[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9521-9522]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. WARREN (for herself and Mr. Daines):
  S. 3078. A bill to increase portability of and access to retirement 
savings, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today Senator Warren and I have joined 
together to introduce the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act. This 
important piece of legislation is critical to addressing key issues 
that exist in the regulatory framework for retirement plans.
  Montanans are conservative folks who know the value of a hard-earned 
dollar. With the poor economic recovery and slow wage growth, working 
Montanans cannot afford to have money withheld from their paychecks and 
placed into retirement accounts, only to lose track of those accounts 
or have their retirement plans decline over time due to limitations 
placed on investment options. Now more than ever, our country needs the 
best laws to usher everyday Americans into a sound retirement.
  Working Americans are losing hard-earned dollars up until the time 
when they need it most--their retirement. When an employee leaves a 
job, it is often hard for them to keep track of their retirement 
accounts during these transitional times. Our bill is a commonsense 
approach that will empower individuals to take control of their 
retirement futures. The Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act will 
allow Montanans to be that much more prepared to spend their golden 
years well with friends and family by providing a means to locate lost 
retirement accounts and allow better investment options to ensure those 
investments grow rather than erode over time.
  I appreciate the work of Senator Warren on completion of this 
important bill. Together, we can help individuals make the most of 
their retirement options by providing sound policy that has the 
potential to save billions over the years for those among us who need 
it most.

                                 ______
                                 

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 3080. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain public lands in San Bernardino County, California, to the San 
Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, and to accept in return 
certain exchanged non-public lands, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Santa 
Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act. This legislation directs the 
transfer of land between the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation 
District, the District, and the Bureau of Land Management in San 
Bernardino, California, BLM.
  The bill is the culmination of years of collaboration between 
numerous federal and state agencies, private industry and 
municipalities representing mining, flood control, water supply and 
wildlife conservation, among other interests.
  Included among the supporters of this land exchange are: County of 
San Bernardino; City of Redlands; City of Highland; San Bernardino 
Water Conservation District; San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water 
District; East Valley Water District; Endangered Habitats League; CEMEX 
Construction Materials Pacific; Robertson's Ready Mix; and Inland 
Action.
  In 1993, representatives from this diverse group formed the ``Wash 
Committee'' to address mining issues in the upper Santa Ana River wash 
area.
  The role of the Committee subsequently expanded in 1997 to consider 
the broad range of land uses in the area, including natural resource 
conservation.
  The Wash Committee developed a strategy that focused on ``best uses'' 
for more comprehensive planning and not focusing on private property 
boundaries that would segment the area. The result is a project 
expected to produce a Land Management and Habitat Conservation Plan 
covering 4,500 acres.
  The land exchange takes place in a designated region within the Santa 
Ana Wash, at the junction of the Santa Ana River and Mill Creek.
  Currently, land within the Santa Ana Wash is owned by both the 
District and BLM.
  The land parcels owned by the District are currently used for 
recharging the local groundwater aquifer through the use of more than 
77 basins, and also provide rare Riversidian sage scrub habitat for a 
number of State and federally listed species. In addition, under this 
plan, new land would be set aside for conservation purposes near land 
already managed by BLM.
  The exchange of land between the District and BLM will connect a 
current patchwork of separately owned land parcels into a consolidated 
open space for conservation purposes and will optimize mining 
efficiency and water conservation efforts.
  The land transfer resulting from this legislation will lead to more 
protection efforts for habitat, improved connectivity in the wildlife 
corridor, expanded groundwater recharge for water supply, and the 
future establishment of public access and trails.
  Additionally, the legislation will allow the continued use of land 
and mineral resources while maintaining the biological and hydrological 
resources of the area in an environmentally sensitive manner.
  I want to applaud diverse members of the Wash Committee that worked 
together, including the Cities of Highland and Redlands, East Valley 
Water District, the County of San Bernardino, Robertson's Ready Mix, 
CEMEX, the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and the San 
Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, along with the Federal, 
State and local stakeholders for their continued work on the Wash Plan.
  This group has demonstrated that while it takes significant time, 
funding and cooperation, it is possible to simultaneously protect the 
environment and support local jobs, business and community interests.
  I would also like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Pete 
Aguilar and Paul Cook, for introducing similar legislation in the 
House.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Santa Ana 
River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act.

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