State Regulation of Marriage Is Appropriate Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2677, which I introduced on July 17 of this year in order to help my constituents in Golden, Colorado with their efforts to increase their water supply system. I would also like to extend my thanks to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), who joins me in the Chamber, and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for cosponsoring this important legislation with me.

Mr. Speaker, as many Members of this House are aware, the State of Colorado has recently suffered through what many scientists believe is the worst drought cycle to hit our State in the past 300 to 500 years. As a result, many communities' usage ran up against or exceeded their ability to store water. While the drought has abated in northern and central Colorado, it is still severe in parts of central and eastern Colorado, and both State and local government entities are urgently searching for ways to prepare for future drought and emergency situations.

To that end, the city of Golden, which I represent, is currently completing a new water storage facility, called the Guanella Reservoir near Empire, Colorado. When the construction is finished later this year, Guanella Reservoir will increase Golden's water storage capability by about 400 percent, which should be adequate to guard against any water shortage problems for the near future.

While the new Guanella Reservoir and the headgate to withdraw water from the nearby West Fork of Clear Creek are located entirely on private land, a small portion of the water pipeline needed to connect the reservoir with the water withdrawal site must cross a narrow finger of National Forest land. In addition, the city needs to begin filling this reservoir this coming winter, so they need authorization to construct the water pipeline across the National Forest land this fall.

To achieve the above mentioned goals, H.R. 2766 does two things. First, it authorizes and directs a small land exchange between the Forest Service and the city of Golden to give the city the Forest Service land it needs to complete the pipeline construction. If the land exchange cannot be completed for any reason, the Forest Service is directed to sell the land to the city.

Second, H.R. 2766 authorizes the city to complete the water pipeline across the National Forest land as soon as this bill is enacted into law. That provision is critical to the city's plans, as the pipeline is already completed up to the National Forest boundary, and the remaining small stretch of the pipeline must be completed as soon as possible in order for the city to begin filling the reservoir this coming winter. Unfortunately, there is not adequate time for the city to obtain an administrative permit from the Forest Service to meet the schedule, and thus, this Congressional action is required.

Mr. Speaker, in preparing this legislation, I have worked closely with my colleagues, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), as this land exchange directly involves lands in their congressional districts. In particular, while the proposed exchange will assist the city of Golden, it will also bring two valuable particles of land into Forest Service ownership.

The first parcel is located in the Cub Creek drainage near Evergreen, Colorado. It is sought for acquisition by the Forest Service to eliminate a private land inholding in an area that is becoming increasingly popular for public recreation.

The second parcel is a 55-acre parcel which straddles the Continental Divide near Argentine Pass and is traversed by the route of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. It will be donated to the Forest Service by the city as part of the exchange transaction.

I want to commend the city of Golden for making the donation of the Argentine Pass lands to the Forest Service. Donating the land to the Forest Service will mean that scarce trail acquisition dollars can be used on other parts of the Trail. So that is a real win-win for all concerned.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, allow me to note that H.R. 2766 has been endorsed by all three counties where the exchange lands are located, that is Clear Creek, Park and Summit Counties, the nonprofit Continental Divide Trail Association, the city of Black Hawk Public Works Department, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, and the U.S. Forest service. This bill is truly a bipartisan consensus proposal in every respect. I hope it will be passed by our body today and by our colleagues in the Senate shortly and signed into law by the President at the earliest possible date.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. And as I begin to make some comments about it, I want to thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez) explained, this bill would expedite an exchange of lands between the city of Golden and the Federal Government. I join the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez) in introducing the legislation. I want to extend my thanks for his initiative and for his great cooperation and hard work on this important piece of legislation, particularly the people of Golden and of this particular area.

I also want to join the gentleman in extending my appreciation to the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), and the

ranking member, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee), as well as our chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) for making it possible for us to move the bill quickly to the floor of the House.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) whose district abuts our district and without whose help we could not have moved this legislation.

The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez) exhaustively and with great detail explained what this measure does. And I wanted to just emphasize that not only does the legislation meet the needs and interest of the city of Golden, but it also benefits the public interest as well. The gentleman explained that this land that would be exchanged helps the Continental Divide Trail so that it can move ahead with the important work that it is doing on a noncash basis. This transfer does not involve resources so they can put them towards completing the trail and maintaining the trail.

It also gives the city of Golden certainty that it can proceed with this project, and if for some reason the exchange cannot be completed, the city will buy the lands. It has made a good faith commitment toward doing this.

In conclusion this is a win-win-win across the board. It will help us respond to what has been an unprecedented drought in our State. It is an example of how, if we work together in Colorado and in this Congress, we can meet the increasing needs for water in the west.

This is a bill that on its surface may appear to be modest, but it is very important for the city of Golden, for our Colorado residents, and for all the Americans who will take advantage of the Continental Divide Trail. I would urge its support and its adoption. It is bipartisan and noncontroversial. I would like to thank, again, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez) for his hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2766) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange certain lands in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in the State of Colorado, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2766, introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez), would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange certain lands in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in the State of Colorado.

This exchange would facilitated the construction of a pipeline leading in a reservoir near Empire, Colorado, to the city of Golden, Colorado. In exchange, the Forest Service will benefit by acquiring nearly 80 acres of inholdings near Evergreen, Colorado, as well as receiving a donation of 61 acres of private land along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from the Rocky Mountain State of Colorado (Mr. Beauprez).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2766 would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to consummate a land exchange in Colorado. The values of the lands would be appraised in accordance with the Federal appraisal standards.

The city of Golden, Colorado would benefit from the transaction. This bill is not controversial. I congratulate the sponsor of this legislation and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) for their hard bipartisan work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), a hardworking member of the House Committee on Resources.

(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.