[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 19, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RATHDRUM PRAIRIE/SPOKANE VALLEY AQUIFER STUDY

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 699) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
comprehensive study of the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer, 
located in Idaho and Washington.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 699

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

     SECTION 1. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE RATHDRUM PRAIRIE/
                   SPOKANE VALLEY AQUIFER.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in 
     consultation with the State of Idaho and the State of 
     Washington, shall conduct a comprehensive study of the 
     Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer for the purpose of 
     preparing a model of the aquifer and establishing for those 
     States a mutually acceptable understanding of the aquifer as 
     a ground water resource.
       (b) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a 
     report on the findings and conclusions of the study by not 
     later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       For conducting the study under this Act there is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary $3,500,000.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo).
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 699, authored by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Nethercutt), directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with the 
State of Idaho and the State of Washington to conduct a comprehensive 
study for the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer by preparing a 
groundwater model to help establish a mutually acceptable understanding 
of the aquifer as a groundwater resource. The tools developed by this 
legislation will help to better coordinate and understand the various 
factors that influence the quantity and quality of the aquifer and 
encourage better cooperation between the two States charged with its 
maintenance operations. I urge adoption of the measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 699. This 
bill simply directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of 
the groundwater resources in certain areas of the States of Washington 
and Idaho. We support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do 
so as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 699.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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