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Bills/119th Congress · House

H.R. 9337

Introduced

Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act

Sponsor
RCliff Bentz· Oregon
Introduced
June 18, 2026
Policy area
Energy
Latest action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.June 18, 2026
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9337 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9337

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

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Mr. Bentz (for himself, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Mr. Hurd of 
Colorado, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Crank, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. 
Evans of Colorado, Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Downing, and Mr. Griffith) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

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 sentence, by inserting ``to reasonably mitigate 
the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on such 
reservation, so as to provide'' after ``deem necessary'' in the first 
proviso.

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>

Plain-language analysis

AI analysis · 100% confidence

AI-generated breakdown of the bill text above, checked by an independent review pass before publishing. It is analysis, not the law itself — the verbatim text and official source are the record.

In plain terms

The Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act aims to change the Federal Power Act to make the process of getting licenses for hydropower projects easier and more affordable. It focuses on ensuring that any conditions set for these licenses are reasonable and specifically aimed at reducing negative impacts on the environment, particularly for fish populations. This bill affects hydropower projects and the regulatory framework surrounding them.

Hidden provisions

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

    to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on such reservation, so as to provide

  • SEC. 3. ENSURING PROPER SCOPE OF PRESCRIBED FISHWAYS

    to reasonably mitigate the direct adverse effect of the applicable project on the population of a species of fish in the applicable river system

Questionable / off-intent provisions

No off-intent or questionable provisions were flagged.

Junk / unrelated provisions

No filler or unrelated riders were flagged.

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