[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 121 (Thursday, September 30, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MONTANA WATER CONTRACTS EXTENSION ACT OF 2004

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                               speech of

                         HON. DENNIS R. REHBERG

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider H.R. 5009, 
legislation to extend water service contracts between the United States 
and specific water users in Montana.
  The bill is non-controversial and the House Resources Committee 
unanimously passed H.R. 5009 on September 22, 2004.
  My legislation affects 5 water entities in central and southwest 
Montana, including the City of Helena and 4 specific irrigation 
contractors. It permits the Bureau of Reclamation and these local water 
entities to extend their existing long-term water service contracts for 
up to another 2 years, so that the parties may negotiate new long-term 
contracts.
  This bill is a legislative fix to a bureaucratic situation. Most of 
the contracts addressed in my legislation are due to expire on December 
31, 2004. Contract renewal negotiations between these local water 
districts and the Bureau of Reclamation have been delayed by Missouri 
River Endangered Species Act studies and other issues. Without this 
legislation, the water service contracts would expire at the end of the 
year and the local entities would lose significant water service. The 
contract extensions will maintain the current water supply for the 
specified areas under the current terms and conditions during the 
renegotiation process.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important measure and vote in 
favor of maintaining water supply in Montana.




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