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-- THE AYES HAVE 3 -- ARE 368.
THE NOES ARE 39.
ON
THIS VOTE THE AYES ARE 370.
THE NOES ARE 39.
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED, AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL PLEASE TAKE THEIR
SEATS.
MEMBERS WILL PLEASE TAKE THEIR
SEATS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SPEAK OUT OF ORDER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IT IS WITH DEEP
SORROW THAT I INFORM THE HOUSE
THAT OUR DEAR FRIEND AND KOHL
LEG, DON PAYNE, HAS PASSED.
HE HAD COLON CANCER.
IN A FEW MOMENTS A PRIVILEGED
RESOLUTION WILL BE OFFERED ON
THE FLOOR THAT RECOGNIZES AND
HONORS HIS EXTRAORDINARY MAN
WHO DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE LIFE
TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
A MAN WHO MADE A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY
IN HIS DISTRICT, IN OUR STATE,
IN THE NATION, AND IN THE
WORLD.
ELECTED IN 1988 AFTER FIRST
SERVING AS A COUNCILMAN AND HE
SECTION COUNTY FREE HOLDER,
THIS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER COACH
TURNED POLITICIAN WENT ON TO BE
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO
EVER SERVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DON FOUGHT TENACIOUSLY TO
COMBAT THE ***-AIDS PANDEMIC
AND MITIGATE THE LOSS OF LIFE
AND MORBIDITY FROM T.B. AND
MALARIA ON THE SUBCONTINENT OF
HE CO-AUTHORED THE SUDAN PEACE
ACT AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO
END THE GENOCIDE IN BOTH SOUTH
SUDAN AND DARFUR.
HE EVEN RISKED HIS LIFE IN
SOMALIA, WAS SHOT AT IN THE
PURSUIT OF PEACE.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND, MR. SPEAKER,
HOW MUCH HE TRULY CARED AND HOW
HARD HE WORKED FOR PEACE AND
RECONCILIATION IN RAVAGED
NATIONS.
I SERVE AS THE RANKING MEMBER
OF THE AFRICA COMMITTEE WHEN HE
CHAIRED IT, AND HE SERVED AS
THE RANKING MEMBER WHEN I
CHAIRED IT.
FINALLY, JUST LET ME SAY THIS
MAN WHO ALSO SERVED AS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BLACK CAUCUS AND UNTIL HIS
UNTIMELY DEATH TODAY CHAIRMAN
OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK
CAUCUS FOUNDATION, HE WAS
PREDECEASED BY HIS WIFE, HAZEL.
DON IS ALSO THE FATHER OF
THREE, GRANDFATHER OF FOUR, AND
GREAT GRANDFATHER OF ONE.
DONALD PAYNE, MR. SPEAKER, WILL
BE MISSED.
I YIELD MY GOOD FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, MR. PALLONE.
THANK YOU, MY
FRIEND.
MR. SPEAKER, I CAN'T BELIEVE
TODAY.
I'M LOOKING OVER THERE WHERE HE
WOULD OFTEN SIT AND I WOULD
COME DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND ASK
HIM TO DO A ONE MINUTE OR
SPECIAL ORDER.
HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS
FACE.
HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROOTS.
IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
HE WOULD OFTEN GO TO AFRICA AND
CHAMPION SO MANY CAUSES FOR
THOSE IN AFRICA.
HE CARED SO DEEPLY ABOUT HIS
HOMETOWN OF NEWARK AND THE
OTHER TOWNS HE REPRESENTED.
ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE IN
POOR.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE HE CARED
ABOUT AND SPENT SO MUCH TIME
TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEIR
PROBLEMS AND MAKE THEIR LIFE
BUT I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE I'LL REMEMBER DON'S SMILE.
DON ALWAYS FELT THAT THINGS
COULD GET BETTER.
THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW THAT HIS DISTRICT WAS VERY
THERE WERE MANY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THERE WERE
MANY PEOPLE OF OTHER
NATIONALITIES.
WE WOULD OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE
ITALIAN AMERICANS HE LIVED WITH
AND GREW UP WITH AND WORKED
WITH IN HIS DISTRICT AND HE
BETTER WORLD.
THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
COULD WORK TOGETHER.
THAT PEOPLE COULD WORK ALONG
ETHNIC -- ACROSS ETHNIC AND
RACIAL BARRIERS.
AND HE ALWAYS MADE ME FEEL NO
MATTER HOW DOWN I WAS ON A
PARTICULAR DAY THAT THIS PLACE
WAS IMPORTANT AND THAT WE CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S
SO I WILL SORELY MISS HIM AND I
WOULD ASK THIS AFTERNOON AT THE
END OF THE DAY, PROBABLY AROUND
4:00, WE HAVE UNLIMITED ONE
MINUTES AND WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE A BIPARTISAN HOUR SPECIAL
ORDER WHERE MEMBERS CAN COME
DOWN AND PAY TRIBUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
NEW JERSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, I DO
ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO
REMEMBER OUR DEARLY DEPARTED
FRIEND, DON PAYNE.
OBSERVE A MOMENT
OF SILENCE.
NEW JERSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, I OFFER
A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION AND ASK
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE CLERK WILL
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
571, RESOLVED, THAT THE HOUSE
HAS HEARD WITH PROFOUND SORROW
OF THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE
DONALD M. PAYNE, A
FROM THE STATE
OF NEW JERSEY.
RESOLVED, THAT A COMMITTEE OF
SUCH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AS
THE SPEAKER MAY DESIGNATE
TOGETHER WITH SUCH MEMBERS OF
THE SENATE AS MAY BE JOINED, BE
APPOINTED TO ATTEND THE
FUNERAL.
