[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16727]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 SETTLEMENT OF WATER RIGHTS CLAIMS OF THE SHIVWITS BAND OF THE PAIUTE 
                              INDIAN TRIBE

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3291.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3291) to provide for the settlement of water 
     rights claims of the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Tribe of 
     Utah, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today the Senate will pass the Shivwits 
Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act and 
send this legislation to the President. This is an important day for 
the citizens of Washington County, Utah, and the members of the 
Shivwits Band. This legislation will finally provide a settlement of 
water rights issues of the Santa Clara River in Washington County, the 
driest county in the second driest state in the Union.
  The Santa Clara is a fairly small river running through the Shivwits 
Band's reservation near the city of St. George, Utah. This water is 
shared by the Washington County, the Washington County Water 
Conservancy District, St. George, the town of Ivins, the town of Santa 
Clara, and the Shivwits Band. Last, but not least, Mr. President, this 
water is also used by the Virgin Spinedace, an endangered fish species 
residing in the river. This water settlement meets the needs of all of 
these interested parties.
  This legislation will also establish the St. George Water Reuse 
Project. This project will provide 2,000 acre-feet of water for the 
Shivwits Band. It will also create the Santa Clara Project. This 
project will provide a pressurized pipeline from the nearby Gunlock 
Reservoir to deliver 1,900 acre-feet of water to the Shivwits Band.
  I was pleased to be the sponsor of this bill in the Senate, and I 
would like to express my deep appreciation to Chairman Campbell and 
Vice Chairman Inouye of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee for their 
outstanding support for this legislation. Without their help and the 
help of their staffs, this legislation would not have progressed as 
smoothly as it has. I also express my appreciation to my good friend, 
Senator Bennett, a cosponsor of this bill, for his support.
  Finally, however, I want to give due credit to the Administration, 
the local officials of Washington County, and the members of the 
Shivwits Band for constructing this agreement. I am a firm believer in 
a collaborative process and the inclusion of local officials and 
citizens in it. I believe that legislation--both before and after 
passage--can be far more successful than when local input is missing 
from a bill's development.
  Again, I want to thank all Senators for their support of this 
legislation.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 3291) was read the third time and passed.

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