Lower Republican River Basin Study Act

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico. I also thank the gentleman from Wisconsin this evening for being here in support of H.R. 4750. As has been indicated, this is a very important issue for many in both the State of Nebraska and the State of Kansas. I particularly want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) and really the cooperation that has existed on very difficult issues between the State of Nebraska and the State of Kansas.

Water is a huge issue in the midwest. It always has been, probably always will be. But it is especially exacerbated by the fact of inadequate rainfall for now, four, five and six years in much of Kansas and much of Nebraska.

An agreement was reached, compact litigation ensued. Ultimately a settlement of that litigation was reached. And that settlement provides for the State of Nebraska and the State of Kansas to come together, provide some money, share with the Federal Government.

The Department of Interior would then conduct a study. The State of Kansas, and I believe the State of Nebraska has appropriated this money for the fiscal year. That is why this legislation is so important to be timely considered and timely approved. All that now remains is for the Federal Government to meet its obligation under the settlement agreement.

The feasibility study is desperately needed to increase the water availability to find out how we do that, and to encourage its efficient use and conservation within our delivery system.

Madam Speaker, the feasibility study authorized by 4750 is not only necessary to ensure the State remains in compliance with that agreement, but to make certain that the economic, agriculture and personal use of water is done in a very efficient and effective way.

I urge Members of Congress to approve this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4750) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply and conservation project to improve water supply reliability, increase the capacity of water storage, and improve water management efficiency in the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4750, sponsored by Congressman Tom Osborne, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of a water supply and conservation project in the Republican River Basin.

This legislation would enact into law one requirement of the Republican River Compact Settlement negotiated between the States of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, and approved by the United States Supreme Court in 2003.

The feasibility study would help clarify the opportunities to increase water storage in the river basin, and is needed to increase water availability and encourage more efficient water use.

I urge my colleagues to support this needed legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), the author of the legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Madam Speaker, I would remind the Members that this is a very bipartisan bill, everything being bipartisan except the name of the river basin being studied. I would urge passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for yielding me time and bringing this forward, and for the rapidity with which we are moving through the bills tonight. We are sorry to slow you down. But the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) and I would like to say a few words about this bill. He was a co-author with me.

As you mentioned, H.R. 4750 is a study as to how to more efficiently utilize water between Harlan County Dam in Nebraska and Milford Reservoir in Kansas. The reason this is so important is that Nebraska and Kansas signed a compact in 2002, which means that a lot of Nebraska water goes down the Republican River into Kansas, and Nebraska so far has been short. We are 100,000 acre feet short, as a matter of fact, over the last 3 years.

And this has been exacerbated by an extreme drought which we have had for the last 6 years. So this water shortage has made for a very critical situation. So if we can, through this study, allocate water more effectively, save some water, it will help farmers, ranchers, municipalities both in Nebraska and Kansas.

We want to thank you. We want to thank Mr. Pombo and the resources staff for bringing forth this bill on short notice. We think it is very important. We urge its passage. We appreciation the cooperation on both sides of the aisle on this bill.

Madam Speaker, we too support passage of this legislation, encourage its adoption and yield back the balance of our time.