[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1226-H1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
        YAKIMA-TIETON IRRIGATION DISTRICT CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2007

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 386) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey certain buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, 
to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 386

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Yakima-Tieton Irrigation 
     District Conveyance Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN BUILDINGS AND LANDS OF THE 
                   YAKIMA PROJECT, WASHINGTON.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall convey to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District, 
     located in Yakima County, Washington, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the buildings and 
     lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, in accordance with 
     the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement titled 
     ``Agreement Between the United States and the Yakima-Tieton 
     Irrigation District to Transfer Title to Certain Federally 
     Owned Buildings and Lands, With Certain Property Rights, 
     Title, and Interest, to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation 
     District'' (Contract No. 5-07-10-L1658).
       (b) Liability.--Effective upon the date of conveyance under 
     this section, the United States shall not be held liable by 
     any court for damages of any kind arising out of any act, 
     omission, or occurence relating to the conveyed buildings and 
     lands, except for damages caused by acts of negligence 
     committed by the United States or by its employees or agents 
     before the date of conveyance. Nothing in this section 
     increases the liability of the United States beyond that 
     provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code 
     (popularly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act), on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Benefits.--After conveyance of the buildings and lands 
     to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District under this section--
       (1) such buildings and lands shall not be considered to be 
     a part of a Federal reclamation project; and
       (2) such irrigation district shall not be eligible to 
     receive any benefits with respect to any buildings and lands 
     conveyed, except benefits that would be available to a 
     similarly situated person with respect to such buildings and 
     lands that are not part of a Federal reclamation project.
       (d) Report.--If the Secretary of the Interior has not 
     completed the conveyance required under subsection (a) within 
     12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that explains the 
     reason such conveyance has not been completed and stating the 
     date by which the conveyance will be completed.

  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.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 386 would transfer title for approximately 9 acres 
of land and several buildings to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District. 
The terms of the transfer are included in a formal agreement between 
the Bureau of Reclamation and the irrigation district. Other parts of 
the reclamation project, including the Tieton diversion dam and 
associated canals, would not be affected.
  In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing on similar legislation. That bill was favorably reported by the 
committee and passed by this House. We have no objection to this 
legislation.

[[Page H1227]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 386 and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 386, sponsored by our colleague, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings), conveys 9 acres of federally owned land and 
administrative buildings to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in 
Washington State. No project facilities, such as dams, diversion 
structures or canals, are included in this title transfer. The transfer 
has been in the works for almost a decade.
  This legislation, also introduced by the junior Senator from 
Washington State, will enhance more private ownership and decrease the 
Federal Government's liability. It is a win for the local community and 
a win for the American taxpayer.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan 
legislation.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 386 is a pretty straightforward bill. This 
legislation would authorize the transfer of about 9 acres of Federal 
property along with a few associated structures from the Bureau of 
Reclamation to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in central 
Washington.
  The irrigation district has fully repaid its obligations to the 
Federal Government related to these properties and now simply pays the 
bureau for their operation and maintenance. This conveyance would 
enable the irrigation district to make needed improvements, while 
allowing the bureau to focus its limited resources where they are more 
urgently needed.
  This legislation is based on a formula agreement negotiated between 
the bureau and the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in 2004. I commend 
the irrigation district and the staff of the bureau for working 
together at the local level to resolve the concerns of the parties 
involved.
  Mr. Speaker, this same legislation passed unanimously during the 
previous Congress, but didn't get through during the final parts of the 
session. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill again today so 
that we may move it on to the other body.
  I want to thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young of the 
Natural Resources Committee and their staff for their assistance in 
expediting this bill.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, 
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. 386.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. 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 question will 
be postponed.

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