Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), the sponsor of this very important legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to a cosponsor of this legislation and a very valuable member of the Natural Resources Committee, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I just want to point out what this bill does and the simplicity of this bill. In 1902 when this House, along with the other House, created the Bureau of Reclamation, which was to reclaim the land--that's where ``reclamation'' comes from--it was designed to develop areas that heretofore did not have the resources with which to develop. Mainly, the resource they were lacking was water. And so the Bureau of Reclamation was created so that those arid areas, certainly my area of central Washington qualified as that because Grand Coulee Dam is a facility that irrigates the 500,000-plus acres in central Washington, but it was designed to develop areas that couldn't be developed before. So now we have these facilities in place all over the West. They've gone through extensive environmental reviews in order to be put into place. Yet even with the technology that makes irrigation better and better and more and more efficient, there still is water in these canals that goes back to the river, in my case the Columbia River. It starts in the Columbia River and ends up in the Columbia River some 120 to 130 miles downstream. And during that process where the water goes to irrigate various parts of the project, we can better, more efficiently use that water by producing power, and that's what this legislation does. Again, we have gone through the extensive environmental review to build the ditch, the canal. We saw pictures of that earlier. All we're suggesting now is we put something in there to capture the water power to generate electricity. It's no more complicated than that. That's all this bill is about. So with that, while there is an objection to the NEPA process, there is an amendment that will address that, and we will have more extensive debate on that. But I would just repeat, Mr. Chairman, all of the building of the ditches, which is what really disturbs the land, that went through extensive environmental reviews to get to that point. We are now building within what we disturbed. Boy, to say that you have to have another process, environmental process, doesn't make sense, at least to this Member. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Please put that poster back up again. That, I think, real-life example demonstrates why America is so fed up with what happens in Washington, DC. Here is a project that is affordable at $20,000, and so somebody wants to take that opportunity to perhaps make some money-- there's nothing wrong with that in our country--and you find out that the cost of regulation is 2\1/2\ times what the project is. Now, what certainty does that send to the marketplace that we want to do business? That is absolutely incredible. And its environmental permitting costs here, in this particular example, which, of course, are exemplified by what? NEPA. And this amendment would take the waiver of NEPA out of the equation. In other words, under the bill that you have authored--correct me if I am wrong--that red dot, that red slice there would be dramatically, dramatically reduced; is that correct?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I find this debate rather interesting because the gentlelady from Texas who spoke, of course, did not speak on this bill. She spoke on another piece of pending legislation that dealt with jobs. That's good. That pending piece of legislation, I might add, had two components to it. It had the energy component, and it had the transportation component which, of course, is pending. We know that expires at the end of this month. But we did pass the energy component of that bill which creates tens of thousands of jobs. And I just want to point out, Mr. Chairman, the gentlelady voted against that piece of legislation. Sometimes we hear mixed messages here, but I just wanted to set the record straight. This bill is another extension of energy production and, of course, creating American energy jobs. And with that, I find the gentleman from Minnesota's amendment really very interesting, because what he is saying by his amendment is, unless the bureaucracy decides, by giving all this authority to the Secretary--and by the way, I'm not sure which Secretary it is because it's not delineated in the amendment. But leaving that aside, he is saying there will be no jobs unless--what? The bureaucracy decides there will be jobs. Now, how ludicrous is that? But that is precisely where we seem to be today. And I think this is, as I mentioned earlier, this is one of the reasons why I think Americans are so fed up with what's happening here in D.C. with this sort of back and forth. Let me repeat, this is infrastructure that is in place. There is water running through this infrastructure. All we're trying to do is capture that energy, at no cost to the Federal Government, and create jobs and lower the cost of energy. There's nothing more simplistic than that, Mr. Chairman. So I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I just want to say to my friend that, as I am the last speaker on my side, I am prepared to close when she is done with her speakers.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, am I correct to assume that all their time has expired?