[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8502-H8503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRAND COULEE DAM

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1374) commemorating the 75th anniversary of the 
Grand Coulee Dam and recognizing its critical role in the national and 
economic security of the United States and the contributions of 
hydroelectric power to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1374

       Whereas the Grand Coulee Dam was one of the largest public 
     construction projects of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 
     ``New Deal'', in response to the Great Depression;
       Whereas construction of the Grand Coulee Dam began in the 
     summer of 1933 and was completed in 1942;
       Whereas 107 individuals lost their lives during the 
     construction process;
       Whereas the Grand Coulee Dam became the largest concrete 
     structure in the world, with 12 million cubic yards of 
     concrete--enough to build a sidewalk around the Earth twice;
       Whereas during World War II electricity from the Grand 
     Coulee Dam was needed to run the aluminum plants that 
     supported the production of ships and planes;
       Whereas forecasts of energy shortages in the 1960s led to 
     the construction of a 3rd power plant at the Grand Coulee 
     Dam, more than doubling its generating capacity;
       Whereas the 3 primary purposes of the Grand Coulee Dam are 
     generating 6.5 million kilowatts of electricity, supplying 
     water for irrigation as part of the Columbia Basin Project, 
     and providing much-needed flood control to the Columbia River 
     Basin;
       Whereas the Columbia Basin Project includes 300 miles of 
     canals and more than 3,000 miles of irrigation ditches, which 
     supply water to 500,000 acres of farmland, an area twice the 
     size of the State of Delaware;
       Whereas the crops grown on this farmland are worth more 
     than $500 million per year; and
       Whereas the Grand Coulee Dam is the cornerstone of the 
     electric power system in the State of Washington and the 
     largest hydroelectric power facility in North America: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Grand Coulee 
     Dam;
       (2) honors the sacrifice of the 107 individuals who lost 
     their lives during the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam; 
     and
       (3) recognizes that--
       (A) the Grand Coulee Dam continues to play a critical role 
     in the national and economic security of the United States by 
     providing vital electric power and crop irrigation;
       (B) hydroelectric power is a clean, renewable resource that 
     is emissions-free and plays a major role in controlling 
     emissions of greenhouse gases; and
       (C) having clean, affordable hydroelectric power helps 
     reduce the reliance of the United States on foreign oil 
     imports and supports the successful wind power industry in 
     the Northwestern United States by ensuring the availability 
     of electricity in the absence of sufficient wind power.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1374 recognizes the 
75th anniversary of the Grand Coulee Dam in providing for an important 
source of energy generation in the Northwest.
  I would like to commend my colleague, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, 
for her sponsorship of this resolution and her efforts to champion 
hydropower as an important source of energy generation.
  I ask my colleagues to support passage of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the resolution authored by 
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Doc Hastings, and the entire State of 
Washington delegation.
  The Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure ever built in 
the United States, with enough concrete to build a sidewalk around the 
Earth twice. The dam helped us win World War II by providing much 
needed electricity to build fighter planes and naval ships. The dam was 
also constructed to provide flood control, recreation and irrigation.

                              {time}  1345

  Today, it serves over 600,000 acres of irrigated cropland which feeds 
consumers nationwide and around the world.
  As you know, we have major energy problems in this Nation. The Grand 
Coulee Dam is an example of what our country has done right. It's a 
shining beacon of clean, renewable, domestic energy. In 2006, the dam 
provided
22,000 gigawatts of emission-free hydroelectricity. This translates 
into the reduction of 18 million tons of carbon dioxide, into 55,000 
tons of sulfur dioxide and into 44,000 tons of nitrogen oxide.
  Without this clean form of energy, 36.4 barrels of fuel oil, 10.7 
million tons of coal or 223 billion cubic feet of natural gas will have 
to be used to keep the lights on. In fact, Grand Coulee is so 
environmentally friendly that the NBC Today Show focused solely on the 
dam as part of the Earth Day broadcast.
  Despite the consensus that hydropower is clean, renewable and 
emissions-free, the Democrat leadership continues to exclude long-term 
hydropower resources, such as the Grand Coulee Dam, as part of its 
proposed renewable portfolio standard. This is logic-free given the 
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that I just mentioned. We hope 
the Democrats come to their senses and see the reality that large 
hydropower sources should be counted as a renewable resource in future 
bills.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution couldn't be brought up at a better 
time. I strongly support the 75th anniversary of the Grand Coulee Dam.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I again urge 
Members to support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1374.

[[Page H8503]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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