[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1995

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                               speech of

                        HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4506) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1995, and for other 
     purposes.

  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Chairman, I want to rise today to offer an 
amendment which would address a very serious, even life-threatening 
situation in San Angelo, TX, which is in my district as well as my 
colleague Lamar Smith. Twin Buttes Dam, which is a Bureau of 
Reclamation project, was built in the early 1960's. Due to poor design 
and construction of the dam, it seeps water. Although the Bureau has 
attempted to correct the problem, the seepage has grown worse over the 
years to the point where last December the water level of the Reservoir 
was lowered well below conservation level to prevent a breach of the 
dam.
  In fact, Twin Buttes Dam is rated the least safe dam subject to 
failure in the Bureau's inventory. As you can imagine, repairing Twin 
Buttes Dam is vitally important for several reasons, not the least of 
which is the fact that the lives and homes of the 40,000 people who 
live below the dam are endangered. Also, Twin Buttes Reservoir is the 
water source for 90,000 residents of San Angelo and the surrounding 
area. For these reasons, the dam must be fixed as quickly as possible. 
Furthermore, because it was faulty construction on the part of a 
Federal Government project, the expense of the repairs should also be 
the responsibility of the Federal Government.
  I will not offer my amendment today because it will be held 
nongermane as authorizing-type language to an appropriation bill. I 
felt compelled to bring this to the attention of my colleagues so that 
this situation can be remedied as quickly as possible. We are asking 
the authorizing committee, which is the Committee on Natural Resources 
and its chairman, my friend George Miller, to look at the rationale for 
action. I look forward to the continued input of these Members as we 
seek to resolve this critical problem
  I do understand that my amendment would correctly be ruled nongermane 
to this appropriations bill because it is of an authorizing nature. I 
appreciate Chairman Bevill and the committee for allowing me an 
opportunity to raise before this body the dangerous situation which 
exists in my district. My hope is that the other body will be able to 
move this issue forward and that Chairman Bevill and Chairman Miller 
will then take a compassionate position toward this cause in 
conference.

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