[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H10011-H10012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      AMENDING THE FARM SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 2002

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (S. 5328) to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 to extend terminal lakes assistance.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 5328

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

     SECTION 1. TERMINAL LAKES ASSISTANCE.

       Section 2507(f) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
     Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-6(f)) is amended by striking 
     ``2023'' and inserting ``2025''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Ms. Spanberger) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 5328. This legislation will 
enable the desert terminal lakes assistance program to fulfill its 
intended purpose while bringing the program to an orderly closure. S. 
5328 amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by 
changing the program's sunset date from October 1, 2023, to October 1, 
2025.
  The program has successfully improved the water supply to Walker 
Lake, Pyramid, and Summit Lakes for the benefit of at-risk natural 
desert terminal lakes and associated riparian and watershed resources.
  To date, the program has secured over half of the water to reach the 
restoration goal for Walker Lake while also protecting agricultural 
interests in Nevada and California. The program has brought nearly 
20,000 acres under sustainable management.
  With an additional 2 years, the program can maximize conservation 
outcomes while supporting agricultural producers and ensure that 
maximum outcomes are achieved as the program

[[Page H10012]]

ends. The ability to complete the program in an orderly way and fully 
spend the funds allocated back in 2014 will enable 70 to 80 percent 
completion of Walker Lake's restoration goals.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the desert terminal lakes program was created to help 
restore terminal lakes, provide conservation benefits, and protect 
agricultural and other interests throughout surrounding watersheds.
  However, with the program's sunset date approaching on October 1, 
2023, this legislation will authorize the program an additional 2 
years, through October 1, 2025.
  This program has been credited with conserving significant amounts of 
water to protect Tribal, agricultural, environmental, and habitat 
interests. By extending the program's sunset, Congress ensures that the 
program has the opportunity to finish up the effective conservation 
work achieved by the program and the ability to shut down in a fiscally 
responsible manner.
  Funding for the program has already been obligated and uses have 
already been identified for the remaining money. This bill does not 
authorize any new funding, and the CBO estimates that the bill will 
have no budgetary impacts.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues' attention to this matter, 
and I urge them to join me in supporting this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time 
to close debate.
  I appreciate the comments from the gentleman from Pennsylvania and 
agree with him completely. The focus that he has placed on recognizing 
how valuable this program has been in conserving water, how effective 
it has been, and how this fix in this legislation will ensure that we 
can in a fiscally responsible and without budgetary impact way ensure 
this program's success by extending it for an additional 2 years is 
exactly why I urge everyone to vote for this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 5328.
  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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