[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERREY (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Exon, and Mrs. 
        Kassebaum):
  S. 1649. A bill to extend contracts between the Bureau of Reclamation 
and irrigation districts in Kansas and Nebraska, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


         the irrigation project contract extension act of 1996

 Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I introduce legislation to extend 
the water service contracts for irrigation projects in Nebraska and 
Kansas.
  Mr. President, a little over 50 years ago, Congress authorized 
construction of a set of water management projects as a part of the 
Flood Control Act of 1944. These projects were designed to provide 
control, conservation, and use of water resources throughout the 
Missouri River basin. Known as the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, 
the system has provided flood control, power generation and irrigation 
to over 3.7 million acres, as well as stream pollution abatement, 
sediment control, water supplies for cities and industry, enhancement 
of fish and wildlife, and recreation opportunities.
  Each of the projects had 40-year water service contracts for 
irrigation with the Bureau of Reclamation, in the Department of the 
Interior. These contracts are beginning to expire. In fact, three of 
those 40-year contracts will expire on December 31 of this year. Though 
the procedures for contract renewal were not spelled out, it is clear 
that contract renewal was considered when the original agreements were 
made. It is also clear that an immediate extension of the service 
contracts is necessary. Extending these contracts will give the Bureau 
of Reclamation the necessary time to complete the contract renewal 
process as well as provide us time to collect input to fully evaluate 
our options and maximize the benefits of the best option.
  The legislation I introduce today is straight-forward and simple: It 
would extend each of 10 water service contracts upon expiration for a 
period of 4 years. The terms of each contract would be the same as 
those originally negotiated.
  I am glad to be able to say that this legislation has the full and 
bipartisan support of each Senator from both of the affected States, 
Nebraska and Kansas. It has been a real pleasure to work with each of 
my cosponsors on an issue where we found such clear and easy agreement, 
both about what needed to be done and how to get there. So, on behalf 
of myself, the majority leader, Bob Dole, my friend and fellow 
Nebraskan Jim Exon, Nancy Kassebaum, and the thousands of Nebraskans, 
Kansans, and visitors who benefit from these projects, I introduce the 
Irrigation Project Contract Extension Act of 1996.
                                 ______