RESOLVED, THAT THE SERGEANT AT
ARMS OF THE HOUSE BE AUTHORIZED
AND DIRECTED TO TAKE SUCH STEPS
AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR
CARRYING OUT OF THE PROVISIONS
OF THESE RESOLUTIONS AND THAT
THE NECESSARY EXPENSES IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH BE PAID
OUT OF APPLICABLE ACCOUNTS OF
THE HOUSE.
RESOLVED, THAT THE CLERK
COMMUNICATE THESE RESOLUTIONS
TO THE SENATE AND TRANSMIT A
COPY THEREOF TO THE FAMILY OF
THE DECEASED.
RESOLVED, THAT WHEN THE HOUSE
ADJOURNS TODAY IT ADJOURN AS A
FURTHER MARK OF RESPECT TO THE
MEMORY OF THE DECEASED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE CURRENT RESOLUTION IS
AGREED TO AND THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
CLAUSE 5-D OF RULE 20,
THE CHAIR ANNOUNCES TO THE
HOUSE THAT IN THE LIGHT OF THE
PASSING OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, MR.
PAYNE, THE WHOME NUMBER OF THE
HOUSE IS NOW 433.
-- THE WHOLE NUMBER OF THE
HOUSE IS NOW 433.
THE ORDERING THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION ON HOUSE RESOLUTION
570 ON WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS
ARE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE RESOLUTION.
NUMBER 116.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 570.
RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL H.R.
2842, TO AUTHORIZE ALL BUREAU
OF RECLAMATION CONDUIT
FACILITIES FOR HYDROPOWER
DEVELOPMENT UNDER FEDERAL
RECLAMATION LAW, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE QUESTION IS ON
ORDERING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 232.
THE NAYS ARE 177.
THE RESOLUTION IS PASSED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
THE QUESTION IS ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED WILL SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO.
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
UPON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI RISE?
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REMOVE MY NAME AS A
CO-SPONSOR OF H.R. 3610 AND
H.R. 3611.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON
THE BILL H.R. 2842.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
570 AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR
DECLARES THE HOUSE IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2842.
THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH, MR.
CHESAPEAKE BAY FITS, TO PRESIDE
-- MR. CHESAPEAKE BAY FETS --
MR. CHAFF FETS -- MR. CHAFFETZ
TO PRESIDE OVER THE COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
BE IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE
OF THE UNION FOR CONSIDERATION
OF H.R. 2842 WHICH THE CLERK
WILL REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL TO AUTHORIZE
ALL BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
CONDUIT TO SILTS FOR HYDROPOWER
DEVELOPMENT UNDER FEDERAL
RECLAMATION LAW, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE
RULE, THE BILL IS CONSIDERED AS
READ THE FIRST TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON,
MR. HASTINGS, AND THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CRARKS, MRS.
NAPOLITANO, EACH WILL CONTROL
30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
H.R. 2842, THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION SMALL CONDUIT
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND
RURAL JOBS ACT OF 2011.
IT AUTHORIZES HYDROPOWER AT
EXISTING BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
FACILITIES AND BY DOING SO IT
ALLOWS PLACEMENT OF HYDROPOWER
GENERATORS ON EXISTING MAN-MADE
CANALS AND PIPES THAT HAVE
ALREADY GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
THIS IS A BIPARTISAN PLAN TO
CREATE NEW AMERICAN JOBS, CUT
GOVERNMENT RED TAPE, AND EXPAND
PRODUCTION OF CLEAN, RENEWABLE,
AND LOW-COST HYDROPOWER.
THIS PAST WEEKEND PRESIDENT
OBAMA ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO CLAIM
SUPPORT FOR AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
ENERGY PRODUCTION.
BUT UNLIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
EMPTY RHETORIC, HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING REAL
ACTION TO PROVE OUR COMMITMENT
TO EXPANDING ALL FORMS OF
AMERICAN ENERGY.
AMERICANS HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED
27 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF RISING
GAS PRICES AND NOW THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE IS PUSHING CLOSER TO $4
A GALLON.
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE
SKYROCKETING PRICES,
REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO
PURSUE AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
APPROACH THAT RESPONSIBLY
DEVELOPS THE NATURAL RESOURCES
THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE AT
HOME.
THE FACTS ARE, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE
HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THIS
COMMITMENT BY PASSING THROUGH
THE HOUSE BIPARTISAN REFORMS TO
BREAK DOWN GOVERNMENT BARRIERS
TO AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION.
JUST WEEKS AGO THE HOUSE PASSED
A BIPARTISAN JOBS PLAN TO
VASTLY EXPAND ACCESS TO OUR OIL
AND NATURAL GAS RESOURCES
OFFSHORE AND IN ANWR.
TODAY WE ARE PUTTING FORTH A
PLAN TO EXPAND PRODUCTION OF
CLEAN, RENEWABLE HYDROPOWER.
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE WORRIED ABOUT RISING
GASOLINE PRICES, THEY ARE ALSO
WORRIED ABOUT ESCALATING
ELECTRICITY COSTS.
RISING ENERGY PRICES ARE A
DRAIN ON OUR ECONOMY, PURE AND
SIMPLE.
IT INCREASES BUSINESS COSTS AND
MAKES EVERYTHING WE DO MORE
EXPENSIVE.
HYDROPOWER IS ONE OF THE
CLEANEST AND CHEAPEST FORMS OF
ELECTRICITY N MY VIEW, COMING
FROM THE IF A CIVIC NORTHWEST
WHERE NEARLY 70% OF ALL POWER
COMES FROM HYDROPOWER,
HYDROPOWER IS A POSTER CHILD
FOR CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY.
UNFORTUNATELY AS IS TOO OFTEN
THE CASE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES
TO INCREASING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS,
ESPECIALLY SMALL PROJECTS.
