[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2527-H2529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LOWER COLORADO RIVER MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT
OF 2025
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 831) to establish an interest-bearing account for the non-
Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 831
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 ``Lower Colorado River Multi-
Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INTEREST-BEARING FUND.
Section 9402 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of
2009 (Public Law 111-11; 123 Stat. 1328) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(c) Interest-Bearing Account for Non-Federal
Contributions.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Agreement.--The term `Agreement' means the agreement
entitled the `Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation
Program Funding and Management Agreement' and dated April 4,
2005.
``(B) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Non-Federal Funding
Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program established by paragraph (2).
``(C) Non-federal contribution.--The term `non-Federal
contribution' means an amount contributed by a State Party
for the non-Federal cost share described in section 8 of the
Agreement.
``(D) State party.--The term `State Party' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Agreement.
``(2) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States a fund, to be known as the `Non-Federal
Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program', consisting of--
``(A) any amounts deposited in the Fund under paragraph
(3); and
``(B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the
Fund under paragraph (4).
``(3) Deposits to fund.--
``(A) In general.--Pursuant to section 8.4 of the
Agreement, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the
Fund--
``(i) any unexpended non-Federal contributions provided
before the date of enactment of this subsection; and
``(ii) any non-Federal contributions provided on or after
the date of enactment of this subsection.
``(B) Availability of amounts.--
``(i) Expenditure.--Amounts deposited in the Fund under
subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the Secretary,
without further appropriation, for expenditure--
``(I) as provided in the Program Documents; and
``(II) in accordance with this section.
``(ii) Interest.--Amounts derived from interest earned on
amounts in the Fund under subparagraph (A) shall be made
available, subject to appropriation of amounts derived from
such interest, to the Secretary for expenditure--
``(I) as provided in the Program Documents; and
``(II) in accordance with this section.
``(4) Investment of amounts.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury may invest
any portion of the Fund that is not, as determined by the
Secretary, required to meet the current needs of the Fund.
``(B) Requirement.--Investments under subparagraph (A) may
be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United
States.
``(5) Transfers of amounts.--
``(A) Transfer of previously contributed funds.--The
amounts required to be deposited in the Fund under paragraph
(3)(A)(i) shall be transferred from the general fund of the
Treasury to the Fund not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection.
``(B) Transfer of future contributed funds.--As soon as
practicable after the date on which amounts described in
paragraph (3)(A)(ii) are contributed, those amounts shall be
transferred to the Fund.
``(C) Responsibility of state parties.--In accordance with
the Agreement, on deposit of amounts in the Fund under
paragraph (3), the State Parties shall not be responsible for
any losses due to investment of those amounts the Fund.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 831, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, the Lower
Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of
2025, sponsored by Representative Calvert from California.
The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program aims to
conserve native fish populations, increase habitat for migratory birds
in the Lower Colorado River Basin, and allow for continued water and
power deliveries.
The Federal Government contributes 50 percent of its funding, and
three Lower Basin States provide the remainder. In recent years,
however, the pace of funding has outpaced the pace of work, leaving
available funds idle.
This legislation would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to place
the program's non-Federal funds in an interest-bearing account,
providing approximately $2 million annually that would otherwise be
borne by the Lower Basin States.
I commend Representative Calvert for his continued leadership, and I
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 831.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, if I could, this is the last of a
marathon of bills. I think the breadth of the bills we saw today are a
testament to this committee, from protecting sequoias in California to
addressing invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake to supporting
national parks in Mississippi, Missouri, and Arizona to the bill before
us now. I am just in awe of this committee's work product.
I thank the chair, the ranking member, and the committee staff. This
is what Americans sent us to do, and I am grateful to be a part of it.
I thank my colleague from Virginia for his professionalism, as well.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, offered by my
colleague Representative Calvert of California.
As we stand here today, the seven basin States are continuing
negotiations on an agreement that will shape the future of the Colorado
River, which has ramifications across the region.
The post-2026 operations are critical to managing the already
overallocated river in a changing climate which has led to
unprecedented drought conditions and declining water levels at key
reservoirs.
I appreciate the work the States have already done to move toward a
solution
[[Page H2528]]
and urge them and the Department of the Interior to continue working
together to reach an agreement.
The Department of the Interior must also ensure that the 30 Tribal
nations in the basin are part of a long-term solution, as part of the
long history of collaboration in the basin, to accomplish the shared
goal of continued delivery of water and power while protecting
ecosystems.
Lower water levels have accelerated the spread of invasive, nonnative
species and the reduction of critical habitat for native fish and
wildlife.
H.R. 831 authorizes an interest-bearing account for non-Federal
contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation
Program, allowing these funds to accrue interest that can be reinvested
back into the program.
This program brings together Federal, State, and local partners to
protect endangered species while also
ensuring the continued water operations and maintenance activities of
the Lower Basin. It is funded through a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement
between the Federal Government and the three Lower Basin States.
