[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23838]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   NAMPA AND MERIDIAN CONVEYANCE ACT

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 3022) to direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to convey certain irrigation facilities to the Nampa and Meridian 
Irrigation District.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 3022

       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 ``Nampa and Meridian 
     Conveyance Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF FACILITIES.

       The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act referred to as 
     the ``Secretary'') shall, as soon as practicable after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, convey facilities to the Nampa 
     and Meridian Irrigation District (in this Act referred to as 
     the ``District'') in accordance with all applicable laws and 
     pursuant to the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement 
     (contract No. 1425-99MA102500, dated 7 July 1999) between the 
     Secretary and the District. The conveyance of facilities 
     shall include all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to any portion of the canals, laterals, drains, 
     and any other portion of the water distribution and drainage 
     system that is operated or maintained by the District for 
     delivery of water to and drainage of water from lands within 
     the boundaries of the District.

     SEC. 3. LIABILITY.

       Except as otherwise provided by law, effective on the date 
     of conveyance of facilities under this Act, the United States 
     shall not be liable for damages of any kind arising out of 
     any act, omission, or occurrence based on its prior ownership 
     or operation of the conveyed property.

     SEC. 4. EXISTING RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED.

       Nothing in this Act affects the rights of any person except 
     as provided in this Act. No water rights shall be 
     transferred, modified, or otherwise affected by the 
     conveyance of facilities and interests to the Nampa and 
     Meridian Irrigation District under this Act. Such conveyance 
     shall not affect or abrogate any provision of any contract 
     executed by the United States or State law regarding any 
     irrigation district's right to use water developed in the 
     facilities conveyed.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in support of S. 3022.
  For the last 6 years, the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the 
Committee on Resources has pursued legislation to shrink the size and 
scope of the Federal Government through the defederalization of the 
Bureau of Reclamation assets.
  S. 3022 continues this defederalization process by directing the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey, as soon as practical after the 
date of enactment, certain facilities to the Nampa and Meridian 
Irrigation District, pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement between 
the Secretary of the Interior and the district.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation conveys titles of land and facilities 
to the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District near Boise, Idaho. It is not 
controversial and is supported by the administration.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 3022.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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