[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H2985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SIDNEY AND KINSEY IRRIGATION DISTRICTS SHOULD NOT LOSE POWER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Montana (Mr. Gianforte) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, the Sidney and Kinsey Irrigation
Districts serve more than 130 family farms that irrigate nearly 12,000
acres of farmland in eastern Montana.
A recent decision by the Bureau of Reclamation has upended 70 years
of how Sidney and Kinsey irrigators have received project use power to
pump water.
The change will increase power costs from 2.5 percent of their annual
budget to nearly 40 percent.
Losing this power would put these family farmers and companies out of
business.
My amendment will fix this issue by restoring the original
arrangement that has been in place for 70 years.
I urge support for it.
Montana Should be Able to Sell its Coal Overseas
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, Montana should be able to sell its coal
overseas.
Washington State is preventing construction of coal export terminals,
effectively shutting down exports of Montana coal and
unconstitutionally interfering with interstate commerce.
My amendment will continue the Federal permitting process if
Washington State remains on its unconstitutional path.
Building a coal port that supports good-paying union jobs in
Washington and good-paying jobs across Montana should be a bipartisan
winner.
I urge adoption of this amendment.
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