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill H.R. 1387.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1837, the Sacramento- San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. Like California, my central Washington district is heavily dependent on irrigated water to support my agricultural industry. I understand the importance of having a stable, reliable water supply. I've witnessed how government regulations and environmental lawsuits can create conflicts for people, and jobs are the losers. However, Mr. Chairman, I have never seen anything like the economic devastation that California's San Joaquin Valley has experienced as a direct result of Federal policies that restrict water supply and that created this man- made drought. Mr. Chairman, in 2009, Federal regulations to protect an endangered species 3-inch fish led to the deliberate diversion of over 300 billion, Mr. Chairman, 300 billion gallons of water away from the San Joaquin Valley farmers. This caused hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile farmland to dry up. It put thousands of people out of work, and it caused unemployment to reach 40 percent in some communities. Last April, the Natural Resources Committee traveled to Fresno, California, for a field hearing where we heard directly from farmworkers and valley growers who have been devastated and seen their livelihoods pushed to the brink by this man-made drought. We heard stories of farmworkers who normally feed the Nation, being forced to stand in food bank lines to receive handouts of carrots--carrots from China. Mother Nature temporarily rescued this region with historic precipitation last year, but another man-made drought is just around the corner if we do nothing. Rain and snow levels have declined, and just last week the Federal Government announced that the San Joaquin Valley farmers would receive only 30 percent of their initial water allocation for this year. This is unacceptable, and if Congress doesn't act now we will once again see farmworkers having to abandon the fields and return to the food lines. Families and communities in California have waited far too long for Congress to act. In 2009, Mr. Chairman, and in 2010, Mr. Chairman, while this man-made drought was devastating California, the Obama administration and a Democrat-led Congress did nothing. Republicans are ready to act today on bipartisan legislation that will end this man- made drought and protect up to 30,000 jobs. This comprehensive solution would restore water deliveries that have been cut off due to Federal regulations and environmental lawsuits. It will ensure a reliable water supply for people and for fish and it will secure water rights just generally, and it will save taxpayer money by ending unnecessary and dubious government projects. I want to stress, Mr. Chairman, that this man-made drought does not just impact California but has rippling effects across the entire Nation. California's San Joaquin Valley is a salad bowl for the world and provides a significant share of fruits and vegetables for our country. The inability of these farmers to do their jobs would lead negatively to increased reliance on foreign food sources. Why, Mr. Chairman, would we want to do that? Also, according to an initial analysis by the nonpartisan CBO, this bill will repeal and reduce nearly $300 million in Federal spending over the next 10 years while also generating nearly $250 million in revenue. To repeat, this bill cuts spending by $300 million and it increases revenue by a quarter of a billion dollars. This bill is a chance to right the regulatory wrongs of the past, to end future man-made droughts, and to protect jobs and economic livelihood of farmworkers, farmers, and their families. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), the chairman of the subcommittee that developed this legislation on the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, before I yield to the sponsor of this legislation, I yield myself 30 seconds to simply point out that the statistics I used as it relates to unemployment come from Fresno County. That is a county where all of this was impacted. The statistics that were cited by my friends across the aisle were from outside that area. The second point I want to make is that I have letters here from 14 senators and 18 members of the California legislature. I insert their letters in support in the Record. Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act--Organizations in Support Water Agencies/Organizations California Water Alliance Families Protecting the Valley Northern California Water Association * Family Water Alliance California Watershed Posse Westlands Water District San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority: Banta-Carbona Irrigation District, Broadview Water District, Byron Bethany Irrigation District (CVPSA), Central California Irrigation District, Columbia Canal Company, Del Puerto Water District, Eagle Field Water District, Firebaugh Canal Water District, Fresno Slough Water District, Henry Miller Reclamation District #2131, James Irrigation District, Laguna Water District, Mercy Springs Water District, Oro Loma Water District, Pacheco Water District, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, Panoche Water District, Patterson Irrigation District, Pleasant Valley Water District, Reclamation District 1606, San Benito County Water