Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5048 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5048

To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize the hydropower licensing process, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 21, 2026

Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Risch, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Federal Power Act to modernize the hydropower licensing process, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act''.

SEC. 2. ENSURING PROPER SCOPE OF FEDERAL RESERVATION LICENSE CONDITIONS.

Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 797(e)) is amended, in the first proviso, by inserting ``to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on such reservation, so as to provide'' after ``deem necessary''.

SEC. 3. ENSURING PROPER SCOPE OF PRESCRIBED FISHWAYS.

Section 18 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 811) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting ``, to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on the population of a species of fish in the applicable river system'' before the period at the end. <all>