[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E974-E975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 1145) to 
     implement a National Water Research and Development 
     Initiative, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, Chairman Oberstar and the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff have worked with us 
very constructively on this legislation, and I'd like to insert an 
exchange of letters into the Record between Mr. Oberstar and myself.
         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                   Washington, DC, April 17, 2009.
     Hon. Bart Gordon,
     Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Gordon: I write to you regarding H.R. 1145, 
     the ``National Water Research and Development Initiative Act 
     of 2009''. This legislation directs the President to 
     implement a National Water Research and Development 
     Initiative.
       H.R. 1145 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 forgo 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. 1145.
       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. 1145 
     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. 1145 and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House Floor.

[[Page E975]]

       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                James L. Oberstar,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
         House of Representatives, Committee on Science and 
           Technology,
                                   Washington, DC, April 17, 2009.
     Hon. James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oberstar: Thank you for your April 17, 2009 
     letter regarding H.R. 1145, the National Water Research and 
     Development Initiative Act of 2009. 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. 1145. A copy of our letters will be 
     placed in the Committee Report on H.R. 1145 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.

                          ____________________