Rep. Val Hoyle Scores Win with Bipartisan Columbia River Cleanup Bill

On Thursday, our very own Congressional Representative, Val Hoyle, saw her “Columbia River Clean-Up Act” pass the House as part of the H.R. 6422 American Water Stewardship Act. The act extends the successful Columbia River Basin Restoration program. It funds projects to reduce toxic pollutants and improve water quality in the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers.

“Millions call the Columbia River Basin home. Millions more rely on it for their livelihoods and recreation. This bill is an important step to ensure that critical work on the basin is protected and adequately funded. The basin’s long-term health isn’t just for show; it is quite literally a matter of survival for countless critical species and people,” said Hoyle. “I am proud to have helped pass a bipartisan measure that will protect the basin for generations to come.”

Rep. Hoyle’s bill was originally introduced in 2025 and it has received bipartisan support.

The Columbia River Basin is the second largest watershed in the U.S. and home to more than 8 million people and more than 15 tribal nations. A Senate version of this bill was introduced by Senator Merkley, and it is co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Here’s a little more background about the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program:

• Officially designates the national importance of the Columbia River Basin, which includes the Columbia River and its tributaries in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
• Authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Columbia River Basin Restoration Working Group to understand and reduce toxics across the basin.
• Created the Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program.
• Past awards have included over $5.5 million to expand a stormwater retrofit program in Lane County, $1.9 million to the Grand Ronde Tribe to reduce pollution in the Willamette River Basin and $349,919 to Oregon State University to monitor mercury risk in the Willamette Valley.