Currently no non-Federal contributions to the program are held in a
non-interest-bearing account. By authorizing an interest-bearing
account, H.R. 831 will help provide additional funding to further
support the stability of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program and help balance water operations and ecosystem
health in the Lower Basin. I urge support of H.R. 831.
Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Stanton).
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
Act, a bipartisan bill that is absolutely critical to the future of my
home State of Arizona and the American West.
The Colorado River is the lifeblood of our region. More than 40
million people across the seven basin States depend on it for drinking
water, agriculture, and economic vitality. In Arizona alone, it
supports our cities, our farmers, our Tribal communities, and our
economy, including our critical semiconductor industry.
But this river is under enormous pressure from a drought now entering
its 25th year, from overuse, and from a changing climate that is
reshaping the West as we know it. At the same time, dozens of native
fish, migratory birds, and plant species that depend on this river are
fighting for survival.
The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program is an
incredibly successful collaboration between the Federal Government, the
States, and key stakeholders. It has been doing the hard work on the
ground for over two decades to manage habitats and protect native
species.
This program has successfully established thousands of acres of
native riparian and aquatic habitat, stocked the river with native
fish, and increased the numbers of breeding migratory birds over more
than 5,000 acres.
The program also provides a measure of reliability and certainty for
future river operations. States like Arizona have a responsibility
under the Endangered Species Act to protect these vulnerable habitats
while balancing the need to deliver Colorado River water to users
across the State and region.
This fund gives the Lower Basin an essential tool to protect the
health of the river, and it is one less thing to fight over at a time
when tensions over the river's future are exceptionally high.
The Lower Basin States of Arizona, California, and Nevada are
continuing to put our money where our mouth is, contributing millions
to the conservation of this critical resource.
This bill simply ensures that the money we contribute to the program
can accrue interest as it sits in the Treasury's coffers. Dollars that
our States put in will go a lot further at no additional cost to the
taxpayers of this country.
I thank my colleagues for their partnership in getting this bill to
the House floor, especially Congressman Ken Calvert of California and
Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada.
Madam Speaker, I urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.
{time} 1800
Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
critical piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for
helping out today and using the word ``riparian'' on the House floor.
That is always one of my favorite things.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I also want to reflect on Representative Elfreth's words, and that is
the incredible work by the Natural Resources Committee, the leadership
there with Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman, and an
incredible staff. They do a lot to bring these bills to the floor to
make sure, too, that they work through to make sure they can receive
bipartisan support. Truly, what Congress needs to do is get bills
through that have impacts on these districts.
Madam Speaker, you heard from Members today about the incredible
impact these bills have on people's lives and on their districts. That
is what makes legislating important. We should never forget that.
People send us here to get things done, to get bills like this done.
While they may be somewhat parochial in how they affect certain
regions, it is critical to the Nation that we understand that all of us
benefit when these great national treasures and natural resources are
enhanced and conserved. That is really what makes it great.
I appreciate Representative Elfreth's work and her cooperation on
H.R. 4294 in making sure we find a way to productively use a resource
that is now in overabundance and making sure that we do everything we
can within that realm.
It is key to us as members of the Natural Resources Committee to make
sure we get these things done. We are entrusted not only as
legislators, but we are entrusted by the people who elect us to be the
stewards of what they own: the great lands, treasures, and natural
resources of this Nation. That is what makes us great.
There is no other place on the planet that has this great abundance
of resources that have such great impact on communities. We are all
honored to be here today as advocates for that, along with our fellow
Members, to make sure these pieces of legislation see their way to
being signed into law.
I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I thank the
incredible staff on the Natural Resources Committee for what has
culminated today in a number of fantastic pieces of legislation that
will make a difference in people's lives. We will continue to preserve
what we hold great in this Nation, and that is our true national
treasure, our natural resources.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
approve my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 831, the Lower Colorado River
Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025. My bill is
simple and straightforward: it would establish an interest-bearing
account for the nonfederal contributions for the Lower Colorado River
Multi-Species Conservation Program, a cooperative effort between
federal and nonfederal entities in Arizona, California, and Nevada to
recover endangered species.
At a time when Congress and the Administration are looking to
streamline government processes and make the taxpayer dollar go
further, this bill is a perfect example of this effort. Funds deposited
in the account can be accessed as needed and provide expanded
opportunities for longterm investments in critical habitat restoration
projects. This is especially important because over time, the pace of
funding has exceeded the work expenditures, and Reclamation has
accumulated over $60 million in contributed funds for future costs.
There are multiple examples of funds established by congressional
action in the U.S. Treasury that are directed to be invested or to earn
interest, such as the Social Security Trust Fund. It's simply common
sense that we provide this same mechanism to an oversubscribed program
that can deliver more benefits, more quickly.
I want to thank the Chairman of the House Natural Resources
Committee, my friend Bruce Westerman, for steering this bill through
his Committee.
I urge all of my colleagues to approve this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) that the House suspend the
[[Page H2529]]
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 831, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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