[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ALLOWING FOR RENEGOTIATION OF PAYMENT SCHEDULE OF CONTRACTS BETWEEN 
   SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND REDWOOD VALLEY COUNTY WATER DISTRICT

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 235) to allow for the renegotiation of the payment 
schedule of contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Redwood Valley County Water District, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 235

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

     SECTION 1. RENEGOTIATION OF PAYMENT SCHEDULE.

       Section 15 of Public Law 100-516 (102 Stat. 2573) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) By amending paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) If, as of January 1, 2006, the Secretary of the 
     Interior and the Redwood Valley County Water District have 
     not renegotiated the schedule of payment, the District may 
     enter into such additional non-Federal obligations as are 
     necessary to finance procurement of dedicated water rights 
     and improvements necessary to store and convey those rights 
     to provide for the District's water needs. The Secretary 
     shall reschedule the payments due under loans numbered 14-06-
     200-8423A and 14-06-200-8423A Amendatory and said payments 
     shall commence when such additional obligations have been 
     financially satisfied by the District. The date of the 
     initial payment owed by the District to the United States 
     shall be regarded as the start of the District's repayment 
     period and the time upon which any interest shall first be 
     computed and assessed under section 5 of the Small 
     Reclamation Projects Act of 1956 (43 U.S.C. 422a et seq.).''.
       (2) By striking subsection (c).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. 
McMorris Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days 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 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in very strong support of H.R. 235, as amended. This 
legislation will allow the Redwood Valley County Water District in 
Northern California to renegotiate loans it received from the Federal 
Government for an unsuccessful water project. This action will clear 
the way for the Water District to initiate a new project that will 
develop a reliable supply of drinking water for that area. The District 
will rely only on private financing for the new project. No Federal 
money will be spent on this new project.
  However, before the District can secure private financing for any 
project, it must renegotiate the existing loans to provide for their 
repayment subsequent to repayment of the new loan. Once the new project 
is built and delivering water, it will provide enough revenue to allow 
the District to repay both its private loan and the United States 
Government.
  Specifically, this legislation allows the Redwood County Valley Water 
District to secure a private loan for a project to provide the region 
with a reliable water supply. It also requires the Water District to 
repay its current suspended loan to the Federal Government once the 
renewed water project is paid for.
  In consultation with the minority, the legislation includes a minor 
amendment to clarify the requirement that the Secretary of the Interior 
must reschedule loan payments and that the payments must begin 
immediately upon satisfaction of the Water District's newer financial 
obligation.
  Similar legislation was passed by this House in the 109th Congress; 
and I congratulate my colleague, Congressman Mike Thompson, for all of 
his hard work on behalf of the Redwood Valley County Water District.
  I do urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 235, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 235.
  There were many last-minute questions about this bill mainly because 
a hearing wasn't held on it. I hope this will not be the standard 
procedure for how the majority party brings legislation to the House 
floor. That is why I am pleased that the majority has made additional 
inquiries regarding this bill and has decided to offer an amendment to 
address some concerns. With this amendment, I will not oppose the 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 235, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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