[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5942-H5944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT 
                              ACT OF 2007

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 361) to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water 
Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize 
additional projects and activities under that Act, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 361

       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 ``Lower Rio Grande Valley 
     Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES 
                   UNDER THE LOWER RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION 
                   AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) Additional Projects.--Section 4(a) of the Lower Rio 
     Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement 
     Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-576; 114 Stat. 3067) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(20) In Cameron County, Texas, Bayview Irrigation 
     District No. 11, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in the March 3, 2004, engineering report by NRS 
     Consulting Engineers at a cost of $1,425,219.

[[Page H5943]]

       ``(21) In the Cameron County, Texas, Brownsville Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in the February 11, 2004 engineering report by NRS 
     Consulting Engineers at a cost of $722,100.
       ``(22) In the Cameron County, Texas Harlingen Irrigation 
     District No. 1, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in the March, 2004, engineering report by 
     Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $4,173,950.
       ``(23) In the Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County 
     Irrigation District No. 2, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the February 11, 2004 engineering 
     report by NRS Consulting Engineers at a cost of $8,269,576.
       ``(24) In the Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County 
     Irrigation District No. 6, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in an engineering report by Turner 
     Collie Braden, Inc., at a cost of $5,607,300.
       ``(25) In the Cameron County, Texas, Adams Gardens 
     Irrigation District No. 19, water conservation and 
     improvement projects as identified in the March, 2004 
     engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of 
     $2,500,000.
       ``(26) In the Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas, Hidalgo 
     and Cameron Counties Irrigation District No. 9, water 
     conservation and improvement projects as identified by the 
     February 11 engineering report by NRS Consulting Engineers at 
     a cost of $8,929,152.
       ``(27) In the Hidalgo and Willacy Counties, Texas, Delta 
     Lake Irrigation District, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the March, 2004 engineering report 
     by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $8,000,000.
       ``(28) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 2, a water conservation and 
     improvement project identified in the engineering reports 
     attached to a letter dated February 11, 2004, from the 
     district's general manager, at a cost of $5,312,475.
       ``(29) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 1, water conservation and improvement 
     projects identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 
     2004 by Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $5,595,018.
       ``(30) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 6, water conservation and improvement 
     projects as identified in the March, 2004, engineering report 
     by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $3,450,000.
       ``(31) In the Hidalgo County, Texas Santa Cruz Irrigation 
     District No. 15, water conservation and improvement projects 
     as identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 2004 by 
     Melden and Hunt at a cost of $4,609,000.
       ``(32) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Engelman Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in an engineering report dated March 5, 2004 by 
     Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $2,251,480.
       ``(33) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Valley Acres Water 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects as 
     identified in an engineering report dated March, 2004 by 
     Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of $500,000.
       ``(34) In the Hudspeth County, Texas, Hudspeth County 
     Conservation and Reclamation District No. 1, water 
     conservation and improvement projects as identified in the 
     March, 2004, engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at 
     a cost of $1,500,000.
       ``(35) In the El Paso County, Texas, El Paso County Water 
     Improvement District No. 1, water conservation and 
     improvement projects as identified in the March, 2004, 
     engineering report by Axiom-Blair Engineering at a cost of 
     $10,500,000.
       ``(36) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Donna Irrigation 
     District, water conservation and improvement projects 
     identified in an engineering report dated March 22, 2004 by 
     Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of $2,500,000.
       ``(37) In the Hidalgo County, Texas, Hidalgo County 
     Irrigation District No. 16, water conservation and 
     improvement projects identified in an engineering report 
     dated March 22, 2004 by Melden and Hunt, Inc. at a cost of 
     $2,800,000.
       ``(38) The United Irrigation District of Hidalgo County 
     water conservation and improvement projects as identified in 
     a March 2004 engineering report by Sigler Winston, Greenwood 
     and Associates at a cost of $6,067,021.''.
       (b) Inclusion of Activities To Conserve Water or Improve 
     Supply; Transfers Among Projects.--Section 4 of such Act 
     (Public Law 106-576; 114 Stat. 3067) is further amended by 
     redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e), and by 
     inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Inclusion of Activities To Conserve Water or Improve 
     Supply.--In addition to the activities identified in the 
     engineering reports referred to in subsection (a), each 
     project that the Secretary conducts or participates in under 
     subsection (a) may include any of the following:
       ``(1) The replacement of irrigation canals and lateral 
     canals with buried pipelines.
       ``(2) The impervious lining of irrigation canals and 
     lateral canals.
       ``(3) Installation of water level, flow measurement, pump 
     control, and telemetry systems.
       ``(4) The renovation and replacement of pumping plants.
       ``(5) Other activities that will result in the conservation 
     of water or an improved supply of water.
       ``(d) Transfers Among Projects.--Of amounts made available 
     for a project referred to in any of paragraphs (20) through 
     (38) of subsection (a), the Secretary may transfer and use 
     for another such project up to 10 percent.''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR LOWER RIO 
                   GRANDE CONSTRUCTION.

