[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2126]]
       SOUTHERN IDAHO BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPAYMENT ACT OF 2007

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 467) to authorize early repayment of obligations to the 
Bureau of Reclamation within the A&B Irrigation District in the State 
of Idaho, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 467

       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 ``Southern Idaho Bureau of 
     Reclamation Repayment Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. EARLY REPAYMENT OF A&B IRRIGATION DISTRICT 
                   CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 213 of the 
     Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390mm), any 
     landowner within the A&B Irrigation District in the State 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``District'') may repay, at 
     any time, the construction costs of District project 
     facilities that are allocated to land of the landowner within 
     the District.
       (b) Applicability of Full-Cost Pricing Limitations.--On 
     discharge, in full, of the obligation for repayment of all 
     construction costs described in subsection (a) that are 
     allocated to all lands the landowner owns in the District in 
     question, the parcels of land shall not be subject to the 
     ownership and full-cost pricing limitations under Federal 
     reclamation law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, 
     chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory of 
     that Act (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.), including the Reclamation 
     Reform Act of 1982 (13 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.).
       (c) Certification.--On request of a landowner that has 
     repaid, in full, the construction costs described in 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall provide 
     to the landowner a certificate described in section 213(b)(1) 
     of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 
     390mm(b)(1)).
       (d) Effect.--Nothing in this Act--
       (1) modifies any contractual rights under, or amends or 
     reopens, the reclamation contract between the District and 
     the United States; or
       (2) modifies any rights, obligations, or relationships 
     between the District and landowners in the District under 
     Idaho State law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The purpose of H.R. 467, as amended, introduced by our colleague 
Congressman Simpson, is to authorize early repayment of landowner 
obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the A&B Irrigation 
District in southeastern Idaho.
  The A&B Irrigation District receives part of its irrigation water 
supply from the Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka Project. H.R. 467, as 
amended, will provide administrative consistency between the landowners 
within the A&B Irrigation District and those within other districts 
served by the Minidoka Project.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation simply allows landowners to pay off 
their financial obligations related to the Bureau of Reclamation's 
Minidoka project. We believe this legislation is appropriate and, in 
fact, may provide a slight financial benefit to the United States.
  In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing on similar legislation. This legislation was subsequently 
passed by the House. We have no objection to this noncontroversial 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 467. H.R. 467, sponsored by our colleague 
Mike Simpson, allows for the early repayment of capital costs 
associated with a Federal water project in Idaho.
  Under existing law, landowners who benefit from this water project 
cannot prepay the capital costs they owe to the Federal Government. But 
this bill gives the Bureau of Reclamation the ability to accept 
prepayment from these landowners. This legislation benefits the 
American taxpayer because it allows early revenue to flow into the U.S. 
Treasury and allows local landowners to reduce their debt.
  I urge my colleagues to support this very good, commonsense bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 467, 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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