[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 112 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7885-H7888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT WATER EXCHANGE FEASIBILITY STUDY
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 581 and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 581
Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it
shall be in order without intervention of any point of order
to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 3986) to provide for
a study of the engineering feasibility of a water exchange in
lieu of electrification of the Chandler Pumping Plant at
Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington. The bill shall be
considered as read for amendment. The amendment recommended
by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill shall
be considered as adopted. The previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, to final
passage without intervening motion except one hour of debate
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Resources and one motion
to recommit with or without instructions.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cooksey). The gentleman from Washington
(Mr. Hastings) is recognized for 1 hour.
(Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate
only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), the ranking Democratic member of the
Committee on Rules, pending which I yield myself such time as I may
consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is
for the purpose of debate only.
{time} 1200
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, H.Res. 581 is a closed rule
waiving all points of order against the consideration of H.R. 3986, a
bill providing for a study of the engineering feasibility of a water
exchange in lieu of electrification of the Chandler Pumping Station at
Prosser Diversion Dam in the State of Washington. The resolution
provides for 1 hour of general debate in the House to be equally
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Resources. The rule further provides that the Committee on
Resources amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the
bill shall be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule waives all
points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute and provides one motion to recommit, with or without
instructions.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3986 passed the Committee on Resources unanimously
by voice vote on September 13. It was originally considered by the
House yesterday under suspension of the rules. We are bringing this
bill before the House again today because, although the bill was
supported by a majority of the House Members, it did not receive the
two-thirds support necessary for passage under suspension of the rules
for reasons completely unrelated to the substance of the bill.
We were told during debate on H.R. 3986 yesterday that Members who
opposed the bill did so in order to express their frustration that more
Democrat
[[Page H7886]]
bills have not been considered by the House under suspension of the
rules. On the surface, Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a compelling
argument and a legitimate cause for concern. After all, Members in this
body have every right to expect that they will be treated fairly
regardless of which party is in the majority.
The problem with the Democrat leaders' complaint, however, is that it
is completely groundless. When Members examine the record of bills
considered under suspension of the rules, here is what they will find:
in 1993 and 1994, the last Congress controlled by the Democrats, we
Republicans were given 11.8 percent of all bills on the suspension
calendar. In contrast, during this Congress, we have given the
Democrats 23.5 percent of the bills under suspension, which is fully
twice as many. Mr. Speaker, I guess they are right. On this issue, we
have not been fair. Actually we have been more than fair.
Although we should not have to take up the House's time on this bill
for the second day in a row, the partisan tactics of the leadership on
the other side of the aisle has left us with no choice but to bring
this bill back once again. The resolution before Members provides for a
closed rule on H.R. 3986 only because we have taken more than enough of
the Members' and the House's time on this measure and because Members
on the other side of the aisle have indicated in the press that they
would have supported this bill on its merits without any amendments had
they not decided to make an example of us during yesterday's exercise
in partisan finger pointing.
To summarize, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3986 is a straightforward and
noncontroversial bill. It provides funding for studies that we believe
will ultimately serve the goal of saving salmon while protecting water
rights, two important goals shared by people throughout the Pacific
Northwest. That is why H.R. 3986 is supported by environmental groups
as well as irrigators, Indian tribes and by local governments. Simply
put, this is a common sense measure that has gotten caught up in the
end-of-the-session partisan bickering here in the House that is of
absolutely no interest to the citizens or the salmon living in my
district. Frankly, both deserve better.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both the
rule on this bill and H.R. 3986 when it is considered on the floor of
the House, hopefully for the last time, in just a few minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and my dear friend,
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings), for yielding me the
customary half-hour, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this noncontroversial bill by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that will simply authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to study the engineering feasibility of
exchanging water from the Columbia River instead of the Yakima River to
provide electricity to the Chandler Pumping Plant and Power Plant.
Normally, noncontroversial bills like this come up under suspension,
Mr. Speaker; but normally bills by both Democrats and Republicans come
up, also. But for some reason Democratic bills are not coming to the
floor like they used to. Democratic bills are not even being scheduled
for hearings like they used to.
So this bill by my dear friend from Washington is a perfectly good
bill; it has been sent to the floor under a rule as part of a protest
of a larger policy of discrimination against Democratic bills. We have
no controversy with the bill.
I sincerely hope we can resolve this issue and get a fair number of
Democratic resources bills to the floor under suspension. I urge my
colleagues to support my very dear friend's bill. I hope they support
the rule and support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
I would just reiterate again what I said in my opening remarks. The
last time that my friend's party controlled the House, they had
provided the Republicans with half as many bills under suspension as we
have this year.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the
previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 581, I call up
the bill (H.R. 3986) to provide for a study of the engineering
feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification of the
Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington, and ask
for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). Pursuant to House Resolution
581, the bill is considered read for amendment.
The text of H.R. 3986 is as follows:
H.R. 3986
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT AND POWERPLANT OPERATIONS
AT PROSSER DIVERSION DAM, WASHINGTON.