       Section 4(e) of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources 
     Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-576; 
     114 Stat. 3067), as redesignated by section 2(b) of this Act, 
     is further amended by inserting before the period the 
     following: ``for projects referred to in paragraphs (1) 
     through (19) of subsection (a), and $42,356,145 (2004 
     dollars) for projects referred to in paragraphs (20) through 
     (38) of subsection (a)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Cannon) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 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 the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to first commend our colleague from Texas, 
and my classmate, Representative Hinojosa, for his dedication to and 
hard work on this legislation.
  The purpose of H.R. 361 is to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water 
Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize 
additional projects and related activities.
  H.R. 361, when enacted, would authorize limited Federal assistance 
for 19 projects aimed at conserving water or improving water supply. 
This would include the replacement of irrigation canals and lateral 
canals, the lining of channels and the installation of water level, 
flow measurement, pump control, and remote control systems.
  This legislation would help to accomplish a more sustainable water 
supply by enhancing existing water distribution systems and monitoring 
water resources.
  I thank Mr. Hinojosa for his efforts on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask unanimous consent to have his 
remarks inserted into the Record, and I urge my colleagues to join me 
in supporting H.R. 361.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 361 and yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands has appropriately explained 
the bill, which has passed the bill in the last two Congresses in one 
form or another. I support the bill.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 361, a bill that 
will authorize a number of projects which will improve irrigation and 
water conservation throuhgout the Rio Grande Valley. I want to thank 
Chairman Rahall and Chairwoman Napolitano as well as my colleagues from 
the Texas Border Region, Congressmen Ortiz, Reyes, Rodriguez, and 
Cuellar for their support in bringing this vitally important 
legislation onto the House floor.
  I represent a region of the country that is experiencing phenomenal 
population growth yet is subject to severe periodic droughts. The 2000 
Census showed that the population of Hidalgo County, in my district, 
increased by 48 percent. On the Mexican side of the border, millions 
have come to work in the maquiladoras and to take advantage of the 
economic boom that has come from NAFTA.
  This growth has placed an enormous strain on water delivery systems 
throughout the Texas-Mexico border region. Water intended for 
irrigating crops flows through open dirt ditches where much of the 
precious water supply is lost to seepage and evaporation. 
Municipalities also rely on the water from these inefficient and 
outdated irrigation delivery systems to meet the water needs of growing 
communities.
  H.R. 361 will authorize 19 projects that will allow border water 
districts to continue upgrading and modernizing our antiquated water 
delivery systems through the installation of water pipes and canal 
linings. Similar projects were authorized in the 106th and 107th 
Congresses.

[[Page H5944]]

  The Rio Grande Valley has already made a great deal of progress 
because this has been a collaborative effort. The irrigation district 
have provided matching funds. The Texas Water Development Board and 
Texas A&M University have paid for many of the engineering studies. 
Federal appropriators have provided more than $10 million. As a result, 
we are seeing water savings of almost 80 percent in the projects that 
have been completed.
  Most importantly, Federal authorization has allowed us to tap into 
the resources of the North American Development Bank. To date, NADBank 
has approved almost $24 million for these projects and passage of H.R. 
361 will make these new projects eligible for NADBank assistance.
  These funds are being put to good use. Numerous projects are already 
underway and some are almost completed.
  When the metering system is fully installed, irrigation districts 
will have a much clearer picture of water usage and water savings. This 
data will be vital to improving water management throughout the region.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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 the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 361.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being 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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