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S. 3315: Predation Reduction of Salmon Act

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S. 3315: Predation Reduction of Salmon Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-31 · Animals · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-31 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Predation Reduction of Salmon Act

Plain summary

Predation Reduction of Salmon Act This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue permits allowing Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to kill sea lions in a portion of the Columbia River and certain tributaries in order to protect specified fish from sea lion predation. Specifically, the permits may be issued to protect: (1) endangered or threatened species of salmon, steelhead, or eulachon; and (2) species of lamprey or sturgeon that are listed as a species of concern. Those states may enter into memoranda of understanding with Indian tribes with legal or historic interests in the protection of the species in such area for deterrence and removal of sea lions. Permits may be issued to kill sea lions only if the sea lions are part of a population that is not categorized as depleted or strategic. The cumulative annual taking of sea lions each year under all such permits is limited to 10% of the annual potential biological removal level. In addition, the takings must be humane. NOAA must suspend the issuance of the permits if, after five years, lethal removal authority is no longer necessary to protect fish from sea lion predation. The Department of the Interior must study the effectiveness of the permits on the recovery of salmon and steelhead stocks.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Predation Reduction of Salmon Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] reported raising $5.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-s3315 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115