[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6074-H6075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENDANGERED FISH RECOVERY PROGRAMS EXTENSION ACT OF 2012
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 6060) to amend Public Law 106-392 to maintain annual
base funding for the Upper Colorado and San Juan fish recovery programs
through fiscal year 2019.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6060
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 ``Endangered Fish Recovery
Programs Extension Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY UNDER PUBLIC LAW 106-392;
REPORT.
Section 3(d)(2) of Public Law 106-392 is amended--
(1) by striking ``2011'' each place it appears and
inserting ``2019'';
(2) by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2018''; and
(3) by inserting before ``Nothing in this Act'' the
following: ``Such report shall also describe the Recovery
Implementation Programs actions and accomplishments to date,
the status of the endangered species of fish and projected
dates for downlisting and delisting under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, and the utilization of power revenues
for annual base funding.''.
SEC. 3. INDIRECT COST RECOVERY RATE FOR RECOVERY PROGRAMS.
Section 3 of Public Law 106-392 is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
``(i) Limitation on Indirect Cost Recovery Rate.--The
indirect cost recovery rate for any transfer of funds to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from another Federal agency
for the purpose of funding any activity associated with the
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program or the
San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program shall
not exceed three percent of the funds transferred. In the
case of a transfer of funds for the purpose of funding
activities under both programs, the limitation shall be
applied to the funding amount for each program and may not be
allocated unequally to either program, even if the average
aggregate indirect cost recovery rate would not exceed three
percent.''.
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON TRAVEL FOR ADVOCACY PURPOSES.
At the end of Public Law 106-392, add the following new
section:
``SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON TRAVEL FOR ADVOCACY PURPOSES.
``No Federal funds may be used to cover any expenses
incurred by an employee or detailee of the Department of the
Interior to travel to any location (other than the field
office to which that individual is otherwise assigned) to
advocate, lobby, or attend meetings that advocate or lobby
for the Recovery Implementation Programs.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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 Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This is a good bill. It's got a great sponsor. Everyone should vote
for it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 6060 authorizes the use of power revenues to fund two recovery
programs in the Upper Colorado and San Juan Rivers. Since 2011,
Reclamation has continued to fund these programs at a cost of about $3
million annually, using its existing authority.
We support the intent of H.R. 6060 to recover listed species while
allowing water and power operations to continue. We share the
administration's commitment to this program. We also welcome the
majority's recognition that compliance with the Endangered Species Act
does not mean that water and power projects in the West go dry or go
dark. This program provides ESA compliance for 2,320 water projects.
These projects deliver more than 3.7 million acre-feet of water per
year to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
We are concerned, however, that the Republican rules only allow for
the reauthorization of this program to 2019 versus the original goal of
2023. While we agree this legislation should move, it should be clear
that, at least on our side of the aisle, our commitment to this program
through 2023 has not changed.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague
who shares a border with me in our districts, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Tipton).
Mr. TIPTON. I thank Chairman Bishop for yielding. Chairman Bishop, I
would also like to thank you for your leadership in leading the efforts
on this important piece of legislation.
The Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins provide key water and
[[Page H6075]]
power resources in the Third Congressional District of Colorado and
other districts in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
These rivers are also home to four native fish species at risk of a
``jeopardy'' finding under the Endangered Species Act. Such a finding
would impose on western constituents dramatic losses in water
availability and hydropower reduction, resulting in lost jobs and
increased power rates at a time when we can least afford it.
The Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 2012 extending the authorization
for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Fish Recovery Implementation
programs will continue necessary efforts to recover four endangered
fish species and provide compliance for Federal, tribal, and non-
Federal water projects. These programs are supported by a broad swath
of stakeholders, from local towns and counties to environmental groups
and private industry, and are excellent examples of local solutions in
lieu of onerous Federal management and overregulation.
I'm also pleased to see the cost reforms in this extended
authorization. H.R. 6060 limits overhead to 3 percent and prohibits
Federal employees from traveling to Washington, D.C., to lobby for
their programs--activities well beyond the bounds of their purview.
These cost savings and their measures will allow for greater allocation
of resources to species recovery.
I'm optimistic that these programs can reach their goals in the
coming year, recover the species in jeopardy, and safeguard the
economic well-being of our communities, jobs, and everything connected
with these efforts.
Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I think some of my staff thought I should be a
little bit more expansive in my remarks. So this is a really good bill
with a really good sponsor.
Actually, this is one of those things where the nice part is, for
this mitigation plan that will allow these projects to go forward,
taxpayers are paying no money. It's paid by the utility ratepayers of
this particular area. If this is not reauthorized, it may put that part
in jeopardy. And we did put some guidelines in there to protect so that
the overhead that can be charged to the utility ratepayers has a
potential limit on it.
It's a good bill. With that, I urge its adoption, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6060.
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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