THIS BILL WOULD REMOVE
GOVERNMENT ROADBLOCKS AND
STREAMLINE THE DUPLICATIVE
REGULATORY PROCESS FOR
DEVELOPING SMALL CANAL AND
PIPELINE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS ON
EXISTING BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
FACILITIES.
THIS COMMONSENSE PLAN WOULD
HELP GENERATE THOUSANDS OF
MEGAWATTS OF CLEAN, CHEAP,
ABUNDANT, AND RELIABLE
HYDROELECTRICITY.
FURTHERMORE, IT ALLOWS FOR OUR
HYDROPOWER GENERATION WITHOUT A
SINGLE NEW DAM AND AT NO COST
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
NOW, LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE, I
AM A PROPONENT OF NEW DAMS, BUT
THIS BILL RIGHTLY HARNESSES
HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL AT
WATER USERS THROUGHOUT THE WEST
WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO DEVELOP
HYDROPOWER AT THE FEDERAL CANAL
THEY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN.
THIS ONCE AGAIN IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT THIS BILL ONLY ALLOWS
FOR SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECTS
ON EXISTING CANALS AND
PIPELINES.
SUCH MAN-MADE -- MANMADE
FACILITIES ARE ALREADY ON
DISTURBED GROUND AND ALREADY
GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.
FURTHERMORE, THIS BILL IS A
REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, OR C.B.O.,
ESTIMATES THAT IT WILL GENERATE
$5 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS THROUGH INCREASED
HYDROPOWER PRODUCTION AND
RENTAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
H.R. 2482 AFFIRMS REPUBLICANS'
COMMITMENT TO A TRUE ALL OF THE
ABOVE ENERGY PLAN.
IT WILL CREATE JOBS IN RURAL
AREAS, LOWER ENERGY PRICES, AND
EXPAND PRODUCTION OF CLEAN,
RENEWABLE AMERICAN ENERGY BY
SIMPLY GETTING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY.
THIS BILL WILL RECEIVE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND
IS ENDORSED BY THE FAMILY FARM
ALLIANCE, THE NATIONAL WATER
RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER -- LET ME
START AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER
ASSOCIATION, AND THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER
SO I WANT TO COMMEND THE BILL'S
SPONSORS, MR. TIPTON FROM
COLORADO, MR. GOSAR FROM
ARIZONA, FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE BILL.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
I YIELD MYSELF FIVE MINUTES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN.
I DO RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
GENERAL PREMISE, I REPEAT THE
GENERAL PREMISE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, BUT OPPOSE THE
LEGISLATION AS AMENDED.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT
OVERWHELM THREE OUT OF 15
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT IT.
WHILE IT IS BIPARTISAN, IT IS
MINOR BIPARTISANSHIP ON THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE.
H.R. 2842 DOES SEEK TO GENERATE
ADDITIONAL HYDROPOWER AT THE
EXISTING BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
FACILITIES, FEDERAL PROPERTIES.
THROUGH DEVELOPING NEW PROCESS
OF CONDUIT AND IN CANAL
HYDROPOWER, WHICH WE SHOULD BE
DEVELOPING AT A GREATER SPEED
AND LENGTH.
WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS BILL AS
AMENDED EVEN THOUGH THE
ORIGINAL BILL ALSO STATED AND
INTENT WAS TRYING TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE THIS WAIVER LANGUAGE OUT
ON PAGE 4, LINES 12 TO 15, WE
WERE UNSUCCESSFUL SO WE CANNOT
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE
A NEPA WAIVER LANGUAGE THAT WE
CANNOT SUPPORT.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
GENERAL INTENT.
H.R. 2842, THE FEDERAL CONDUIT,
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
RECLAMATION LEAGUE OF POWER
PRIVILEGE PROCESS, THE LOPP.
IT REQUIRES OFFERING IRRIGATION
DISTRICTS TO WATER USERS
ASSOCIATION WITH AN EXISTING
CONTRACT.
THOSE ALREADY HAVE THE CONTRACT
WHICH WE SUPPORT.
AND THE SAFEGUARDS CURRENT
PROJECT USERS BY RECOGNIZING
PROJECTS' PRIMARY AUTHORIZED
PURPOSES AND THAT NO FINANCIAL
AND/OR OPERATIONAL COSTS WILL
BE INCURRED BY THE EXISTING
WATER POWER USERS.
THE FEDERAL POWER MARKETING
ADMINISTRATIONS ARE ALSO, AND I
REPEAT ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO
PURCHASE OR MARKET THE POWER
PRODUCED.
LEGISLATION DOES GO A STEP TOO
FAR AND INCLUDES UNNECESSARY
AND UNWEISS BLANKET EXEMPTION
FROM A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW.
IF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE SIMPLY FOLLOWED THE ADVICE
OF THE NATIONAL HYDROTHE
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES
ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC POWER -- LET ME START
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER
ASSOCIATION, AND THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER
SO I WANT TO COMMEND THE BILL'S
SPONSORS, MR. TIPTON FROM
COLORADO, MR. GOSAR FROM
ARIZONA, FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE BILL.
TIME.
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
CHAIR.
I YIELD MYSELF FIVE MINUTES.
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I DO RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
GENERAL PREMISE, I REPEAT THE
GENERAL PREMISE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, BUT OPPOSE THE
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT
OVERWHELM THREE OUT OF 15
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT IT.
WHILE IT IS BIPARTISAN, IT IS
MINOR BIPARTISANSHIP ON THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE.
H.R. 2842 DOES SEEK TO GENERATE
ADDITIONAL HYDROPOWER AT THE
EXISTING BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
FACILITIES, FEDERAL PROPERTIES.
