[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1936-E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE DAKOTA WATER RESOURCES ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a revised version 
of the Dakota Water Resources Act of 1999. The bill I introduced today 
makes important changes to legislation I introduced earlier this year, 
H.R. 1137. In addition to technical clarifications, the vast majority 
of these changes represent the culmination of an agreement reached 
between the state of North Dakota and the Administration which lead to 
the Administration's support of the bill. I want to highlight the key 
items of agreement incorporated into the bill that I am introducing 
today.
  First, this improved Dakota Water Resources Act provides $200 million 
in funding for statewide municipal, rural and industrial (MR&I) 
program, a $100 million reduction from H.R. 1137. Further, the bill 
clarifies that if a MR&I revolving loan fund is established, the funds 
will be treated as federal funds, therefore requiring compliance with 
federal laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 
Additionally, the bill today removes the $40 million in authorized 
funding for the replacement of the Four Bears Bridge across an arm of 
Lake Sakakawea on the Ft. Berthold Indian Reservation contained in H.R. 
1137.
  The bill also includes a provision to ensure the interests of Canada 
are met. Prior to the construction of any water delivery system to 
deliver Missouri River water into the Hudson Bay Basin, the Secretary 
of Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, must determine 
that adequate treatment can be provided.
  Further, the State of North Dakota would be required to pay a pro-
rata share of the operation, maintenance and replacement (OM&R) costs 
on existing principal supply works, including associated mitigation, 
based on a percentage of capacity use. Secondly, the state would pay 
100 percent of OM&R on all new facilities with the exception of 
facilities required to meet treaty obligations or those for compliance 
with Reclamation law. Further, the state would be required to pay for 
all energy costs to authorized facilities.
  Finally, the bill eliminates the provision in H.R. 1137 which linked 
the full funding of the Natural Resources Trust to the completion of 
the Red River Valley project.
  Mr. Speaker, the Dakota Water Resources Act today represents a broad 
consensus among various interests across the state of North Dakota and 
the Administration. I believe that the changes made today further 
improve the bill and will ensure that we are able to meet North 
Dakota's future water needs.

[[Page E1937]]

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 1999 may be found in 
the Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                              SEPTEMBER 28
     9:30 a.m.
       Veterans Affairs
         To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on 
           Veterans Affairs to review the legislative 
           recommendations of the American Legion.
                                               345 Cannon Building
       Appropriations
       Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on Parkinson's disease research and 
           treatment.
                                                            SH-216
     10 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine public ownership of the 
           United States stock market issues.
                                                            SD-538
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings on the nomination of Michael J. Frazier, 
           of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
           Transportation; the nomination of Stephen D. Van Beek, 
           of the District of Columbia, to be Associate Deputy 
           Secretary of Transportation; and the nomination of 
           Linda Joan Morgan, of Maryland, to be a Member of the 
           Surface Transportation Board.
                                                            SR-253
       Environment and Public Works
       Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2000 budget 
           request for the General Services Administration and the 
           Courthouse construction program.
                                                            SD-406
     10:30 a.m.
       Foreign Relations
         To hold hearings to examine the disarray in the 
           international community, focusing on facing Saddam's 
           Iraq.
                                                            SD-419
     2 p.m.
       Judiciary
       Youth Violence Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine effective juvenile 
           intervention programs.
                                                            SD-226

                              SEPTEMBER 29
     9 a.m.
       Small Business
         Business meeting to consider proposed legislation 
           regarding women owned businesses.
                                                           SR-428A
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings on S. 1508, to provide technical and 
           legal assistance for tribal justice systems and members 
           of Indian tribes.
                                                            SR-485
       Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
         Business meeting to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-430
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1501, to improve motor carrier 
           safety.
                                                            SR-253
       Environment and Public Works
         To hold hearings on pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-406
     10 a.m.
       Joint Economic Committee
         To hold hearings on biotechnology issues.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold oversight hearings on the practices of the Bureau 
           of Reclamation regarding operations and maintenance 
           costs and contract renewals.
                                                            SD-366
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine national technical 
           information services issues.
                                                            SR-253

                              SEPTEMBER 30
     9 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To hold hearings to review the Administration's 
           agriculture agenda for the upcoming World Trade 
           Organization meeting in Seattle.
                                                           SR-328A
     9:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Consumer Affairs, Foreign Commerce, and Tourism 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1130, to amend title 49, United 
           States Code, with respect to liability of motor vehicle 
           rental or leasing companies for the negligent operation 
           of rented or leased motor vehicles.
                                                            SR-253
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Forests and Public Land Management Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1457, to amend the Energy Policy 
           Act of 1992 to assess opportunities to increase carbon 
           storage on national forests derived from the public 
           domain and to facilitate voluntary and accurate 
           reporting of forest projects that reduce atmospheric 
           carbon dioxide concentrations.
                                                            SD-366

                               OCTOBER 6
     9 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To hold hearings to review public policy related to 
           biotechnology, focusing on domestic approval process, 
           benefits of biotechnology and an emphasis on challenges 
           facing farmers to segregation of product.
                                                           SR-328A
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         Business meeting to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SR-485

                               OCTOBER 7
     9 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To hold hearings to review public policy related to 
           biotechnology, focusing on domestic approval process, 
           benefits of biotechnology and an emphasis on challenges 
           facing farmers to segregation of product.
                                                           SR-328A