Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9637
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T14:09:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to protect salmon populations in the Columbia River by authorizing certain Indian Tribes to intentionally and lethally remove California sea lions and a specific group of Steller sea lions that prey on salmon in designated river areas.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 by adding a new subsection allowing "covered Indian Tribes" to lethally take "covered pinnipeds" (California sea lions and Eastern Distinct Population Segment Steller sea lions) on "covered waters."
- Defines covered waters as the mainstem and tributaries of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, from River Mile 0 up to the McNary Dam.
- Defines covered Indian Tribes as federally recognized tribes with ancestral ties to any part of the covered waters.
- Permits tribes to conduct the take without limits on the number of animals, timing, or requirement for individual identification.
- Requires the take to be carried out in a humane manner using methods the tribe deems appropriate.
- Allows tribes to designate other persons to perform the take on their behalf.
- Includes a rule of construction stating that nothing in the subsection limits existing tribal rights or authorities under treaties, executive orders, or other laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces an exemption from the general prohibitions in the Marine Mammal Protection Act on intentional lethal take of marine mammals, which typically require permits or other approvals.
- Removes standard federal oversight requirements, such as limits on take numbers or mandatory identification of individual animals, specifically for these tribes in this location.
- Adds new definitions tailored to this authorization, expanding the Act's framework without altering broader marine mammal protections elsewhere.
Potential Impacts
- Enables targeted management of sea lion predation on salmon in the specified Columbia River area, potentially benefiting fish populations and related fisheries.
- Reduces the role of federal agencies in approving or monitoring these specific takes by tribes.
- May affect sea lion populations in the river system, though the bill does not address broader conservation status.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined, as the provisions focus on domestic river waters and tribal authorities.
Main Stakeholders
- Indian Tribes with ancestral connections to the Columbia River area.
- Salmon conservation and fishing communities in Washington and Oregon.
- Federal agencies responsible for marine mammal and fisheries management.
- Groups focused on marine mammal protection.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens tribal authority in wildlife management within ancestral waters while explicitly preserving existing treaty-based rights.
- Creates a targeted exception to federal marine mammal laws, which could raise questions about consistency with uniform wildlife protection standards.
- Operates within the framework of tribal sovereignty and federal Indian law without introducing new constitutional conflicts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Columbia River Salmon Act of 2026 — issued 2026-07-09 — PDF (4 pages)