THROUGH DEVELOPING NEW PROCESS
OF CONDUIT AND IN CANAL
HYDROPOWER, WHICH WE SHOULD BE
DEVELOPING AT A GREATER SPEED
WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS BILL AS
AMENDED EVEN THOUGH THE
ORIGINAL BILL ALSO STATED AND
INTENT WAS TRYING TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE THIS WAIVER LANGUAGE OUT
ON PAGE 4, LINES 12 TO 15, WE
WERE UNSUCCESSFUL SO WE CANNOT
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE
A NEPA WAIVER LANGUAGE THAT WE
CANNOT SUPPORT.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
H.R. 2842, THE FEDERAL CONDUIT,
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
RECLAMATION LEAGUE OF POWER
PRIVILEGE PROCESS, THE LOPP.
IT REQUIRES OFFERING IRRIGATION
DISTRICTS TO WATER USERS
CONTRACT.
WHICH WE SUPPORT.
AND THE SAFEGUARDS CURRENT
PROJECT USERS BY RECOGNIZING
PROJECTS' PRIMARY AUTHORIZED
PURPOSES AND THAT NO FINANCIAL
AND/OR OPERATIONAL COSTS WILL
BE INCURRED BY THE EXISTING
WATER POWER USERS.
THE FEDERAL POWER MARKETING
ADMINISTRATIONS ARE ALSO, AND I
REPEAT ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO
PURCHASE OR MARKET THE POWER
LEGISLATION DOES GO A STEP TOO
AND UNWEISS BLANKET EXEMPTION
FROM A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW.
IF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE SIMPLY FOLLOWED THE ADVICE
OF THE NATIONAL HYDROPOWER
ASSOCIATION AND THE
CONSERVATION GROUP OF AMERICAN
RIVERS, WE WOULD HAVE AN A
NONCONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT
WOULD HAVE PASSED NUMBERLY OUT
WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM
FIVE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IN
OPPOSITION AND I ASK CHAIRMAN
TO -- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
PROPONENTS FOR EXEMPTIONING
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY,
THE NEPA ACT, WILL ARGUE THAT
GOVERNMENT REGULATORY RED TAPE
IS PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF MORE HYDROPOWER.
RECLAMATION ALREADY HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO COMPLY WITH NEPA
THROUGH CATEGORY EXEMPTIONS.
THE EXCLUESES HAVE BEEN ISSUED
FOR HYDROPOW -- EXCLUSIONS HAVE
SITES AT THREE SPECIFIC SITES
IN COLORADO.
THE 199, GRAND VALLEY PARK
PLANT IN 2011, JACKSON GULCH IN
NEPA REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER
SITE HAVE NOT BEEN THE
BUREAUCRATIC CHAOS SOME WOULD
MAKE IT OUT TO BE.
THERE ARE THREE PROJECTS IN THE
HOME STATE OF COLORADO FOR MY
COLLEAGUE, THE SPONSOR OF THIS
THE ONE IN UTAH TOOK 15 MINUTES
FROM START TO FINISH.
LAKE CARTER IN COLORADO TOOK
SIX MONTHS TO FINISH NEPA IN
2010.
AT RIDGEWAY, COLORADO, AN LOPP
WAS ISSUED AFTER LAST MONTH AND
AFTER COMPLETING 5-MONTH NEPA
PROCESS.
ON THE SOUTH CANAL DROP THREE
SIDES IN COLORADO, A FINDING OF
NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS JUST
MONTHS NEPA PROCESS.
DEVELOPERS AND IRRIGATORS NEED
PARITY AND CERTAINTY SO THEIR
PROJECT CAN BE DEVELOPED.
WAVING NEPA WILL NOT PROVIDE
THE CLARITY AND CERTAINTY.
PROCESS.
THERE MUST BE A CLEAR PROCESS
IN PLACE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FACILITIES.
I URGE RECLAMATION TO FINALIZE
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE DRAFT
IS ALREADY OUT TO DEVELOPERS
FOR THEIR REVIEW AND THAT THE
FINAL DIRECTIVES AND STANDARDS
WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS
LEGISLATION CONTAINS THIS
CONTROVERSIAL WAIVER.
WITHOUT THE NEPA EXEMPTION,
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE
BEEN ON SUSPENSION AND I DO
OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION AS.
ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN
OPPOSITION OF THIS VERY SAD
PORTION OF WAIVER OF NEPA.
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
AM VERY PLEASED TO YIELD FOUR
MINUTES TO THE SPONSOR OF THIS
VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION, THE
TIPTON.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
I THANK THE
YIELDING.
EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE ALL OF
THE ABOVE FOR ENERGY SOLUTION
TO THIS COUNTRY.
TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION
TO ALL RESOURCES INCLUDING
RENEWABLE AN ALTERNATIVE
IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT THIS
NEED, BUT TODAY I OFFER A BILL
THAT TURNS THAT TALK INTO
ACTION.
MY BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL
POWER DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS ACT
OF 2012 IS A KEY PIECE OF THE
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY
ENERGY TO EXPAND DEVELOPMENT OF
RESPONSIBLE RENEWABLE ENERGY,
GENERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
GET AMERICANS WORKING ONCE
MORE.
HYDROPOWER IS THE CLEANEST AND
CHEAPEST SOURCE OF ENERGY.
THIS IS CREATED THROUGH MODERN
IT'S THE HIGHEST SOURCE OF
NONCARBON EMITTING ENERGY IN
THE WORLD, ACCOUNTING FOR
APPROXIMATELY 69.9% OF THE
UNITED STATES' TOTAL RENEWABLE
ELECTRICITY GENERATION, MAKING
IT THE LEAD RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCE POWER ACCORDING TO THE
HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION.
