[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WELLTON-MOHAWK TRANSFER ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2000

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today at the end of this long journey 
to fully support this legislation which transfers the title of the Gila 
Project/Wellton Mohawk Division facilities from the Bureau of 
Reclamation to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District.
  I want to thank the Gentleman from Alaska, Chairman Young, the 
Gentleman from California, Mr. Miller, the Chairman of the Resources 
Subcommittee on Water and Power, Chairman Doolittle, and the Ranking 
Member of that Subcommittee, Mr. Dooley, for their help in getting this 
legislation through the Subcommittee, through the full Resources 
Committee, and now on the Floor of the House.
  I also want to thank my colleagues from Arizona for their help. 
Congressmen Stump, Hayworth, and Kolbe joined me in introducing the 
legislation, and Congressman Shadegg quickly joined them in seeing the 
wisdom of co-sponsorship. And in the other body, both Senators from 
Arizona joined to introduce the bill we are considering today.
  The Gila project in Western Arizona was originally authorized for 
construction by President Roosevelt in June, 1937. Construction for the 
Wellton-Mohawk Division was started in August, 1949, and water from the 
Colorado River was turned onto the Wellton-Mohawk fields for the first 
time in May, 1952. The project was completed by June, 1957 and the 
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District fully repaid its 
project costs and was given its certificate of discharge on November 
27, 1991. In 1998, the District and the Bureau of Reclamation signed a 
Memorandum of Agreement that covers the details of the transfer of 
title.
  This bill, S. 356, which is virtually identical to the bill I 
introduced, H.R. 841, simply authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to carry out all provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement covering the 
transfer of title, including the authority to convey lands as required. 
It also requires the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Energy 
to continue to provide water and power as provided under existing 
contracts.
  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, this has been a long road, but we are 
finally ending the legislative journey. This is simple legislation 
which will help shrink the role of the Federal government and shift the 
responsibilities for ownership into the hands of local entities. In 
short, passage of this legislation will ensure a smoother and more 
efficient operation, which in turn will better serve the American 
taxpayer and the citizens of Southwest Arizona.
  I ask that my colleagues support passage of S. 356 and I look forward 
to watching the President sign it into law.

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