Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2012

I thank Chairman Bishop for yielding. Chairman Bishop, I would also like to thank you for your leadership in leading the efforts on this important piece of legislation.

The Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins provide key water and

power resources in the Third Congressional District of Colorado and other districts in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. These rivers are also home to four native fish species at risk of a ``jeopardy'' finding under the Endangered Species Act. Such a finding would impose on western constituents dramatic losses in water availability and hydropower reduction, resulting in lost jobs and increased power rates at a time when we can least afford it.

The Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 2012 extending the authorization for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Fish Recovery Implementation programs will continue necessary efforts to recover four endangered fish species and provide compliance for Federal, tribal, and non- Federal water projects. These programs are supported by a broad swath of stakeholders, from local towns and counties to environmental groups and private industry, and are excellent examples of local solutions in lieu of onerous Federal management and overregulation.

I'm also pleased to see the cost reforms in this extended authorization. H.R. 6060 limits overhead to 3 percent and prohibits Federal employees from traveling to Washington, D.C., to lobby for their programs--activities well beyond the bounds of their purview. These cost savings and their measures will allow for greater allocation of resources to species recovery.

I'm optimistic that these programs can reach their goals in the coming year, recover the species in jeopardy, and safeguard the economic well-being of our communities, jobs, and everything connected with these efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6060) to amend Public Law 106-392 to maintain annual base funding for the Upper Colorado and San Juan fish recovery programs through fiscal year 2019.

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.

This is a good bill. It's got a great sponsor. Everyone should vote for it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague who shares a border with me in our districts, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton).

I think some of my staff thought I should be a little bit more expansive in my remarks. So this is a really good bill with a really good sponsor.

Actually, this is one of those things where the nice part is, for this mitigation plan that will allow these projects to go forward, taxpayers are paying no money. It's paid by the utility ratepayers of this particular area. If this is not reauthorized, it may put that part in jeopardy. And we did put some guidelines in there to protect so that the overhead that can be charged to the utility ratepayers has a potential limit on it.

It's a good bill. With that, I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 6060 authorizes the use of power revenues to fund two recovery programs in the Upper Colorado and San Juan Rivers. Since 2011, Reclamation has continued to fund these programs at a cost of about $3 million annually, using its existing authority.

We support the intent of H.R. 6060 to recover listed species while allowing water and power operations to continue. We share the administration's commitment to this program. We also welcome the majority's recognition that compliance with the Endangered Species Act does not mean that water and power projects in the West go dry or go dark. This program provides ESA compliance for 2,320 water projects. These projects deliver more than 3.7 million acre-feet of water per year to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

We are concerned, however, that the Republican rules only allow for the reauthorization of this program to 2019 versus the original goal of 2023. While we agree this legislation should move, it should be clear that, at least on our side of the aisle, our commitment to this program through 2023 has not changed.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6060 and the Senate proceed to its consideration and consideration of Calendar No. 269, S. 302 en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the bills be printed in the Record.