Scott Tipton

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to be able to address title VII of the Water Rights Protection Act in this bill. Over many decades, Federal attempts to manipulate Federal permit, lease, and land management process to circumvent long-established State water law and hijack privately held water rights have sounded the alarm for all non-Federal water users that rely on these water rights for their livelihood. The Federal Government's overreach and infringement on private property rights that led to the introduction of this original bill in the 113th Congress involved the U.S. Forest Service's attempt to require the transfer of privately held water rights to the Federal Government as a permit condition on National Forest System lands. With this permit condition, there is no compensation for the transfer of these privately held rights. This Forest Service permit condition has already hurt a number of stakeholders in my home State of Colorado, including Powderhorn Ski Area in Grand Junction and the Breckenridge Ski Resort. The same nefarious tactic has been used in Utah, Nevada, and other Western States, where agencies have required the surrender of possession of water rights in exchange for approving the conditional use of grazing allotments. This Federal water grab has broad implications that have begun to extend beyond the recreation and the farming and ranching community and are now threatening municipalities and other businesses. In 2014, the Forest Service proposed a groundwater directive that would have expanded the agency's reach over groundwater and established new bureaucratic hurdles to interfere with private water users' ability to be able to access their water. Though the Forest Service ultimately withdrew this controversial groundwater directive, there are no guarantees that the directive or something similar won't be back in the future. The Water Rights Protection Act offers a sensible approach that preserves water rights and the ability to be able to develop water requisite to living in the arid West without interfering with water allocations for non-Federal parties or allocations that protect an environment that is cherished by all Westerners. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues from other Western States to ensure that no State-recognized water right goes unprotected from the class of actions that this bill prohibits. I appreciate the inclusion of this legislation and encourage its passage.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, as my colleague from New Mexico noted, Wayne Aspinall of Colorado stated: ``When you touch water in the West, you touch everything.'' We have that shared concern that that water is going to be preserved. In the West, water is a private property right. We have State law. We have priority-based systems, which have always been recognized by the Federal Government. Unfortunately, we have seen and reflected in this portion of the legislation that we are discussing today, the Federal Government reaching out to be able to require conditional use of permit water rights to be signed over to the Federal Government. At issue is the amendment that we are discussing right now. When we talk about our Native American Tribes, my colleague and I have shared in common interest, along with our colleague, Mrs. Torres, in terms of making sure that Native American rights are protected from taking by the Federal Government, as well. There is good news in the underlying bill. The Department of the Interior had made the statement that their ability to be able to negotiate or enter into water settlements with Tribes is in no way affected or restricted by this bill. It is in no way affected or restricted by this bill, according to the Department of the Interior. While I have no objections to the changes proposed in the savings clause to be able to clarify as much, I did want to be able to register concern on the amendment that it may not have been as definitive as I would like to have seen in regard to specifying Native American water rights. I think that is common ground that we are seeing on both sides of the aisle: to make sure that those private property rights are protected. I will not vote against this amendment, and I applaud my colleagues working together with us to be able to try and achieve an actual amiable solution on something that, as Westerners, we understand probably better than anyone else in the country the importance of water--water for our communities, water for the opportunity for our communities to be able to grow and to prosper. On this particular issue, a very important segment of that very community is the valuable contributions that our Native American Tribes make to all of our communities. Mr. Chairman, I will be supporting the overall legislation. In terms of their work on this, I commend all Members. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative McClintock, for putting forward a very sensible piece of legislation. The Colorado Water Congress, who supports this bill, stated in their letter: The economic viability of the State of Colorado is dependent on safe and reliable water supply. In recent years, the ability of water managers to meet growth demand and to create water storage has become more challenging. In Colorado, the Windy Gap Project, whose formal environmental permitting process began in 2003, won't see construction start until at least 2019, with water storage ready by 2022--16 years to permit, 3 years to build. For too long, Federal agencies have failed to properly coordinate and time their reviews of water supply project applications, resulting in missed opportunities for increased water storage during our wetter seasons. Water is the lifeblood of Western communities. Without it, most communities in the Western United States could not survive, so it only makes sense to store as much of it as we reasonably can during those wetter years. Yet the Federal Government presents roadblock after roadblock that prevents a timely and cost-effective completion to many of these projects. This legislation will streamline the permitting process and increase agency accountability by placing the Bureau of Reclamation at the center of the process and ensuring all other agencies are required to report to it in a timely fashion. It is an effective piece of legislation, an effective approach to a problem that should not exist. