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




         SANTEE SIOUX TRIBE OF NEBRASKA WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4938) to direct the Secretary of the Interior, through the 
Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility study to determine the 
most feasible method of developing a safe and adequate municipal, 
rural, and industrial water supply for the Santee Sioux Tribe of 
Nebraska, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4938

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

     SECTION 1. STUDY; REPORT.

       (a) Study.--Pursuant to reclamation laws, the Secretary of 
     the Interior (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
     ``Secretary''), through the Bureau of Reclamation and in 
     consultation with the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska 
     (hereafter in this section referred to as the ``Tribe''), 
     shall conduct a feasibility study to determine the most 
     feasible method of developing a safe and adequate municipal, 
     rural, and industrial water treatment and distribution system 
     for the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska that could serve the 
     tribal community and adjacent communities and incorporate 
     population growth and economic development activities for a 
     period of 40 years.
       (b) Cooperative Agreement.--At the request of the Tribe, 
     the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with 
     the Tribe for activities necessary to conduct the study 
     required by subsection (a) regarding which the Tribe has 
     unique expertise or knowledge.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after funds are made 
     available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
     transmit to Congress a report containing the results of the 
     study required by subsection (a).
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary $500,000 to carry out 
     this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). 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, H.R. 4938 is authored by the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), our colleague on the Committee on Resources. I 
yield to him such time as he may consume to explain this legislation.
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support and 
for the support of the ranking member for this small, but critically 
important $500,000 feasibility study to address water quality and 
quality needs on the Santee Sioux reservation. This reservation is 
located on the Nebraska-South Dakota border of northeastern Nebraska; 
and as has been the case in many previous bills, what we have found is 
that the water quality on the reservation has really been degraded.
  Currently, the system is antiquated and is not working well. It is 
dependent upon a great number of small wells and water treatment 
systems; and at times, the water quality is either terrible or the 
water supply is relatively nonexistent.
  Currently, the water distribution systems are at maximum capacity, 
which limits housing expansion and deters economic development. In this 
particular case, this small tribe needs all of the housing and all of 
the economic development that they can possibly secure. So this is 
critical as far as they are concerned.
  The feasibility study authorized by H.R. 4938 would be administered 
by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Santee Sioux Tribe through a 
cooperative agreement. The study will identify safe, domestic water 
sources, water treatment requirements, water distribution renovations, 
and engineering recommendations based on a 40-year projection. A 
revitalized tribal water treatment and distribution system will serve 
the tribal communities and adjacent communities and will incorporate 
population growth and economic development activities in an area where 
economic development is desperately needed.
  This bill addresses a critical need of the Santee Sioux reservation, 
and it has been allowed to go on far too long. I urge the House to pass 
this important measure for the people of the Santee Sioux Tribe, and I 
again thank the chairman for his support. I urge passage of H.R. 4938.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The minority has reviewed the legislation and agrees with the 
majority's explanation of it. We are glad to support the legislation by 
the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).
  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 bill, H.R. 4938.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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