[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H9678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES PROGRAM ACT OF 2021

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 1466), to authorize the Director of the United States 
Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor, 
and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the 
migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1466

       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 ``Saline Lake Ecosystems in 
     the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES 
                   ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Saline Lake 
     Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and 
     Monitoring Program established under subsection (b).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
     States Geological Survey.
       (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Saline 
     Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and 
     Monitoring Program to assess and monitor the hydrology of 
     saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory 
     birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems to 
     inform and support coordinated management and conservation 
     actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and 
     other wildlife.
       (c) Work and Implementation Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, in 
     coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2), 
     shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to 
     assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the 
     Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that 
     depend on those ecosystems.
       (2) Coordinating entities.--The entities referred to in 
     paragraph (1) include--
       (A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies;
       (B) institutions of higher education;
       (C) nonprofit organizations; and
       (D) other local stakeholders.
       (3) Inclusions.--The work and implementation plan 
     established under paragraph (1) shall include--
       (A) a synthesis of available information, literature, and 
     data, and an assessment of scientific and informational 
     needs, relating to--
       (i) water quantity, water quality, water use, and water 
     demand;
       (ii) migratory bird and other wildlife populations, 
     habitats, and ecology;
       (iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory birds; and
       (iv) environmental changes and other stressors, including 
     climatic stressors;
       (B) a description of how the plan should be implemented to 
     address the scientific and informational needs described in 
     subparagraph (A), including proposed activities, such as 
     monitoring, data infrastructure needs, and development of 
     tools necessary to implement the Program;
       (C) recommendations and a cost assessment for the 
     implementation of the plan; and
       (D) such other matters as the Secretary determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report describing the work and implementation plan 
     established under paragraph (1).
       (d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement the 
     Program based on the information, findings, and 
     recommendations contained in the work and implementation plan 
     established under subsection (c).
       (e) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.--The Secretary may 
     enter into cooperative funding agreements with, or provide 
     grants to, entities described in subsection (c)(2) for the 
     purposes of--
       (1) participating in developing, or providing information 
     to inform the development of, the work and implementation 
     plan under subsection (c);
       (2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water 
     quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and
       (3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian 
     assessments and monitoring under the Program.
       (f) Effect.--The work and implementation plan established 
     under subsection (c)(1) shall not affect--
       (1) any interstate water compacts in existence on the date 
     of enactment of this Act, including full development of any 
     apportionment made in accordance with those compacts;
       (2) valid and existing water rights in any State located 
     wholly or partially within the Great Basin;
       (3) water rights held by the United States in the Great 
     Basin; and
       (4) the management and operation of Bear Lake or Stewart 
     Dam, including the storage, management, and release of water.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Obernolte) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1466, introduced by Senator Jeff 
Merkley and led in the House by my colleague, Representative Blake 
Moore.
  This bill will direct the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a 
program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lakes and 
associated ecosystems in the Great Basin States in the West.
  Saline lakes in the Western United States are shrinking and becoming 
saltier due to prolonged drought and other effects of climate change. 
These shrinking lakes are exposing harmful dust that threatens the 
public health of neighboring communities while harming local economies 
and eliminating essential migratory bird habitat.
  This program will help inform and support coordinated management and 
conservation actions to benefit saline lakes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the 
Great Basin States Program Act.
  Although we are considering the Senate version of this bill today, I 
commend my colleague from Utah, Mr. Blake Moore, for his tireless 
advocacy for both the House companion bill, which he sponsored, and the 
Senate bill before us today.
  This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey to establish an 
assessment and monitoring program that would address the hydrology of 
saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin of the Western United States. 
There are 20 saline lakes located in parts of Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and 
California, several actually in my district. Across this area, saline 
lakes and their associated wetlands support an important network of 
habitat for migratory birds and other species.
  This bill will inform and support coordinated Federal, State, and 
local management and conservation efforts to benefit those ecosystems, 
migratory birds, and other wildlife.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging support 
of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1466, 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. BIGGS. 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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