[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 40 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT NUMBERED 
                                 12737

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4411) to extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4411

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION.

       (a) In General.--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 12737, the Commission may, at the 
     request of the licensee for the project, and after reasonable 
     notice, in accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and 
     public interest requirements of that section and the 
     Commission's procedures under that section, extend the time 
     period during which the licensee is required to commence the 
     construction of the project for up to 3 consecutive 2-year 
     periods from the date of the expiration of the extension 
     originally issued by the Commission.
       (b) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the period 
     required for commencement of construction of the project 
     described in subsection (a) has expired prior to the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commission may reinstate the 
     license for the project effective as of the date of its 
     expiration and the first extension authorized under 
     subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of such 
     expiration.

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

                              {time}  1545


                             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, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Griffith), who is the author of this legislation.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, this bill, like the others before it 
dealing with dams, deals with a dam in Alleghany County, Virginia, the 
Gathright Dam project. It, too, was given a license. It, too, for 
various reasons amongst the agencies in the company seeking to build a 
hydroelectric dam or add to the project there, has not met the time 
constraints. This bill would extend that for up to 6 years. I would ask 
that we adopt it.
  I would point out that this project would be a run-of-river project. 
In other words, it is not going to change the flow of the river in any 
way.
  With that being said, Mr. Speaker, I ask that this bill be passed by 
the entire House.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation was reported out unanimously by the 
Energy and Commerce Committee. I know of no objections to the bill. I 
commend my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) for bringing it to 
the floor.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the House may be setting a record today on 
hydropower projects.
  I urge passage of the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4411.
  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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