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I also want to thank Chairman Hensarling for offering the legislation under consideration today. The Financial CHOICE Act takes the necessary steps in reforming the supervision of our financial system that the Dodd-Frank Act failed to do. Among other provisions, this legislation requires financial regulatory agencies to tailor regulatory actions to fit the risk profile and business model of supervised institutions. Not only will this ensure appropriately tailored compliance obligations for banks and credit unions of various risk profiles, but it saves valuable time and resources for bank examiners. As it stands now, community banks are facing an ever-increasing regulatory burden that they can no longer shoulder. This has had a devastating impact on small banks, forcing consolidation or failure and stifling the creation of new banks in areas that need access to credit. In December 2015, a report by the Dallas Fed highlighted this problem, noting that the regulatory environment tends to be one-size- fits-all and concluding that the regulatory oversight should match the risk level an institution poses to the financial system and the economy at large. The CHOICE Act will stop the trend of increasing compliance costs and decreasing financial services. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling) for his tireless efforts on this legislation and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my most sincere appreciation for the life and service of Navy Petty Officer First Class Remington J. Peters. He was tragically taken from this world at the young age of 27 over the Memorial Day weekend. Remi was born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he was known by his friends to be a loving, caring and passionate young man who brought a smile to everyone's face. His parents described him as an angel on earth. After Remi graduated from Grand Junction High School, he found his calling in the U.S. Navy. He entered SEAL school and graduated without difficulty. During his distinguished time in the Navy, Remi was assigned to the SEAL's prestigious Leap Frogs, the Navy's parachute demonstration team. Remi performed over 900 jumps, most of them at public gatherings in front of hundreds of thousands of Americans. As a Navy SEAL, Remi risked his life every time he stepped foot on a ship or helicopter. Remi accepted the dangers of two combat tours and hundreds of jumps in order to serve his country. Mr. Speaker, at only 27 years old, Remi had an impressive list of accomplishments. I hope as his family and friends commemorate his life, they are continually reminded of what an extraordinary individual he was. Remi will forever be remembered in his hometown of Grand Junction, and by so many who came to know him over the years. I continue to pray for comfort for Remi's family and friends during this difficult time, and I know that the memory of Remington J. Peters will live on in all who share his story.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Terry Wetherill, who recently received the Emergency Manager of the Year Award. Terry is the Mineral County emergency manager and search and rescue coordinator. As part of the Mineral County Search and Rescue team, he serves as an EMT in the County Ambulance Service and as a fireman in the Volunteer Fire Department. Terry's roots in the community run deep. Terry's family was one of Mineral County's founding families, settling there over one hundred years ago. Terry made his home in Creede after 29 years of service in the U.S. Navy. As Mineral County Emergency Manager, Terry has spearheaded the use of technology to aid in difficult search and rescue missions in the San Luis Valley in situations where all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles can't access those in need of emergency services. Avalanches and steep cliffs create treacherous conditions in parts of the San Luis Valley, and the drone helps prevent rescuers from having to put themselves in life-threatening situations, Thanks to the work of Terry's office, Archuleta, Hinsdale, Mineral, and Rio Grande counties will now have access to this life saving drone. Mr. Speaker, Terry Wetherill's service to Colorado and his commitment to safety and security in the San Luis Valley is commendable and we are fortunate to have him, He is well-deserving of this honor, and I wish him the very best in the future.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor former Congressman Ray Kogovsek, a dear friend who represented the Third Congressional District of Colorado before me. I ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he now faces a challenge far greater than any political race. Ray is a native of Pueblo, Colorado, and but for his college years and his tenure here from 1979 to 1985, he never left his hometown and never wanted to. His commitment to his community spread to encompass the entire Third District, which he came to serve after 10 years in the Colorado Legislature where I first met him. Ray won election to Congress in 1978 by 364 votes. In 1980, he faced the same challenger in a Reagan landslide year. He won by 22,000 votes. And in 1982, after redistricting changed half of his district, he handily won again. Ray won because of who Ray is. He is a man of gentle wisdom, wisdom about people, a man with a gut instinct to know what is right, a genuine man, a man who knows no anger. His achievements in his short time here in Congress were many. From a vast wilderness bill painstakingly built through his outreach and development of a coalition of broad support, to funding to widen a beautiful highway through Glenwood Canyon to make it safer for road travel, to resolving a decades-old boundary dispute for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and his work on behalf of the Third District continued after he chose to leave Congress. He is known for his work on Western water issues and was awarded the prestigious Wayne Aspinall Award by the Colorado Water Congress, an award named after another Colorado congressman who served as chairman of the House Interior Committee. But I have a sense that what Ray values most about his career in public service, about his advocacy for his district and for the West, are his friendships, the friendships that he found and nurtured here in these halls and beyond. I want to thank Ray Kogovsek on behalf of the House of Representatives and the Third District and wish him and his family comfort and strength during this difficult time.