IN COLORADO, NEARLY 30.7% OF
OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY IS
HYDROPOWER BUT ONLY 3.1% OF ALL
COLORADO IS HYDROPOWER.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
OPPORTUNITY IN COLORADO TO
EXPAND ON THIS CLEAN, RENEWABLE
SOURCE OF POWER WHILE CREATING
BADLY NEEDED JOBS FOR THE THIRD
PROCESS.
IN COLORADO ALONE, THERE'S
ENOUGH EXISTING CAPACITY TO
GENERATE AS MUCH POWER AS THE
IT
STANDS, NO MAJOR HYDROELECTRIC
FACILITIES HAVE BEEN BUILT IN
YEARS AND EXISTING SOURCES ARE
BEING STIFLED LEADING TO
SHORTAGES IN MANY AREAS IN THE
COUNTRY.
BY STREAMLINING THE PROCESS AN
REDUCING COST FOR SMALL
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT THIS
COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION WILL
ENCOURAGE THE PRODUCTION OF
CLEAN, RENEWABLE HYDROPOWER AND
PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CREATION
OF NEW JOBS IN COLORADO.
-- IN COLORADO FOR SOME OF OUR
NATION'S HARDEST HIT RURAL
AREAS THIS COMMON SENSE BILL
GARNERED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN
THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE AND HAS BEEN ENDORSED
BY THE FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE,
THE NATURAL WATER RESOURCES
ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION.
THE FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TREES PUT
IT BEST SAYING THAT, AND I
QUOTE, THE MARGINS ON SMALL
HYDRO ARE VERY SMALL.
DISTRICTS NEED TO MAKE TIMELY
INVESTMENT DECISIONS WITHOUT
THE PROSS PECK OF VIRBLETAL
REVIEWS OF UNDETERMINED LENGTH
AND EXPENSE.
ADDITIONALLY WEN DISTRICTS
SHARE THE NATION'S DESIRE TO
MAKE INVESTMENTS TO PUT PEOPLE
TO WORK IMMEDIATELY.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS OF SMALL
HIDE ROW ON EXISTING CONDUITS
REPRESENTS AN UNNECESSARY AN
OFTEN CHILLING UNCERTAINTY FOR
THE ECONOMICALLY MARGINAL
INVESTMENT, END QUOTE THIS
LEGISLATION, WHICH APPLIES TO
ALL PROJECTS ON RECLAMATION
CONDUITS, SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS
CONCERN AND FIXING THEM
REQUIRES SMALL BUSINESSES TO
JUMP THROUGH UNNECESSARY
BUREAUCRATIC HOOPS IN ORDER TO
COMPLETE TESTING ON CONDUITS
THAT HAVE ALREADY UNDERGONE
PROPER REVIEWS.
ACT WILL JUMP START SMALL
HIDE ROW POWER DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH WHICH POWER GENERATED
WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE
GRID.
ALSO CREATING REVENUES THAT
WILL HELP PAY FOR AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR
FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS
CONGRESS HAS MADE RESPONSIBLE
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT A
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY WITH THE
GOAL OF PUTTING FORWARD
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS.
GENTLEMAN --
THE GENTLEMAN IS
REBLING NICED FOR AN ADDITIONAL
WHILE PUTTING
FORWARD A COMPREHENSIVE
SOLUTION THAT LOOKS FOR
ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES WHILE
CONTINUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TRADITIONAL RESORS.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS
A COMMON SENSE SOLUTION TO
ADVANCE A COMMON GOAL OF
DEVELOPING CLEAN AND RENEWABLE
ENERGY AN PUT INTO PLACE A KEY
COMPONENT OF THE
ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY PLAN.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE
THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AN
REMEMBER THE WORDS THAT ARE
INSCRIBED IN THIS VERY CHAMBER
FROM DANIEL WEBSTER, SAYING LET
US DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF OUR
LAND, CALL FORTH ITS POWERS,
BUILD UP ITS INSTITUTION,
PROMOTE ALL ITS GREAT INTERESTS
AND SEE WHETHER WE ALSO IN OUR
DAY AND GENERATION MAY NOT
PERFORM SOMETHING WORTHY TO BE
REMEMBERED.
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS
IN THE LEGACY OF RESPONSIBLE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PRECIOUS
NATURAL RESOURCES AN WITH
STEADFAST PROTECTION OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION CONDUIT AN RURAL
JOBS ACT OF 20 12.
I YIELD BACK.
GENTLEMAN --
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
THE YOM FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH THE
GENTLEMAN MORE.
I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE, MR. MARKEY.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION,
AFTER 427 DAYS IN THE MAJORITY
OR JOB
STRATEGY TO SHOW FOR IT, THE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE NOW
OFFERING THE RECLAMATION SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
AND RURAL JOBS ACT.
WE NEED LEGISLATION THAT GETS
HARD HATS DOWN IN THE DIMPS
AGAIN.
INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS ARE OFFER
MANAGER LEGISLATION CERTAIN TO
BE DITCHED BY THE SENATE.
WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT
OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PROMPTS AT
EXISTING FACILITIES.
IN FACT IF THE LEGISLATION
SIMPLY GAVE THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION TO DEVELOP
HYDROPOWER AT FEDERAL
RECLAMATION FACILITIES, I WOULD
SUPPORT IT.
IF IT MANDATED CATEGORICAL
EXCLUSIONS FOR THOSE SMALL
PROJECTS, I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
HELP THEMSELVES.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THE NATURE OF
THE PROBLEM, FOR REPUBLICANS,
THE PROBLEM IS ALWAYS JUST
NATURE SYSTEM OF THEY WENT AND
GUTTED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ALTOGETHER IN THIS BULL.
THAT'S -- IN THIS BILL.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR
ENTIRE GHICK PLATFORM IS
DEREGULATION AN GUTTING
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS YOU
START WAIVING ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW EVEN WHEN THE INDUSTRY
YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP ISN'T
ASKING FOR IT.
