Bureau of Reclamation Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2009

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Bureau of Reclamation Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2009 with my colleagues Senator Udall of New Mexico, Senator Udall of Colorado, Senator Bennet, Senator Bennett, and Senator Hatch. This bill will extend the Bureau of Reclamation's authorization to provide cost sharing for capital construction and annual operations from 2011 through 2023 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs.

The programs have the dual goals of recovering federally listed endangered fish species in the Upper Colorado River basin while allowing water development and management activities to proceed in compliance with state laws, interstate compacts and the federal Endangered Species Act. The programs have substantial support from the Upper Basin states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Tribe. Other water users, power customers and environmental organizations are also active participants in the programs. The Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service and Western Area Power Administration also participate in the programs. All of the partners contribute significantly to the success of the programs.

Since 2000, the Bureau of Reclamation has been authorized to utilize revenues generated from Colorado River Storage Project Act projects as base funding for operation and maintenance of capital projects, monitoring and research to evaluate the need for, and effectiveness of, any recovery action, and for general program management. This bill extends the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to provide annual base funding for the programs through 2023 which coincides with the term of the existing Cooperative Agreements for the recovery programs and the expected date of recovery for certain species covered by the programs. The annual base funding contributes significantly to the successful implementation of the recovery actions in both programs.

Currently the Bureau of Reclamation's ability to use such funding will expire in 2011. If the expiration date is not extended, the annual base funding will be significantly reduced which would likely delay or impede the success of the recovery programs. The original authorizing legislation has been extended most recently through Section 9107 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, P.L. 111-11, and the amendments proposed by this bill would ensure that the Bureau of Reclamation's authorization for base funding coincides with the other authorizing provisions in P.L. 106-392.

I hope my colleagues will work with me and the bi-partisan group of cosponsors to help ensure that the recovery goals of the San Juan and Upper Colorado River Basin Recovery Programs can continue to be met. I therefore urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Bureau of Reclamation Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2009 with my colleagues Senator Udall of New Mexico, Senator Udall of Colorado, Senator Bennet, Senator Bennett, and Senator Hatch. This bill will extend the Bureau of Reclamation's authorization to provide cost sharing for capital construction and annual operations from 2011 through 2023 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs.

The programs have the dual goals of recovering federally listed endangered fish species in the Upper Colorado River basin while allowing water development and management activities to proceed in compliance with state laws, interstate compacts and the federal Endangered Species Act. The programs have substantial support from the Upper Basin states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Tribe. Other water users, power customers and environmental organizations are also active participants in the programs. The Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service and Western Area Power Administration also participate in the programs. All of the partners contribute significantly to the success of the programs.

Since 2000, the Bureau of Reclamation has been authorized to utilize revenues generated from Colorado River Storage Project Act projects as base funding for operation and maintenance of capital projects, monitoring and research to evaluate the need for, and effectiveness of, any recovery action, and for general program management. This bill extends the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to provide annual base funding for the programs through 2023 which coincides with the term of the existing Cooperative Agreements for the recovery programs and the expected date of recovery for certain species covered by the programs. The annual base funding contributes significantly to the successful implementation of the recovery actions in both programs.

Currently the Bureau of Reclamation's ability to use such funding will expire in 2011. If the expiration date is not extended, the annual base funding will be significantly reduced which would likely delay or impede the success of the recovery programs. The original authorizing legislation has been extended most recently through Section 9107 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, P.L. 111-11, and the amendments proposed by this bill would ensure that the Bureau of Reclamation's authorization for base funding coincides with the other authorizing provisions in P.L. 106-392.

I hope my colleagues will work with me and the bi-partisan group of cosponsors to help ensure that the recovery goals of the San Juan and Upper Colorado River Basin Recovery Programs can continue to be met. I therefore urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, July 21, entitled, ``Excessive Speculation in the Wheat Market.'' This hearing is a followup to the June 24 Subcommittee release of a 247-page staff report entitled, Excessive Speculation in the Wheat Market, examining how commodity index traders, in the aggregate, have made such large purchases on the Chicago wheat futures market that they have pushed up futures prices, disrupted the normal relationship between futures prices and cash prices for wheat, and caused farmers, grain elevators, grain processors, and others to experience significant unwarranted costs and price risks. The Subcommittee hearing will examine the nature of the problems caused by index trading in the wheat market and possible solutions, including applying standard position limits to index traders instead of exempting them. Witnesses for the upcoming hearing will include representatives of CFTC, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as well as representatives of wheat producers, users, consumers, and index traders.

The Subcommittee hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Elise Bean of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations a 202-224-9505.

subcommittee on water and power

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on July 23, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 637, Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System Act of 2009; S. 789, Tule River Tribe Water Development Act; S. 1080. A bill to clarify the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir, and for other purposes; and S. 1453. To amend Public Law 106-392 to maintain annual base funding for the Bureau of Reclamation for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan fish recovery programs through fiscal year 2023.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to Gina [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact Tanya Trujillo at (202) 224- 5479 or Gina Weinstock at (202) 224-5684.