[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6501-H6502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   BURNT, MALHEUR, OWYHEE, AND POWDER RIVER BASIN WATER OPTIMIZATION 
                     FEASIBILITY STUDY ACT OF 2001

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 238) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct feasibility studies on water optimization in the Burnt River 
basin, Malheur River basin, Owyhee River basin, and Powder River basin, 
Oregon.
  The Clerk read as follows:

[[Page H6502]]

                                 S. 238

       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 ``Burnt, Malheur, Owyhee, and 
     Powder River Basin Water Optimization Feasibility Study Act 
     of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY.

       The Secretary of the Interior may conduct feasibility 
     studies on water optimization in the Burnt River basin, 
     Malheur River basin, Owyhee River basin, and Powder River 
     basin, Oregon.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 238 is similar to the House-passed bill H.R. 1883 
introduced and authored by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).
  I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Walden) to explain this legislation.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to 
speak in favor of S. 238.
  This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
engage in feasibility investigations for the Burnt, Malheur and Owyhee 
River basins in eastern Oregon. It is the next step in the United 
States Bureau of Reclamation process now that their initial study has 
been completed. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's earlier studies 
examined problems associated with such use as excess nutrients and 
surface water, sedimentation, high water temperatures, degraded fish 
habitat, low stream flows, and lack of adequate stream-side vegetation.
  The feasibility studies that S. 238 authorizes would help find the 
most logical approaches to address these issues.
  Mr. Speaker, the farmers and ranchers are the driving force behind 
this legislation and its companion that I sponsored here in the House, 
as they have proven over and over again that it is the farmers and 
ranchers who are some of our strongest conservationists. They care 
deeply about the land and water that they will use to grow the crops 
and raise the livestock that feed us all. This bill will set a process 
in motion that will allow the farmers to leave more water in-stream 
while maintaining their current yields.
  The bill is supported by the Burnt River Irrigation District, the 
Powder Valley Water Control District, the Baker Valley Irrigation 
District, the Owyhee Irrigation District, the Owyhee Ditch Company, the 
Vale Oregon Irrigation District, and the Warm Springs Irrigation 
District. It is a simple, straightforward bill that deserves the 
support of my colleagues, and I ask for that.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we have no objections to this measure, but it is our 
hope that an equally important water resource measure for Austin, 
Texas, will also be considered by the House in the near future.
  My colleagues on the Committee on Resources may recall that when we 
met on July 10 to consider Senator Wyden's bill for these river basins 
in Oregon, we also supported the bill of our colleague, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Doggett), H.R. 4739. He works hard for his constituents 
and is to be commended for his leadership on this issue as well. The 
Doggett bill would authorize Federal financial assistance for a water 
recycling project in the Austin, Texas, area.
  As I recall, the committee approved the Doggett bill without 
amendment and by unanimous consent. I have no doubt that S. 238 is 
meritorious. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle might 
be able to now schedule this other equally important water legislation 
in the foreseeable future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. 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 Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 238.
  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.

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