[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7202-S7203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS:
  S. 1148. A bill to convey the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, 
the Savage Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, and the 
Intake Irrigation Project to the appurtenant irrigation districts; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of 
legislation that helps a large number of family farmers on the border 
of Montana and North Dakota. The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Projects 
Title Transfer moves ownership of these irrigation projects from 
Federal control to local control. Both the Bureau of Reclamation and 
those relying on the projects for their livelihood agree there is 
little value in having the Federal Government retain ownership.
  I introduced this legislation in the last Congress, and continue to 
believe it helps us to achieve the long term goals of Montana 
irrigators, and the mission of the Bureau of Reclamation. Just this 
week I attended the confirmation hearing of John W. Keys, III, who is 
the designate for Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. I asked 
his position on title transfers of irrigation projects like the Lower 
Yellowstone, where local irrigation districts have successfully managed 
the Federal properties, and where the Bureau has encouraged the 
transfer of title to the Districts. His response to me was very 
encouraging. He stated this type of title transfer ``makes sense and is 
an opportunity to move facilities from Federal ownership to more 
appropriate control.'' He has promised to work with me and the 
Irrigation District to make this a reality, and I look forward to it.
  The history of these projects dates to the early 1900's with the 
original Lower Yellowstone project being built by the Bureau of 
Reclamation between 1906 and 1910. The Savage Unit was added in 1947-
48. The end result was the creation of fertile, irrigated land to help 
spur economic development in the area. To this day, agriculture is the 
number one industry in the area.
  The local impact of the projects is measurable in numbers, but the 
greatest impacts can only be seen by visiting the area. About 500 
family farms rely on these projects for economic substance, and the 
entire area relies on them to create stability in the local economy. In 
an area that has seen booms and busts in oil, gas, and other 
commodities, these irrigated lands continued producing and offering a 
foundation for the businesses in the area.
  As we all know, the agricultural economy is not as strong as we'd 
like it to be, but these irrigated lands offer a reasonable return over 
time and are the foundation for strong communities based upon the 
ideals that have made this country successful. The 500 families 
impacted are hard working, honest producers, and I can think of no 
better people to manage their own irrigation projects.

[[Page S7203]]

  Every day, we see an example of where the Federal Government is 
taking on a new task. We can debate the merits of these efforts on an 
individual basis, but I think we can all agree that while the 
government gets involved in new projects there are many that we can 
safely pass on to state or local control. The Lower Yellowstone 
Projects are a prime example of such an opportunity, and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in seeing this legislation passed as quickly as 
possible.
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