[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WATER MONITORING AND TRACKING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES (WATER) DATA 
                            IMPROVEMENT ACT

  The bill (H.R. 5770) to reauthorize certain United States Geological 
Survey water data enhancement programs was ordered to a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed.
  Mr. HICKENLOOPER. Madam President, in Colorado and across the West, 
as you know as well as I, many, many communities are facing a historic 
drought crisis. Decades of drought are, in fact, long-term 
aridification and in many ways have become the new normal.
  These bills respond to the urgent needs of our drought-stricken 
communities. They maintain the Federal Government's ability to respond 
to drought and allow voluntary water conservation in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin.
  We need these now as we are seeing in realtime how drought threatens 
our very way of life. More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado 
River for water, food, recreation, energy. Our communities, our farms, 
our environment all depend on water. These bills extend programs that 
we already know work. At risk is our entire way of life.
  Thankfully, the two House bills I mentioned, the Drought Preparedness 
Act and WATER, the Water Data Improvement Act, will now become law. My 
colleague from Boulder,   Joe Neguse, has done the heavy lifting to get 
this across the finish line in that Chamber. I am happy to do the same 
here.
  But the two Senate bills just passed will still need to pass the 
House to help us out in the West. We really are running out of time.
  The System Conservation Pilot Program enables voluntary water 
conservation in the Upper Colorado River, and I have been working 
closely with Senator Barrasso to reauthorize it. It is supported by the 
Upper Colorado River Commission and got its start in the depths of the 
2022 Colorado River drought that continues to this day.
  It is critical that we pass this 2-year reauthorization because water 
users and farmers who participate need to make decisions now about 
signing on for next year. Any delay that will limit the Upper Basin's 
ability to find participants and run a successful water conservation 
program, we can't afford that.
  We are asking Speaker Johnson to please put this lifeline for western 
farmers and ranchers on the suspension calendar and make sure that it 
is able to pass this year.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I am speaking to S. 3373, the 
hydropower license extension, which helps a lock on the Red River and 
Overton Lock projects. This bill is incredibly important to Louisiana.
  Hydropower is reliable, safe, and responsible; and the Federal 
Government should be enabling projects, not standing in the way.
  Today's actions are bipartisan, pro-job and pro-American energy. I am 
glad to see Congress cut the redtape holding up the Red River and 
Overton Lock projects.
  These hydropower projects have been negatively impacted by supply 
chain issues the last 4 years. They simply need more time to start 
construction.
  I am very pleased to see this get across the finish line.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Ms. LUMMIS. Madam President, I am proud to support H.R. 4385, the 
Drought Preparedness Act, which I joined my colleague from Colorado in 
introducing.
  Senator Hickenlooper has been fabulous to work with, as have all of 
the Senators from the States that headwater and utilize the Colorado 
River, including yourself, Madam President.
  This bill would reauthorize the Reclamation States Emergency Drought 
Relief Act and allow the Department of the Interior to prepare drought 
contingency plans and provide technical assistance to State, local, and 
Tribal governments on their drought contingency plans.
  This is one of the many bills I have had the pleasure of partnering 
with Senator Hickenlooper on, and I look forward to the President 
signing it into law.
  Again, Madam President, I appreciate your help on these matters as 
well.
  I am also pleased to support H.R. 5770, the Water Data Improvement 
Act, also sponsoring and introducing with my colleague Senator 
Hickenlooper, to reauthorize three water data programs at the U.S. 
Geological Survey that address water scarcity in the West. The West 
continues to lead the Nation in water conservation and management 
practices and is home to some of the best and brightest experts in this 
field. By extending these successful programs, we will improve water 
quality, secure our water infrastructure, and ensure we remain good 
stewards of our natural resources.
  Again, with my appreciation for my fellow Colorado River Senators, 
with whom we have been working for the last couple of years on these 
measures and others to support our State's engineers in the more than 
100-year-old Colorado River Compact, I thank you and look forward to 
continuing to work with you to address the important Colorado River 
issues to the West and to our country.
  I yield the floor.

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