[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10517-H10518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BEND FEED CANAL PIPELINE PROJECT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2425) to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to 
participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed 
Canal Pipeline Project, Oregon, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2425

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Bend Feed Canal Pipeline 
     Project Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FEDERAL PARTICIPATION.

       (a) The Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the 
     Tumalo Irrigation District (referred to in this section as 
     the ``District''), is authorized to participate in the 
     planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal 
     Pipeline Project, Oregon.
       (b) The Federal share of the costs of the project shall not 
     exceed 50 per centum of the total, and shall be non-
     reimbursable. The District shall receive credit from the 
     Secretary toward the District's share of the project for any 
     funds the District has provided toward the design, planning 
     or construction prior to the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Funds received under this Act shall not be considered a 
     supplemental or additional benefit under the Act of June 17, 
     1902 (82 Stat. 388) and all Acts amendatory thereof or 
     supplementary thereto.
       (d) Title to facilities constructed under this Act will be 
     held by the District.
       (e) Operations and maintenance of the facilities will be 
     the responsibility of the District.
       (f) There are authorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 for 
     the Federal share of the activities authorized under this 
     Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2425 will enable the Bureau of Reclamation to 
participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed 
Canal Pipeline Project in Oregon, and for other purposes.
  The Federal cost share of the costs of the project shall not exceed 
50 percent of the total. The legislation authorizes $2,500,000 for this 
project.
  I urge an aye vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this legislation, and I urge its 
passage.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of 
S. 2425, the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project Act of 2000. This bill 
was sponsored in the Senate by my good friend, Senator Smith of Oregon, 
and I sponsored the companion legislation in the House.

[[Page H10518]]

  S. 2425 would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in 
the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline 
Project in Oregon.
  The Bend Feed Canal is built on pumice and other porous volcanic 
rock. Because of the porous rock, over 20 cubic feet per second of 
water is lost over the length of the Bend Feed Canal. This loss causes 
the Tumalo Irrigation District (District) to use all available water, 
and in drought years even that is not enough to supply the needs of its 
irrigators. The existing Bend Feed Canal has several segments currently 
piped. This creates a dangerous situation as a person falling into an 
open section of the canal will soon find themselves approaching a piped 
section which would mean almost certain death. Although the beginning 
of each piped section has a trash rack, with the urbanization of Bend 
and the development around the Bend Feed Canal, the risk to small 
children is great.
  This legislation will allow the District to replace six segments of 
open canal with pipeline. In addition to the water conservation 
benefits, once the project is complete the District will have increased 
system reliability and the customers in the area will have fewer safety 
concerns. This is a very important step for a once largely rural 
community that is experiencing rapid growth.
  The Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project Act of 2000 is supported by the 
Tumalo Irrigation District and the Oregon Water Resources Congress.
  The District would pay 50% of the costs of the project. The total 
cost of the project is expected to be approximately $4 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support S. 2425. It is a good bill for the 
irrigators and it is good bill for the Bend community.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 2425.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________