[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REJECTING THE DAKOTA WATER RESOURCES ACT

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak about some 
important legislative matters and to announce to my colleagues I cannot 
and will not clear a bill called S. 623, the Dakota Water Resources 
Act, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. It would 
authorize a half billion dollars to divert additional water from the 
Missouri River system for additional uses, including transfer to the 
Cheyenne and Red River systems. We cannot and will not tolerate the 
diversion of water. This is strongly opposed by the Governor of my 
State, by the State of Minnesota, by Taxpayers for Common Sense, and a 
whole list of environmental groups including the National Wildlife 
Federation, the Audubon Society, Friends of the Earth and American 
Rivers. The Canadian Government opposes it, the Governor of Minnesota 
and the Minnesota DNR oppose it.
  I understand why the Dakota Senators want to fight for this. It would 
be a tremendous boon for their States. But I am not going to be 
blackmailed because 52 other unrelated bills are being held up over 
this matter. There are strong substantive objections to this bill. It 
is not appropriate in this process to try to ram this through, to try 
to steal water from the Missouri River.
  I serve notice on my colleagues, if they have a problem because their 
bills are being held up in an attempt to blackmail me, it is not going 
to work. We have worked in good faith with the Senators from North 
Dakota in the past, helping them with their problems, but I do not 
intend to be blackmailed into allowing diversion of the Missouri River 
water.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon?
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 
10 minutes as in morning business. If they have a consent agreement 
worked out, then I will hold off.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. LEAHY. Reserving the right to object, I shan't object.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LEAHY. I said I shan't object.
  Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon has the floor.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I noticed Senator Grassley, who worked very 
hard on this bill, is trying to get a consent agreement. I will hold 
off if he is ready to go forward. Otherwise, I will proceed because I 
have the floor.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Take 5 minutes?
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I gather the consent agreement is not 
worked out. I did ask consent for the right to speak up to 10 minutes. 
I gather they can work things out during that period of time.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent the Senator from Oregon have 5 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection the Senator from Oregon has 
5 minutes.

                          ____________________