[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H8589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       REAUTHORIZING LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN RESTORATION PROGRAM

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6121) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
reauthorize a program relating to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 6121

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

     SECTION 1. LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN RESTORATION 
                   REAUTHORIZATION.

       The first section 121 of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1273) (relating to Lake Pontchartrain 
     Basin) is amended in subsection (f) by striking ``2005'' and 
     inserting ``2011''.

     SEC. 2. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

       The second section 121 of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1274) (relating to wet weather 
     watershed pilot projects) is redesignated as section 122.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in strong support of H.R. 6121, to reauthorize the Lake 
Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program.
  The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is a 5,000 square mile watershed 
encompassing 16 parishes in Louisiana and four Mississippi counties. 
The area comprises the largest estuary in the gulf coast region and one 
of the largest estuaries in these United States.
  In 2000, Congress added section 121 to the Clean Water Act to 
establish a Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program within EPA. 
The program authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to help 
people in Louisiana and Mississippi address pollution problems 
affecting Lake Pontchartrain. Now it is time to reauthorize the Lake 
Pontchartrain Basin Program.
  H.R. 6121, introduced by Mr. Baker, would reauthorize the Lake 
Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program for an additional 5 years. I 
would like to commend Representative Baker for his efforts to restore 
the ecological health of Lake Pontchartrain, and I urge all Members to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I too rise in support of H.R. 6121, the reauthorization of 
the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program. My good friend and colleague from 
Wisconsin gave a clear and convincing summary of what the bill is 
about, and I see no reason to actually prolong this. I agree with the 
sentiment, and I strongly support it
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6121.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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