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Robert ``Bob'' Rawlings of Pueblo, Colorado. Bob passed away at the age of 92, on March 24, 2017. Born in 1924, Bob graduated from Bent High School in 1942. He immediately pursued a college education at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, but, ultimately, he decided to enlist in the Navy that same year. Bob received a commission from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1943 and served honorably as the executive officer of subchaser 648 in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Bob was part of an effort to liberate over 100 British and Dutch prisoners of war during his time in service. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Bob returned to school at Colorado College and earned his bachelor's degree in economics in 1947. Bob took a job as a reporter at the Pueblo Chieftain, the place he would work for the next seven decades, ultimately climbing the ladder to serve as chairman and as editor of the paper. Bob always championed his hometown and used his career with the Chieftain as a platform to advocate his passion for Pueblo and for the surrounding region. A vocal supporter of protecting Pueblo's resources, Bob spent 70 years delivering news to the people of southern Colorado. His character and his life's work represent the very best of Pueblo and the entire State of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Bob Rawlings served his community as a philanthropist, a journalist, a sailor, and as a family man. Although Bob referred to himself as the world's worst golfer, Bob will be remembered by so many in his hometown as one of its best citizens. While I am saddened by his death, I am honored to have known Bob. His presence will be missed by so many, but his impact in the community, however, will be remembered forever.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 267) to redesignate the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 267, introduced by Congressman John Lewis, redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. It also authorizes the National Park Service to include the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in the historical park's boundaries. The Prince Hall Masonic Temple long served as the headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This well-known civil rights organization was cofounded by Dr. King, who also served as its first president. Including the Prince Hall Masonic Temple within the unit's boundaries will allow the National Park Service to provide technical assistance to the building's owners with regard to repairs, renovations, and maintenance that will preserve its historic integrity. Our Nation's historic sites and historical parks provide us with the unique opportunity to share the very spaces in which the generations before us lived and worked. At these sites, Americans are able to metaphorically walk in the footsteps of our Nation's Founders and of those who followed them and perfected their vision for our country. At this time of division in our country, it is important to be able to look back at leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., who promoted unity and the dignity of the human person. Congressman Lewis' bill before the House today will expand opportunities for Americans to learn about the legacy of Dr. King and other icons of the civil rights movement. I urge adoption of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 132, sponsored by Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, conveys two buildings and two acres of land of the federal Arbuckle Project to the Arbuckle Master Conservancy District in Oklahoma. The district has operated and maintained the project for decades, and completed repayment of its capital costs for the project in 2012. While non-controversial, legislation is necessary in order to facilitate this and other Bureau of Reclamation title transfers. Under current law, these buildings and land remain in federal ownership until legislation is enacted to transfer the title to the District. Mr. Cole's bill achieves this objective. This title transfer is a win-win for the District and the federal government. The District will no longer be subject to certain federal paperwork requirements and the federal government will be relieved of all future liability and financial responsibilities associated with these facilities and land. I urge adoption of the measure, which overwhelmingly passed the House on a bipartisan basis in the last Congress. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 1) approving the location of a memorial to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 648) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project to enable the use of the active capacity of the Fontenelle Reservoir.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 648, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney), allows the State of Wyoming to increase the active storage capacity for the Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir located in southwest Wyoming. The bill allows the State to enter into agreements with the Federal Government to study, design, plan, and perform construction activities to accomplish this goal. Wyoming will pay for any and all costs associated with these activities. This bill, which passed the House without objection in the last Congress when it was sponsored by our former colleague Cynthia Lummis, simply empowers Wyoming to better utilize its Colorado River water allocation through improved water storage at no cost to the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney).

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.