IF REPUBLICANS HAD FOLLOWED THE
ADVICE OF THE HIDE ROW
INDUSTRY, WE WOULD HAVE A
NONCONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT I
COULD SUPPORT AND RECOMMEND TO
ALL OF THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
THAT WE PASS AT -- PASS IT 435
TO NOTHING HERE ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR THIS AFTERNOON.
ROLING.
THAT'S WHAT -- OVER HYDROLOGY.
THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
BRING TO THE FLOOR TODAY.
IF REPUBLICANS ARE SERIOUS
ABOUT ADVANCING THE HIDE ROW
INDUSTRY, HERE'S WHAT THEY CAN
DO.
EXTEND THE PRODUCTION TAX
SUPPORT CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY
DOMESTIC CLEAN CLEAN
ENERGY MANUFACTURING TAX
CREDITS.
EXTEND THE SECTION 1603
RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM.
HERE'S WHAT THOSE SUCCESSFUL
RECOVERY ACT PROGRAMS ARE
ALREADY -- HAVE ALREADY DONE.
THREE COMPANIES HAVE RECEIVED
$67 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO
BUILD HIDE ROW-RELATED
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES.
EIGHT COMPANIES HAVE RECEIVED
$2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT
HIDE ROW DEPLOYMENT UNDER THE
1603 RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT
PROGRAM.
CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY BONDS
HAVE SUPPORTED $531 MILLION IN
PUBLIC POWER HYDROPROJECTS
ACROSS THE CUPRY.
BUT REPUBLICANS AREN'T INTEREST
-- ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT REPUBLICANS AREN'T
INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING
TECHNOLOGY.
WITH THEIR OIL ABOVE ALL
STRATEGY, REPUBLICANS WANT TO
CONTINUE SUBSIDIZING THE OIL
INDUSTRY, $4 BILLION
ANNUALLY, $40 BILLION OVER 10
YEAR BUT SHUT DOWN CLEAN ENERGY
PROGRAMS I JUST OUTLINED.
THEY'RE GOING DIRECTLY AFTER
ANY AND ALL THREATS TO BIG OIL
AND BIG COAL AND THEY'RE
TARGETING CLEAN ENERGY JOBS FOR
ELIMINATION.
REPUBLICANS IN OUR COMMITTEE
HAVE REPORTED A BILL THAT WOULD
REPEAL BORROWING AUTHORITY THAT
THE WESTERN AREA POWER
ADMINISTRATION CURRENTLY HAS TO
HELP FINANCE TRANSMISSION,
SERVE REGULAR NEWBLE ENERGY
PROJECTS, BETWEEN ONE PROJECT
IN MONTANA THAT IS ALREADY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THREE
OTHERS THAT ARE DEEP INTO
DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE 11,500
JOBS AT STAKE.
BUT THE REPUBLICANS DON'T CARE
ABOUT THOSE 11,500.
-- JOBS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE WIND
INDUSTRY.
10,000 AMERICAN WORKERS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN CUT IN THE WIND
INDUSTRY BECAUSE THE PRODUCTION
TAX CREDIT IS EXPIRING AT THE
END OF THE YEAR AND ORDERS ARE
DRYING UP.
LOSE THEIR JOBS IF THE
REPUBLICANS GET THEIR WAY AND
RAISE TAXES ON THE WIND
INDUSTRY BEGINNING ON DECEMBER
31 OF THIS YEAR.
A CLEAN ENERGY WAVE IS UPON US.
AMERICA NEEDS A VIBRANT,
DOMESTIC HIDE ROW INDUSTRY,
ALONG WITH HEALTHY WIND, SOLAR,
GEOTHERMAL AND BIOMASS INDUSTRY
TO CAPTURE ITS BENEFITS.
OVERS, THIS WEAVE WILL CRASH
DOWN ON US AND CARRY THE
CHINESE, INDIAN, AND GERMAN
SECTOR.
LET'S VOTE DOWN THIS BAD BILL
AN MOVE ON TO POLICIES THAT
WILL REALLY HELP AMERICA'S
HYDROSECTOR.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN, MR. MCCLINTOCK.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD SAY TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, NOTHING IN THIS
MEASURE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH
OIL PRUCK.
THIS BILL REDUCES OUR RELIANCE
ON FOSSIL FUELS BY BRINGING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OFING ME
WATTS -- OF MEGA WATT OF NEW,
CLEAN ENERGY TO THE GRID THIS
MEASURE BY MR. TIPTON DOES
EVERYTHING THE ENVIRONMENTALIST
LEFT SAYS IT LIKES.
IT PRODUCES ABSOLUTELY CLEAN,
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY IN VAST
QUANTITIES AT PRECISELY NO COST
TO TAXPAYERS ON PROJECTS THAT
HAVE ALREADY UNDERGONE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SIMPLY BY
INSTALLING SMALL GENERATORS IN
EXISTING PIPELINES AND CANALS
WHERE THERE ARE NO FISH OR
FLORA OR FOUL OF -- FOWL OF ANY
KIND.
THAT'S ALPHA AND OMEGA OF MR.
TIPTON'S BILL.
AUTHORIZE THESE SIMPLE PROJECTS
RECLAMATION
THAT'S IT.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MILLS --
MILES OF AQUEDUCTS THAT CARRY
WATER BY GRAVITY, THERE'S NO
ANIMAL LIFE WHATSOEVER, THESE
EXISTING PIPELINES IF EQUIPPED
WITH SIMPLE HYDROELECTRIC
GENERATORS COULD GENERATE
ELECTRICITY THAT WOULD TAKE
SEVERAL MAJOR MULTIBILLION
DOLLAR HYDROELECTRIC DAMS TO
PRODUCE.