District, San Luis Water District, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Tranquillity Irrigation District, Turner Island Water District, West Side Irrigation District, West Stanislaus Irrigation District Placer County Water Agency * Nevada Irrigation District * El Dorado Irrigation District * Exchange Contractors ** Modesto Irrigation District ** San Joaquin Tributaries Association ** Kern County Water Agency: Belridge Water Storage District, Berrenda Mesa Water District, Buena Vista Water Storage District, Cawelo Water District, Henry Miller Water District, Kern Delta Water District, Lost Hills Water District, Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District, Semitropic Water Storage District, Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District, Tejon-Castac Water District, West Kern Water District, Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District Tehama Colusa Canal Authority: Proberta Water District, Kirkwood Water District, Thomes Creek Water District, Corning WD, Orland-Artois Water District, Glide Water District, Kanawha Water District, Holthouse Water District, Cortina Water District, Davis Water District, LaGrande Water District, 4M Water District, Dunnigan Water District, Colusa County Water District, Westside Water District Bella Vista Water District Reclamation District No. 108 * Maxwell Irrigation District * Sutter Mutual Water Company * Provident Irrigation District * Natomas Mutual Water Company * River Garden Farms * Glenn Colusa Irrigation District * Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District * Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation District * Chowchilla Irrigation District* National Organizations U.S. Chamber of Commerce National Federation of Independent Business Americans for Limited Government National Taxpayers Union Americans for Tax Reform Citizens Against Government Waste American Land Rights Association Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Western Business Roundtable National Farm Organizations Western Growers Family Farm Alliance Agricultural Retailers Association National Turkey Federation National Cattlemen's Beef Association National Agricultural Aviation Association National Cotton Council American Pima Cotton Producers National Chicken Council Milk Producers Council National Onion Association Supima Western Plant Health Association Dairy Farmers of America Western Agricultural Processors Association Irrigation Association California Farm Organizations California Wool Growers Association California Cattlemen's Association California Grain Feed Association California Cotton Ginners & Growers Assoc. California Citrus Mutual California Olive Growers Council California Grape and Tree Fruit League California Dairies Inc. California Poultry Federation: Foster Farms; Aviagen Turkeys, Inc.; Zacky Farms; Squab Producers of California; Willie Bird Turkeys Apricot Producers of California Allied Grape Growers Almond Hullers & Processors Association Local Farm Organizations Fresno County Farm Bureau Kern County Farm Bureau Tulare County Farm Bureau Kings County Farm Bureau Madera County Farm Bureau Merced County Farm Bureau Fresno-Kings Cattlemen California Businesses Paramount Farms Harris Ranch Harris Woolf Almonds Borba Farms Land 0' Lakes Sagoupse Enterprises LLC Sagouspe Family Orchards I, II, III, IV Lyons Magnus Wawona Packing Lyons Transportation Triple J Partners Ghost Ranch LLC Old West Management LLC Panoche Creek Packing, Inc. Double D Farms Penny Newman Grain Company Chaney Ranch Wind Fall Farms Panoche Creek Farms J.G. Avila Farms Rock'n JK Farms Sano Farms Quad Knopf--Civil Engineering Alvarado Building Group Kingsburg Federal Land Bank AGRI Crop Insurance Agency Redding Electric Utility Proteus Inc. Aquarius Aquarium Institute Ferguson Farming Company Lost Wagon Wheel Ranch Brooks Ransom Associates Bettencourt Farms Kings Ranch Waymire Farms Nelson Ranch Triple J Trust Westside Ranch Freitas Farms 1 JHP Ranch Inc Joseph G Freitas Farms Brooks Farms GCM Farms Farmer's Fury Winery Stone Land Company Errotabere Ranches Houlding Farms Tea Party Supporters Mark Meckler, Co-Founder Tea Party Patriots Central Valley Tea Party North Valley Patriots Other Supporters Stewards of the Sequoia Kelly Lilies, Area Administrator, Catholic Charities Tribal Governments Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield to the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from northern California (Mr. Herger), an individual who unfortunately is leaving Congress after this, but who has been a leader on property rights in that part of his State of California.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, how much time is remaining on both sides?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham), a new Member who represents part of this area that has been devastated and who was an integral player on developing this legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), another Member from the West, and the chairman of the Western Caucus who knows this issue very well.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, here are a number of organizations that have written in support of this legislation on both sides of these pages; and at the appropriate time I, too, will insert them in the Record to show that there is broad, broad support for this legislation. I am now pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.