[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H403-H404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS ACT

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4385) to extend authorization of the Reclamation States 
Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4385

       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 ``Drought Preparedness Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION.

       (a) Drought Program.--Section 104(c) of the Reclamation 
     States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 (43 U.S.C. 
     2214(c)) is amended by striking ``2022'' and inserting 
     ``2028''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 301 of the 
     Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 (43 
     U.S.C. 2241) is amended by striking ``2022'' and inserting 
     ``2028''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
will have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4385, the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4385, sponsored by Congressman 
Neguse of Colorado. This legislation extends authorities granted to the 
Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought 
Relief Act, which provided Reclamation emergency authorities to make 
water available for users outside of a project's area, offer loans to 
water

[[Page H404]]

users to build drought mitigation infrastructure and make water 
available for fish and wildlife restoration efforts, among others.
  Since 1992, when this legislation was enacted, Reclamation has relied 
on these authorities to assist communities across the 17 Reclamation 
States and territories to effectively manage water resources and 
mitigate impacts posed by droughts and natural disasters.
  As the western United States responds to drought events and with the 
cost of these events posing ever greater financial burdens, it is 
critical that Reclamation continues to utilize these important 
authorities to pursue its vital mission, helping to support local 
economies and ensuring access to water resources.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4385 introduced by my 
colleague from Colorado, Representative Neguse.
  Over the past several years, we have seen higher temperatures--with 
2023 having been the hottest year on record--and reduced precipitation, 
snowpack, and stream flow due to climate change.
  As ongoing impacts of climate change intensify, it is imperative we 
advance policies that would enhance climate resilience, restoration, 
and conservation--particularly when it comes to the quality and 
quantity of our available water resources.
  The Drought Preparedness Act helps to do just that by reauthorizing a 
key program to support the development of drought contingency plans and 
mitigate climate-related drought impacts, including emergency response 
for communities grappling with water shortages for human health and 
safety needs.
  I urge the swift passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am 
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Neguse)
  Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague and 
friend from Michigan for yielding. I also thank Chairman Westerman for 
his leadership and Ranking Member Grijalva for his support of this 
bill--my bill, the Drought Preparedness Act--and for being willing to 
consider it through the Natural Resources Committee and help us to 
bring it to the floor today.
  Finally, I thank my colleague, Representative Ciscomani, who co-
chairs the Colorado River Caucus here with me in the United States and 
is a co-lead of this particular bill.
  As has been mentioned, throughout the West and certainly in my home 
State of Colorado, we have seen continuing drought conditions threaten 
the lives and the livelihoods of so many of our communities. These 
ongoing drought conditions are shrinking the region's many, many water 
lifelines.
  I will just say as someone who represents the Second Congressional 
District of Colorado and has the privilege of representing the 
Headwaters of the Colorado River, we know in my district and our 
communities know firsthand just how important that critical water 
supply is for our State.
  That is why we created and formed the bipartisan Colorado River 
Caucus, a forum for Members located in Colorado River Basin States to 
discuss the various issues facing the Colorado River, upper basin and 
lower basin States.
  As the Bureau of Reclamation, States, Tribes, and stakeholders are 
working toward long-term solutions, it is necessary that we continue to 
provide States and agency partners with every tool possible to mitigate 
its impacts, and that is exactly what this bill does.

  As Representative Dingell and Chairman Westerman just articulated, 
the authorities that the Bureau has used in the past include drought 
contingency planning, resiliency projects, and emergency response 
actions. It is critical that we empower the Bureau to be able to 
utilize these tools into the future.
  The Bureau of Reclamation testified during the legislative hearing 
during this particular bill as to just how important these tools are 
and how critical it is for Congress to ensure that they continue.
  I am excited that this bill passed unanimously out of the House 
Natural Resources Committee and has strong bipartisan support. I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill here on the floor so we can get this 
across the finish line and to support Colorado and States across the 
Rocky Mountain West and the 17 Bureau of Reclamation States as we 
continue to deal with this crisis.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
am prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, when President George H.W. Bush signed 
the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, he said 
that the legislation would help us serve as good neighbors in times of 
need.
  The Drought Preparedness Act reauthorizes vital authorities that the 
Bureau of Reclamation has relied on for more than three decades to do 
just that--help communities respond and to prepare for droughts, ensure 
effective management of water resources, and encourage fish wildlife 
restoration efforts. These efforts are critically important.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 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 Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4385.
  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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