OUR COMMITTEE TOOK TESTIMONY
THAT IN OUR COLORADO ALONE THE
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES COULD
PRODUCE AS MUCH POWER AS IS
CURRENTLY PRODUCED BY THE
ENTIRE GLEN CANYON DAM.
MULTIPLY THAT THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES AN YOU BEGIN TO
REALIZE WHAT A HUGE IMPACT THIS
COULD HAVE ON NEW, CLEAN,
AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR AMERICA.
THOSE HYDROELECTRIC YEN RATE
CRORS ARE NOT GOING INTO THESE
PIPELINES RIGHT NOW FOR ONE
SIMPLE AND UTTERLY ABSURD
REASON.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS MAKE IT
ECONOMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO
SO.
OUR SUBCOMMITTEE TOOK TESTIMONY
FROM FARMERS AND WATER
DISTRICTS, TRYING TO INSTALL
THESE YEN RATOR, BUT INSTOFE
DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO
ASSIST THEM THIS ADMINISTRATION
INSTEAD SMOTHERS THEM WITH
ENDLESS REGULATORY DELAYS,
DEMANDS FOR WILDLY IMPOSSIBLE
-- WILDY EXPENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND
EXORBITANT FEES.
ACCORDING TO THE STUDY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO CITED,
THEY CAN DOUBLE THE COST OF
THESE PRODUCTS PRICES THEM OUT
A WITNESS TOLD US A $20,000
SMALL GENERATOR PROJECT WOULD
HAVE REQUIRED $50,000 IN
PERMITTING COSTS.
SO IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD.
CONGRESSMAN TIPTOP'S BILL
INSTEAD WELCOMES THESE SMALL
HYDROELECTRIC GENERATORS BY
AUTHORIZING THEIR PLACEMENT IN
EXISTING BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
CONDUITS, IT INVITING EXISTING
OPERATORS AND USERS TO INVEST
IN THE GENERATORS AT NO PUBLIC
COST.
IT ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE WITHIN
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WITH
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSIST
PROJECTS AND EXEMPTS THEM FROM
PAYING IF ANOTHER COSTLY,
TIME-CONSUMING AND POINTLESS
NEPA STUDY WHEN THERE'S NO
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT INVOLVED.
THEY HAVE UNDERGONE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS WHEN THEY
WERE BUILT, UPGRADED OR WHEN
THEIR REPAYMENT CONTRACTS WERE
IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY
TO PUT THEM THROUGH ANOTHER
REVIEW BEFORE THESE SMALL
GENERATORS CAN BE INSTALLED.
THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS TO
FARMING ALONE.
SOME IRRIGATION DISTRICTS ARE
FORCED TO USE DIESEL GENERATORS
TO PUMP WATER TO THE FEELS.
PUT HYDROELECTRIC GENERATORS IN
EXISTING AREAS, THEY BECOME
VIRTUALLY SELF-SUSTAINING WHILE
REDUCING RELIANCE ON OTHER
OF ELECTRICITY.
IN ADDITION, THEY COWL PROVIDE
MONEY FOR LOCAL IRRIGATORS AND
CREATE JOBS AND RELIEVE
THESE COSTS.
CONSTRUCTION OF THESE WOULD
MEAN NEW HIGH-PAYING JOBS FOR
AMERICANS.
IT IS MYSTIFYING THAT A NATURE
PLAGUED BY ECONOMIC STAGNATION,
CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT AND
INCREASINGLY SCARE AND
EXPENSIVE ELECTRICITY WOULD
ADOPT A WILLFUL OPPOSITION TO
THESE GENERATORS IN ALREADY
EXISTING FACILITIES.
THERE ARE FEWER AMERICANS
WORKING TODAY THAN ON THE TAI
THAT BARACK OBAMA TOOK OFFICE
MORE THAN THREE LONG YEARS AGO.
DURING THAT PERIOD HE HAS TAKEN
WELL OVER $1 TRILLION FROM THE
EARNINGS OF HARDWORKING
AMERICAN FAMILIES TO FUNNEL THE
WELL-CONNECTED COMPANIES
CLAIMING TO CREATE JOBS.
IN IN THE CASE OF SO LIND RAH,
IT -- OF SOLYNDRA, IT WAS JOBS
THAT DISAPPEARED AS SOON AS THE
GOVERNMENT RAN OUT.
YET HERE IN THIS MEASURE, AT NO
COST THAT HARR-WORKING FAMILIES
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR AN ADDITIONAL
MINUTE.
MR. TIPTON AT --
SIMPLY BY GETTING
EXPENSIVE AND DUPLICATIVE
REGULATIONS OUT OF THE WAY WE
COULD ADD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
MEGA WATTS OF CLEAN, CHEAP
ELECTRICITY TO OUR SUPPLY,
PRODUCE PERMANENT JOB RERKS
DEUCE OUR RELIANCE ON FOSSIL
FUELS AND LOWER THE UTILITY
BILLS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES.
OUR NATION NEEDS ABUNDANT
ELECTRICITY AND IT DESPERATELY
NEEDS PERMANENT JOBS.
TO GET THEM IT MOSTLY
DESPERATELY NEEDS COMMON SENSE
RESTORED TO ITS GOVERNMENT.
THE PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE MADE IN DOING THAT
AS WELL AS THE UNFINISHED
BUSINESS REMAINING BEFORE THEM,
WILL BE VERY PRECISELY ***
BY THE ROLL CALL ON THIS BILL.
PRECISELY MEASURED BY THE
ROLL CALL ON THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
REMAINS?
THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS
20 1/2 MINUTES AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON HAS
14 MINUTES.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
AM VERY PLEASED TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO THE CO-SPONSOR OF
THIS LEGISLATION AND A VERY
VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE, MR. GOSAR.
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
HASTINGS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL CONGRESSMAN TIPTON
AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY ON,
H.R. 2842, THE BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION SMALL CONDUIT
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND
RURAL JOBS ACT OF 2012.
ARIZONA HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY
THE RECENT RECESSION.
ARE FACED
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT FAR
REACHES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE
MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF FOR THESE
HARD HIT RURALS.
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
AND RURAL ACTS OF 2011 WILL
INCREASE OUR COUNTRY'S ENERGY
PORTFOLIO AND GENERATE REVENUES
BY CUTTING DUPLICATIVE
BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE.
SPECIFICALLY, IT WOULD ALLOW
ARIZONANS THAT OPERATE EXISTING
IRRIGATION CANALS, MAN-MADE
PIPES AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, TO
INSTALL HYDROPOWER GENERATORS.
TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT TALKING
STREAMS.
THESE ARE MAN-MADE STRUCTURES
THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
THESE CANALS, AS YOU CAN SEE,
DO NOT CONTAIN ENDANGERED FISH
OR WILDLIFE.
I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
IRRIGATION AND ELECTRICAL
DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF
ARIZONA.
THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS
MUSENISSPALTS UTILITY
AUTHORITIES AND PROJECT
MANAGERS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN
THE MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY OF
WATER AND POWER IN MY STATE.
AS CONGRESSMAN TIPTON AND I
CRAFTED THIS LEGISLATION.
I AM PROUD TO BE FROM A STATE
THAT IS AS INNOVATIVE AND AS
RESOURCEFUL AS ARIZONA.
OUR STATE IS THE LEADER IN
DEVELOPING SAFE WAYS TO TAP
INTO OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
WHICH PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO FEDERAL
CONSTRAINTS, ARIZONA IS UNABLE
TO FULLY TAP ITS HYDROELECTRIC
POWER GENERATION BECAUSE OF THE
DUPLICATIVE LEGISLATION THAT
MAKES IT TOO EXPENSIVE AND
BURDENSOME TO DEVELOP.
IT IS SIMPLY THE FAILURE OF THE
FEDERAL POLICIES TO FACILITATE
AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS
DEVELOPMENT.
INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES THAT SHARE COMMON
GOALS AND VALUES, THE FEDERAL
THEM.
THE EXPERTS ON THE GROUND IN
ARIZONA SEE THAT WE ARE
LITERALLY SITTING ON A
HYDROPOWER GOLD MINE WAITING
FOR THE NEEDED CLARIFICATIONS
AND STREAMLINING THAT WILL CUT
COSTS AND MAKE THIS PROGRAM
MORE ATTRACTIVE.
THIS BILL DOES JUST THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MARICOPA
DRAINAGE DISTRICT ESTIMATES IT
HAS THE CAPACITY TO BUILD 14 TO
17 HYDROPOWER UNITS IF THIS
LEGISLATION IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
THOSE UNITS COULD GENERATE A
TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 2,200
KILL WATTS OF RENEWABLE --
KILOWATTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
WHICH IS ENOUGH LECKS TRIS TO
POWER 250 TO 500 HOMES.
THIS IS ONE OF THE POWER
MANAGERS IN MY STATE.
ANOTHER DISTRICT, THE CENTRAL
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
DISTRICT, HAS INDICATED THEY
COULD INSTALL EIGHT TO 10
HYDROPOWER UNITS WITH THE
CAPACITY OF 1200 TO 1,500
KILOWATTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
ANOTHER 500 OR SO HOMES.
THESE ECONOMIC IMPACTS ARE NOT
SMALL FOR THESE RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
THEY WOULD PROVIDE A REAL
ECONOMIC BOOST AND REDUCE
CONSUMER ENERGY COST.
THERE IS NOT ONE SOLUTION TO
OTHER NATION'S ENERGY CRISIS,
BUT HYDROPOWER IS CLEARLY PART
OF AN OVERALL ALL OPTIONS ON
THE TABLE SOLUTION.
HYDROPOWER IS THE HIGHEST
SOURCE OF NONCARBON EMITTING
ENERGY IN THE WORLD.
IT ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
GENERATION, AND WE ARE NOT EVEN
TAPPING THE POTENTIAL.
INVESTING IN HYDROPOWER
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL STRENGTHEN
TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
TO TOP IT OFF, THE NONPARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT OUR BILL WILL
GENERATE $5 MILLION IN FEDERAL
REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
INCREASED REVENUES FROM THE
SALE OF THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY
CAN RESULT IN A NEW SOURCE OF
FUNDING FOR OPERATING,
MAINTAINING AND REHABILITATING
OUR AGING WATER DELIVERY
INFRASTRUCTURE AT LOWER COSTS
TO FARMERS.
THIS LEGISLATION IS TRULY A
WIN-WIN FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND IT IS EXACTLY THE
TYPE OF LEGISLATION THIS HOUSE
SHOULD BE PASSING.
VOTE YES ON THIS BILL.
THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
AND RURAL JOBS ACT OF 2012, IT
WILL CREATE JOBS IN RURAL
AMERICA, INCREASE U.S. ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE AND RAISE REVENUE
FOR THE U.S. TREASURY.
SO I GUESS THE OPPONENTS OF
THIS BILL ARE RIGHT.
IF COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS ARE
YOUR CUP OF TEA THEN I GUESS I
CAN'T HELP MYSELF.
AND THIS IS AT NO, LET ME
REPEAT MYSELF IN THIS FACT,
THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY IS AT NO
PUBLIC.
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND I COULDN'T AGREE
WITH MR. GOSAR MORE ON SOME OF