Section 1208 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4562) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Water
Exchange'' after ``Electrification'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(C) by striking ``In order to'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Electrification.--In order to''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Water exchange alternative.--
``(A) In general.--As an alternative to the measures
authorized under paragraph (1), the Secretary may use sums
appropriated under paragraph (1) to study the engineering
feasibility of exchanging water from the Columbia River for
water historically diverted from the Yakima River.
``(B) Requirements.--In carrying out subparagraph (A), the
Secretary, in coordination with the Kennewick Irrigation
District and the Columbia Irrigation District--
``(i) shall prepare a report that describes project
benefits, contains feasibility level designs and cost
estimates;
``(ii) may obtain critical rights-of-way;
``(iii) shall prepare an environmental assessment; and
``(iv) shall conduct such other studies or investigations
as are necessary to develop a water exchange.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or water
exchange'' after ``electrification''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``electrification,''
each place it appears and inserting ``electrification or
water exchange''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The amendment printed in the bill is
adopted.
The text of H.R. 3986, as amended, is as follows:
H.R. 3986
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CHANDLER PUMPING PLANT AND POWERPLANT OPERATIONS
AT PROSSER DIVERSION DAM, WASHINGTON.
Section 1208 of Public Law 103-434 (108 Stat. 4562) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Water
Exchange'' after ``Electrification'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(C) by striking ``In order to'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Electrification.--In order to''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Water exchange alternative.--
``(A) In general.--As an alternative to the measures
authorized under paragraph (1) for electrification, the
Secretary is authorized to use not more than $4,000,000 of
sums appropriated under paragraph (1) to study the
engineering feasibility of exchanging water from the Columbia
River for water historically diverted from the Yakima River.
``(B) Requirements.--In carrying out subparagraph (A), the
Secretary, in coordination with the Kennewick Irrigation
District and in consultation with the Bonneville Power
Administration, shall--
``(i) prepare a report that describes project benefits and
contains feasibility level designs and cost estimates;
``(ii) secure the critical right-of-way areas for the
pipeline alignment;
``(iii) prepare an environmental assessment; and
``(iv) conduct such other studies or investigations as are
necessary to develop a water exchange.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or water exchange''
after ``electrification''; and
(B) in the second sentence of paragraph (2)(A), by
inserting ``or the equivalent of the rate'' before the
period;
[[Page H7887]]
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``electrification,''
each place it appears and inserting ``electrification or
water exchange''; and
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``of the two'' and
inserting ``thereof''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and
the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley) each will control 30
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
House Resolution 3986 authorizes the study of the feasibility of
exchanging water diverted from the Yakima River for use by two
irrigation districts for water from the Columbia River. The study would
be conducted as part of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement
Project. The legislation will promote salmon recovery in the Yakima
River without reducing the amount of water available to irrigators.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most contentious and divisive issues in the
Pacific Northwest is that of salmon recovery. The desire to restore
salmon runs is one that is universally shared in the Pacific Northwest.
It is vital to the historical culture of the region. The difficulty
that arises is one of how best to go about salmon recovery, taking into
consideration the species, the environment, local and regional
economics and so forth.
There are some that have been pushing for the immediate extreme
measure of removing the four lower Snake River dams on the Snake River
while others, myself included, believe we should take some common sense
steps toward salmon recovery before we consider the extreme measure of
removing dams. H.R. 3986 is one of those steps. In itself, it will not
recover salmon. But the study that it authorizes may be one of the
pieces of the salmon-recovery puzzle.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Hastings) be allowed to control the time for the
majority.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Idaho?
There was no objection.
Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3986 would simply authorize a study of a new water
pumping plant at the Prosser Diversion Dam in the State of Washington.
According to the sponsors of the legislation, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and Senator Gorton, the study would determine
if diverting water for irrigation from the larger Columbia River
instead of the Yakima River would help save the endangered fish in the
area.
There is no objection to the enactment of H.R. 3986.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3986, and I want to
thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) for yielding the time to
me.
Mr. Speaker, the preservation of salmon in the Pacific Northwest is
one of my top priorities in Congress. I am convinced that we can save
this national treasure while also preserving the jobs and quality of
life in the Pacific Northwest. My legislation is just one example of
the benefits that can be obtained for salmon by interested parties
working together on the local level.
Yesterday, this legislation received a majority of the House of
Representatives under suspension but failed to garner the necessary
two-thirds necessary for passage. It is my understanding, as the
gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley) said, they have no objections to
this legislation that went through the committee process and that was
reported out by unanimous vote. However, yesterday the minority party
chose to play politics over salmon recovery, and so we are returning
here today to ask my colleagues for their continued support of this
legislation.
I was pleased, however, to receive support from three of my Democrat
Members from Washington State, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Inslee and Mr. Baird, on
the vote yesterday. They chose by their vote to choose salmon over
politics. I appreciate their commitment to saving salmon in the Pacific
Northwest.
