Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District Conveyance Act of 2005

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, my legislation would enable a long-awaited transfer of property from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in central Washington. This transfer involves the conveyance of approximately 9 acres of Federal property as well as a few associated structures. These facilities are already dedicated to purposes related to the irrigation district. With this conveyance, the district will be able to use district funds to make needed improvements for the future. The irrigation district has fully repaid its obligations to the United States related to these properties, and the bureau is no longer interested in their day-to-day management and upkeep.

During hearings before the Resources Committee earlier this year, the administration expressed its support for this legislation and noted that this transfer allowed the bureau to focus its limited resources where they are more urgently needed. In my view, this is an example of local problem-solving at its best.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the staff of the irrigation district and the Bureau of Reclamation for their work on this. This legislation would not be before us today without their cooperative efforts over the last few years to negotiate this agreement. I also want to thank Resources Chairman Pombo and Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich for moving this legislation through the process, as well as Kiel Weaver and other members of the committee staff for their work on this bill.

Again, this is a noncontroversial conveyance of property agreed to by the irrigation district and the Bureau of Reclamation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1564) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain

buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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.

H.R. 1564, sponsored by our colleague Doc Hastings, conveys 9 acres of federally owned land and administrative buildings to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District in Washington State. No project facilities such as dams, diversion structures, or canals are included in this title transfer.

The transfer has been in the works for almost a decade. This legislation, also introduced by the junior Senator from Washington, will enhance more private ownership and decrease the Federal Government's liability. It is a win for the local community and a win for the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed three votes on November 15th, 2005. Had I been present I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 1564 (Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District Conveyance Act); ``yes'' on H.R 323 (to redesignate the Ellis Island Library on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, as the ``Bob Hope Memorial Library''); and ``yes'' on H.R. 856 (Federal Youth Coordination Act).

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

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the legislation. I would only add that we on this side of the aisle have no objection to its passage.

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