[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 356. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain works, facilities, and titles of the Gila Project, and 
designated lands within or adjacent to the Gila Project, to the 
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                    wellton-mohawk project transfer

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to transfer 
title to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District in Yuma, 
Arizona from the Federal government to the project beneficiaries. If 
you think this sounds like deja vu, you would be correct--it is. In May 
of 1998, during the 105th Congress, I introduced the same bill. The 
version I introduce today is the same version the passed the Senate at 
the end of last Congress. The bill was approved by all the relevant 
House and Senate Committees, passed by the Senate, included in a 
package of similar bills in the House, but, for reasons that I have not 
been able to determine, never managed to get signed into law. And this 
particular project transfer was one Regional Director Bob Johnson 
called ``low hanging fruit.'' In a meeting in my office, he assured me 
that the Wellton-Mohawk project was a ``perfect example'' of the kind 
of project that should transfer under the administration's 1995 
Framework for Transfer. So this is exactly the kind of project the 
Department of the Interior should transfer project title from the 
Department to the project beneficiaries.
  Mr. President, I would like to thank Senator John McCain for 
cosponsoring this bill with me and I ask unanimous consent that the 
text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 356

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,
       Sec. 1. Short Title.--This Act may be referred to as the 
     ``Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act''.
       Sec. 2. Transfer.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     (``Secretary'') is authorized to carry out the terms of the 
     Memorandum of Agreement No. 8-AA-34-WAO14 (``Agreement'') 
     dated July 10, 1998 between the Secretary and the Wellton-
     Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District (``District'') 
     providing for the transfer of works, facilities, and lands to 
     the District, including conveyance of Acquired Lands, Public 
     Lands, and Withdrawn Lands, as defined in the Agreement.
       Sec. 3. Water and Power Contracts.--Notwithstanding the 
     transfer, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall 
     provide for and deliver Colorado River water and Parker-Davis 
     Project Priority Use Power to the District in accordance with 
     the terms of existing contracts with the District, including 
     any amendments or supplements thereto or extensions thereof 
     and as provided under section 2 of the Agreement.
       Sec. 4. Savings.--Nothing in this Act shall affect any 
     obligations under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control 
     Act (P.L. 93-320, 42 U.S.C. 1571).
       Sec. 5. Report.--If transfer of works, facilities, and 
     lands pursuant to the Agreement has not occurred by July 1, 
     2000, the Secretary shall report on the status of the 
     transfer as provided in section 5 of the Agreement.
       Sec. 6. Authorization.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
     provisions of this Act.
                                 ______