A bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on Wednesday, February 9 at 11:30 a.m. to consider pending calendar business.

Agenda:

Agenda Item 1: S. 47--A bill to provide for the exchange of certain Federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest and certain non-Federal land in the Pecos National Historical Park in the State of New Mexico.

Agenda Item 8: S. 63--A bill to establish the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 9: S. 74--A bill to designate a portion of the White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Agenda Item 14: S. 134--A bill to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park in the State of California.

Agenda Item 17: S. 153--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource study of the Rim of the Valley Corridor in the State of California to evaluate alternatives for protecting the resources of the Corridor, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 18: S. 156--A bill to designate the Ojito Wilderness Study Area as wilderness, to take certain land into trust for the Pueblo of Zia, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 20: S. 163--A bill to establish the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in the State of Utah, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 22: S. 176--A bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska.

Agenda Item 23: S. 177--A bill to further the purpose of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 by directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to carry out an assessment of demonstration programs to control salt cedar and Russian olive, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 24: S. 178--A bill to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 26: S. 200--A bill to establish the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 27: S. 203--A bill to reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 28: S. 204--A bill to establish the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in the State of Louisiana.

Agenda Item 29: S. 205--A bill to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish in the State of Louisiana a memorial to honor the Buffalo Soldiers.

Agenda Item 30: S. 207--A bill to adjust the boundary of the Barataria Preserve Unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in the State of Louisiana, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 31: S. 212--A bill to amend the Valles Caldera Preservation Act to improve the preservation of the Valles Caldera, and for other purposes, to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Agenda Item 32: S. 214--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority transboundary aquifers, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 33: S. 225--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a program to reduce the risks from and mitigate the effects of avalanches on recreational users of public land.

Agenda Item 34: S. 229--A bill to clear title to certain real property in New Mexico associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 35: S. 231--Mr. Smith, et al.--a bill to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the rehabilitation of the Wallowa Lake Dam in Oregon, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 36: S. 232--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to assist in the implementation of fish passage and screening facilities at non-Federal water projects, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 37: S. 243--A bill to establish a program and criteria for National Heritage Areas in the United States, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 38: S. 244--Mr. Thomas--a bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming.

Agenda Item 39: S. 249--Mr. Reid, et al.--a bill to establish the Great Basin National Heritage Route in the States of Nevada and Utah.

Agenda Item 40: S. 252--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land in Washoe County, Nevada, to the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Agenda Item 41: S. 253--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to the land to the Edward H. McDaniel American Legion Post No. 22 in Pahrump, Nevada, for the construction of a post building and memorial park for use by the American Legion, other veterans' groups, and the local community. '

Agenda Item 42: S. 254--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to Lander County, Nevada, and the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to Eureka.

Agenda Item 43: S. 263--A bill to provide for the protection of paleontological resources on Federal lands, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 44: S. 264--A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize certain projects in the State of Hawaii.

In addition, the Committee may turn to any other measures that are ready for consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing to receive testimony on EPA's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006.

The hearing will be held in SD 406.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the

Senate on Wednesday, February 9, 2004 at 11 a.m. to hold a Members' Briefing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at 10 a.m. in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 9, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed meeting.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 244) to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 244, the Swift Creek Hydroelectric License Extension Bill, authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time specified in the project license to begin construction of the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project for three 2-year periods, a total of 6 years.

The Swift Creek Project is a 1.5 megawatt project in Wyoming. This bill has passed the Senate with unanimous consent, and passage of the bill today will send this bill directly to the President's desk and allow the further development of clean renewable hydroelectric power. I urge my colleagues to support S. 244.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I urge the immediate passage of S. 244.

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

I rise in support of this legislation which would authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the commencement of construction deadline for the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project in Wyoming for three 2-year periods. The license was originally issued in 1997, and the bill before us would provide a routine extension of the commencement of construction deadline.

The legislation is noncontroversial and was approved by voice vote of the

House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and so I urge the House approve the legislation.

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