[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             CLIMATE CHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Ben Ray Lujan) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, as we come to the House 
floor this morning, many communities across the West suffer from severe 
wildfires, and they're having a more devastating impact due to extreme 
drought conditions this year. In my home State of New Mexico, 
firefighters have bravely worked to battle a number of blazes, and I 
extend my sincerest thanks for their tireless efforts.
  With global climate change contributing to drier and hotter summers 
and more intense fire seasons, it is critical that we take steps to 
address the root causes of climate change before it gets too late. And 
while we should focus on the steps we must take to reduce greenhouse 
gases and encourage energy conservation, we must also ensure that we're 
preparing for the drought conditions that will continue to impact our 
communities in the years to come. The National Integrated Drought 
Information System is an important tool in this effort. This program 
collects and consolidates drought-related data and information. It 
operates regional drought early warning system pilot projects across 
the country.
  Authorization for this program is currently scheduled to end this 
year. That is why I'm working in a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the 
National Integrated Drought Information System for another 4 years. 
This will enable the Federal Government to further develop regional 
drought early warning systems and identify research, monitoring, and 
forecasting needs that can help farmers and firefighters alike. Because 
whether it's growing crops or raising livestock or battling wildfires 
in the West, drought conditions in the coming years will continue to 
pose challenges for our communities, and we will need to do all we can 
to assist those whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by climate 
change.
  Mr. Speaker, today I'm also offering an amendment to be able to 
provide grant authorization to many small, predominantly Hispanic 
communities across northern New Mexico that are in these areas where 
these waterways have been carved through our mountains, through our 
watersheds to provide opportunity to small farmers, rural communities 
all across New Mexico called acequias.
  For many years, local farmers in New Mexico have been asking for an 
amendment that would allow acequia and community ditch associations to 
access EQIP funds. An acequia is a centuries-old irrigation structure 
that is still in use today, providing opportunities for many private 
land owners all across New Mexico and southern Colorado.
  The board of private land owners, also called an acequia and 
community ditch association, is in charge of administering maintenance 
of the irrigation infrastructure which often requires work on sections 
of the ditch of the acequia on private land. These small community 
ditch associations do not have the authority to levy taxes. That's why 
I'm asking for Members to please consider and offer your support on 
this amendment today.
  Members who are watching and tuning in to C-SPAN this morning, as 
well as offices, please take a look at this amendment. We need your 
help in New Mexico, and our farmers would certainly appreciate the kind 
support of Members of Congress.
  So thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. We have a lot of work to do. Let's 
make sure we can get this done on behalf of people who are struggling 
and working all across America today.

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