[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 141 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1712-E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JIM MATHESON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Chairman 
Oberstar of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for working 
with the Science and Technology Committee in such a cooperative and 
constructive manner on this bill, and I will insert an exchange of 
letters between the committees into the Record.


[[Page E1713]]


         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                    Washington, DC, July 22, 2008.
     Hon. Bart Gordon,
     Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
  Dear Chairman Gordon: I write to you regarding H.R. 3957, the ``Water 
Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act.'' This legislation 
authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a research 
and development program to promote water use efficiency and 
conservation technologies and practices.
       H.R. 3957 contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to 
     bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious 
     manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential 
     referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration 
     of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision 
     to forego a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, 
     reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 3957.
       Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees 
     during any House-Senate conference convened on this 
     legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the 
     Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to 
     support any request by the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 3957 
     or similar legislation.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Committee 
     Report on H.R. 3957 and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House Floor.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                          James L. Oberstar, M.C.,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Science and 
           Technology,
                                    Washington, DC, July 22, 2008.
     Hon. James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oberstar: Thank you for your July 22, 2008 
     letter regarding H.R. 3957, the Water Use Efficiency and 
     Conservation Research Act. Your support for this legislation 
     and your assistance in ensuring its timely consideration are 
     greatly appreciated.
       I agree that provisions in the bill are of jurisdictional 
     interest to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure. I acknowledge that by forgoing a sequential 
     referral, your Committee is not relinquishing its 
     jurisdiction and I will fully support your request to be 
     represented in a House-Senate conference on those provisions 
     over which the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     has jurisdiction in H.R. 3957. A copy of our letters will be 
     placed in the Committee Report on H.R. 3957 and in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
       I value your cooperation and look forward to working with 
     you as we move ahead with this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bart Gordon,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________