[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 92 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H3715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      EAST BENCH IRRIGATION DISTRICT WATER CONTRACT EXTENSION ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 997) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to extend a water contract between the United States and the East Bench 
Irrigation District.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 997

         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 ``East Bench Irrigation 
     District Water Contract Extension Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND WATER CONTRACT.

         The Secretary of the Interior may extend the contract for 
     water services between the United States and the East Bench 
     Irrigation District, numbered 14 06 600 3593, until the 
     earlier of--
         (1) the date that is 4 years after the date on which the 
     contract would have expired if this Act had not been enacted; 
     or
         (2) the date on which a new long-term contract is 
     executed by the parties to the contract.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.

                              {time}  1620


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative 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 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 997, the East Bench Irrigation District Water 
Contract Extension Act, extends the water contract between the United 
States and the East Bench Irrigation District in southwestern Montana 
until December 31, 2013, or until a new contract can be executed.
  This bill allows for the continued irrigation of 28,000 acres of land 
which is important to that area's economy. It also preserves the 
district's renewal rights while a local matter is adjudicated at the 
State level. The bill will not influence the outcome of State actions.
  S. 997 is supported by our colleague from Montana, Congressman Dennis 
Rehberg, and by the administration. I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 997 was introduced by Senator Jon Tester in May of 
last year and passed the Senate in November 2011.
  As my colleague mentioned, S. 997 would extend the East Bench 
Irrigation District's water contract for 4 years pending a judicial 
ruling. The administration has testified in support of S. 997 because 
it would allow for water service to the district to continue and allows 
for contract renewal while the court confirmation process is given time 
to be completed.
  We thank Senator Jon Tester for his leadership, and we have no 
objections to this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 997, the East 
Bench Irrigation District Water Contract Extension.
  Water and energy are pretty important to Montana, and as you may 
know, I've spent a lot of time working with the House Water and Power 
Subcommittee over the years on these issues. This time, though, there's 
something a little different. There's just something cool about working 
on a bill that starts with ``S'' instead of ``H.R.''--I think I could 
get used to this!
  I'm sure it's not lost on you that this legislation is sponsored by 
Senator Jon Tester, the Junior Senator from Montana. We're both 
Montanans and while there are certainly things we disagree about--
President Obama's health reform and stimulus, protecting gun rights and 
government bailouts--even with all those differences, there are ways to 
find common ground.
  An example of common ground is this legislation. S. 997 is a good 
idea, and it's one I hope my colleagues will vote in favor of.
  The bill simply authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to extend a 
water contract between the United States and the East Bench Irrigation 
District in Beaverhead and Madison Counties in southwestern Montana. It 
has no impact on the federal budget.
  The Clark Canyon Dam and Reservoir--owned and operated by the Bureau 
of Recreation--supplies irrigation water for 28,000 acres within the 
East Bench Irrigation District.
  The operation is bound by a contract between the federal government 
and the District--a contract that expired on December 31, 2005. Since 
then, federal appropriations acts have extended the original contract 
for two year durations. S. 997 extends it again through the end of 
2013.
  I realize this sort of congressional contract extension isn't common, 
but in cases where specific variables delay contract renewals, it's 
appropriate and necessary. In this case, the law requires Montana's 5th 
District Court to issue a decree before any new contract can be signed.
  That decree has been delayed, so S. 997 provides the regional farmers 
and ranchers with necessary water certainty until at least 2014. 
Hopefully, by then, all parties will be ready to agree to a new long-
term contract.
  For dry land farmers and ranchers, water is our most precious 
resource. We have a lot of land--plenty of dirt between light bulbs--
and our productivity is only constrained by our access to water. In 
Montana where we rely on water for drinking, irrigation, and energy.
  It's vitally important we pass this bill to try to avoid needless 
disruptions in service. There is no conflict or objection to this 
``housekeeping'' matter, and its importance to the many impacted 
farmers and ranchers cannot be over-emphasized. I have worked hard to 
extend the contract in the past and look forward to passing this 
critical legislation today. As I said, it's a good idea.
  I'm here to do what's best for Montana, and a good idea is a good 
idea regardless of who gets credit. That's why I'm up here today.
  This is a good bill, and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting 
in favor of its passage.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 997.
  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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