[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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