05.22.18

Senator Cantwell Statement on Modernization of Columbia River Treaty

Formal negotiations follow years of advocacy by Senator Cantwell

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement after the U.S. State Department announced that formal negotiations for modernization of the Columbia River Treaty will begin on May 29 and 30 in Washington, D.C.:

“This is a very positive step. The State Department and Canada must now work to include input from all parties.”

Cantwell has been on the forefront of the charge to modernize the treaty. In March of 2016, Cantwell secured a commitment from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to move forward with negotiations, and later that year, she met with Canadian Ambassador David MacNaughton to discuss progress on the Canadian side. In August 2016, Cantwell led the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation in pushing the U.S. Department of State to make progress on modernizing the treaty.

Cantwell actions on modernizing the Columbia River Treaty

- April 15, 2014: 26 Northwest Lawmakers Highlight the Importance of the Columbia River Treaty

- June 16, 2015: Cantwell Demands Answers on Hanford Progress, Columbia River Treaty

- March 10, 2016: Cantwell Urges Prime Minister to Start Talks with U.S. on Modernization of Columbia River Treaty as Part of Expanded Clean Energy Cooperation

- March 10, 2016: Cantwell Secures Commitment from Canadian Prime Minister to Move Forward with Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

-  June 23, 2016: Cantwell, Canadian Ambassador Meet to Discuss Columbia River Treaty

- August 11, 2016: Pacific Northwest Senators, Members of Congress Prod State Department on Columbia River Treaty as Agency Drags Its Feet

- October 7, 2016: U.S. Ready to Start Talks on Columbia River Treaty

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