[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7408-H7409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION PROJECT 
                   INVOLVING AMERICAN FALLS RESERVOIR

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 276) to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project involving the American Falls 
Reservoir.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 276

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY 
                   COMMISSION PROJECT INVOLVING AMERICAN FALLS 
                   RESERVOIR.

       Notwithstanding the time period specified in section 13 of 
     the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise 
     apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project 
     numbered 12423, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
     shall, at the request of the licensee for the project, and 
     after reasonable notice and in accordance with the procedures 
     of the Commission under that section, reinstate the license 
     and extend the time period during which the licensee is 
     required to commence the construction of project works to the 
     end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  S. 276 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reinstate 
the license and extend for 3 years the deadline for commencement of a 
hydroelectric project involving the American Falls Reservoir. 
Hydropower is a critical component of our all-of-the-above energy 
strategy, and this bill will help facilitate the construction of an 
affordable and reliable source of domestic electricity.
  As many people around the country understand, many Members of the 
House and Senate have very strong differing views with the President 
and his administration over the direction that we are going on energy 
in America, particularly the impact that regulations are having on the 
electric generation system in America.
  It looks like it is going to be creating a lot of chaos, but when we 
have projects like this hydro project at American Falls Reservoir, I 
think there is unanimous agreement that we need to move forward 
expeditiously on these types of projects.
  This bill has passed the U.S. Senate, and I would urge all Members of 
the House to support it.
  At this time, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I support the American Falls Reservoir hydropower legislation, 
introduced by Senators Risch and Crapo of Idaho. The bill would 
authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reinstate the 
license for a hydroelectric project involving Idaho's American Falls 
Reservoir, and it gives the project 3 additional years by which to 
begin construction.
  This bill allows FERC to get this project licensed expeditiously 
while ensuring that the appropriate environmental analyses are 
completed and considered.
  The noncontroversial legislation before us today has passed the 
Senate by unanimous consent in two consecutive Congresses.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. I also urge passage of this legislation, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Amodei). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 276.

[[Page H7409]]

  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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