[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 99 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H4830-H4831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
J. BENNETT JOHNSTON WATERWAY HYDROPOWER EXTENSION ACT OF 2017
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2457) to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of
certain hydroelectric projects, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2457
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 ``J. Bennett Johnston Waterway
Hydropower Extension Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. 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 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
project numbers 12756, 12757, and 12758, the Commission may,
at the request of the licensee for the applicable 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 such licensee is
required to commence the construction of its applicable
project for up to 3 consecutive 2-year periods from the date
of the expiration of any extension issued by the Commission
under that section for such project.
(b) Obligation for Payment of Annual Charges.--Any
obligation of a licensee for a project described in
subsection (a) for the payment of annual charges under
section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(e))
shall commence when the construction of the project
commences.
(c) Reinstatement of License; Effective Date for
Extension.--
(1) Reinstatement.--If the time period required for
commencement of construction of a project described in
subsection (a) has expired prior to the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Commission may reinstate the license for
such project, effective as of the date of the expiration of
the license.
(2) Effective date for extension.--If the Commission
reinstates a license under paragraph (1) for a project, the
first extension authorized under subsection (a) with respect
to such project shall take effect on the effective date of
such reinstatement under paragraph (1).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
any extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2457, as amended. This bill
was introduced by Mr. Johnson from Louisiana and was reported by
unanimous consent from the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill,
H.R. 2457, authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC,
to extend the time period during which a licensee is required to
commence the construction of Commission project numbers 12756, 12757,
and 12758 for up to three consecutive 2-year periods.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all Members to join me and support
passage of this bill, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H4831]]
Mr. Speaker, this is the last bill in our cohort of six extension
bills that we are considering today, which I hope Mr. Peters' bill will
absolve us from having to do in the future.
This bill, the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Hydropower Extension Act
of 2017 was introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) on
May 16, 2017. It would extend the time period during which the licensee
is required to commence the construction of the project for up to three
consecutive 2-year periods from the date of expiration of the original
extension.
Additionally, the legislation defers the obligation on the licensee
to pay any annual charges required under section 10(e) of the Federal
Power Act until the project actually commences construction.
Finally, the legislation allows for the prospective reinstatement of
the license should that license expire prior to the legislation's date
of enactment.
I just have to add a few words to what Mr. Peters said earlier.
Hydropower is so important. It is such an important renewable energy
source in this country. We need to do everything we can on a bipartisan
basis to make sure that we expedite these dams, that we really work
together to get hydropower, even more important in our energy
portfolio.
Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will favorably consider this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I echo the words from my good friend from
Colorado. Hydro is an important renewable energy source, and it is one
that supports all of the above. It is an increasing force across the
country so that is why these bills are so important, and it also shows
why they are so bipartisan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2457, as amended.
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. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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