Very simply, this legislation authorizes a study of the feasibility
of exchanging water diverted from the Yakima River for use by the
Kennewick and Columbia Irrigation Districts for water from the Columbia
River. The study would be conducted as part of the Bureau of
Reclamation's Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, a series of
projects authorized by Congress to improve water quality and quantity
in the Yakima River. These two systems currently take their water from
the lower Yakima River where flows have already been decreased because
of upstream diversions. By taking water from a much larger volume of
the Columbia River, the impact on threatened and endangered species
would be significantly reduced.
Specifically, this project provides the opportunity to increase
Yakima River flows at the Prosser Dam during critical low-flow periods
by up as many as 750 cubic feet per second. This approach will provide
over twice as much flow augmentation as the previously approved
electrification project and would completely eliminate the Yakima River
diversion for the Kennewick Irrigation District. The new pump station
and pressure pipeline from the Columbia River will be the cornerstone
of a more salmon-friendly Kennewick Irrigation District.
This project is a winner for both fish and for water users. It
balances the need to improve habitat for threatened species while
protecting water rights. Preliminary results from the lower reach
habitat study indicate that these increased flows would greatly help
salmon and bull trout. In addition, this proposal would provide
substantial water quality improvements to the Yakima River.
It is important to note that a change in the diversion for the
Kennewick Irrigation District from the Yakima River to the Columbia
River will completely change the current operational philosophy of the
district. It will evolve from a relatively simple gravity system to one
of significant complexity involving a major pump station and a pressure
pipeline to the major feeder canals. This remodeling will have a
significant impact on the existing systems and its users during
construction, start-up and transition. That is why it is essential for
the Kennewick Irrigation District to be in a position to develop these
facilities in the way that best fits its current and future operational
goals and causes the least disruption to the district water users. That
is why this legislation requires the Bureau of Reclamation to give the
Kennewick Irrigation District substantial control over the planning and
design work in this study with the bureau, of course, having final
approval. It is an approach that will continue local improvement and
support which is vital to the success of this project and other
projects.
This legislation is noncontroversial, which is somewhat unique when
you are talking about water issues within the Pacific Northwest. It is
supported by a large coalition of Federal, State and local agencies and
stakeholders. Amongst those are the National Marine Fisheries, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife, the Yakima Nation, the Washington State Department
of Ecology, the Northwest Power Planning Council, the Washington State
Water Resources Association, American Rivers, and the Yakima Basin
Board of Irrigators.
I do want to say, too, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation highlights
the ingenuity of local stakeholders coming together for a common
purpose of saving salmon and preserving our way of life. I am pleased
to report to the House that the effort before the committee today is
one of many in my district. There are many that are going on in my
district to further this goal. Specifically, I would like to mention my
support for the efforts of the Columbia-Snake River irrigators who have
outlined a water management alternative that will revitalize the salmon
recovery efforts by optimizing fish production and the effective use of
this region's financial resources.
{time} 1215
Their plan accomplishes this by protecting tribal treaty rights and
ensuring their long-term stability. Finally, the plan recognizes the
importance of State and privately held water rights to the economy of
the Pacific Northwest.
[[Page H7888]]
Another example of the local initiative for salmon recovery is the
effort currently being undertaken by the Confederated Tribes of the
Coleville Reservation and the Okanogan County Irrigation District up in
the northern part of my district. These groups have taken a proactive
approach to salmon recovery by conducting a joint study of water
management efforts along the Salmon Creek and Okanogan County. Their
joint efforts will result in the improvement of the fish passage and
the habitat ensuring the preservation of salmon while protecting
farmers and irrigators of their water rights.
I would say, Mr. Speaker, this legislation symbolizes what can be
done and what is being done in my district and in the Northwest to try
to ensure salmon recovery by recognizing and respecting local people
making decisions on a local level.
I am pleased that this bill is in front of us again today. I regret
that it got caught up in a bit of bipartisanship yesterday, but I would
urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). Pursuant to House Resolution
581, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a
quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 418,
nays 1, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 483]
YEAS--418
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Allen
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldacci
Baldwin
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Becerra
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Bryant
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Canady
Cannon
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Carson
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth-Hage
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coble
Collins
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cook
Cooksey
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crowley
Cubin
Cummings
Cunningham
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Fletcher
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Fowler
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Ganske
Gejdenson
Gekas
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Green (TX)
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hansen
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill (IN)
Hill (MT)
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoeffel
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Hooley
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
Kuykendall
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Largent
Larson
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Metcalf
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Minge
Mink
Moakley
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Ney
Northup
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Ose
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pease
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Phelps
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Reyes
Reynolds
Riley
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Salmon
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaffer
Schakowsky
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shows
Shuster
Simpson
Sisisky
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Souder
Spence
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Strickland
Stump
Stupak
Sununu
Sweeney
Talent
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tierney
Toomey
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Velazquez
Visclosky
Vitter
Walden
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watkins
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
Whitfield
Wicker
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NAYS--1
Paul
NOT VOTING--14
Campbell
Clay
Coburn
Gephardt
Hutchinson
Klink
Lazio
McIntosh
Nethercutt
Norwood
Spratt
Vento
Wilson
Wise
{time} 1239
Mr. MARKEY changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________