To amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 255) to amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 255, sponsored by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), allows the Provo River Waters Users Association to own a canal facility that it has operated, maintained, and repaid for decades. This title transfer was the original intent of public law enacted in 2004, and the passage of this bill would remove existing legal barriers in order to fulfill that intent. A companion measure by Senator Hatch passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in May.

The whole matter comes down to this: the canal was originally an open, earthen canal in a rural setting. The city of Provo grew up around it until, for a variety of reasons, it was decided to enclose the canal, essentially changing it to a pipeline. In order to make it possible for the local water authority to raise non-Federal capital to do so, Congress adopted the Provo River Transfer Act in 2004 to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to convey title to the association for the canal as if existed when the act was adopted.

Now that the enclosure is completed and the time has come to transfer title--as Congress directed nearly a decade ago--the Bureau of Reclamation has opined that by covering the canal, it technically is no longer a canal but rather a piped facility, that it is now different than the facility in existence when Congress ordered the transfer of title. Therefore, it doesn't meet the specifications of the conveyance act.

So, in an only in Washington, D.C., moment, we now have this measure before us that changes the facility description in the 2004 act to the ``water conveyance facility historically known as the Provo Reservoir Canal,'' so that the title transfer can proceed.

The passage of this bill would amend outdated legal definitions while accelerating repayment to the U.S. Treasury. This legislation continues the positive trend demonstrated by the Natural Resources Committee of economically empowering our communities.

The Bureau of Reclamation supports the bill. I am unaware of any opposition, and I urge its adoption.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), the author of the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of December 2nd 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Monday December 2, 2013: rollcall No. 612: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3547, ``yea''; rollcall No. 613: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3588, ``yea''; rollcall No. 614: On Approving the Journal, ``aye.''

Tuesday December 3, 2013: rollcall No. 615: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 255, ``yea''; rollcall No. 616: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 2719, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 617: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1204, ``yea.''

Wednesday December 4, 2013: rollcall No. 618: On Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 429, ``nay''; rollcall No. 619: On Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 429, ``nay''; rollcall No. 620: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 1105, ``yea''; rollcall No. 621: On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, H.R. 1105, ``aye'' rollcall No. 622: On Passage, H.R. 1105, ``aye.''

Thursday December 5, 2013: rollcall No. 623: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``aye''; rollcall No. 624: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``aye''; rollcall No. 625: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``No''; rollcall No. 626: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``aye''; rollcall No. 627: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``aye''; rollcall No. 628: On Agreeing to the Amendment, H.R. 3309, ``No''; rollcall No. 629: On Passage, H.R. 3309, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank both sides of the aisle. I want to thank Mr. McClintock, the chairman of this subcommittee, for allowing us to move this forward, and I appreciate the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the ranking member of the committee, for allowing this to pass.

This is truly a technical change. It strikes the term ``canal'' and replaces it with ``water conveyance facility historically known as the Provo Reservoir Canal.'' The final payment to the Federal Government of $700,000 will be completed once this bill becomes law. It scores positively. It is truly a technical change.

I appreciate the indulgence of the Congress on both sides of the aisle for making this happen, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the energy committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 291 and H.R. 356; that the Senate proceed to their consideration and the consideration of the following calendar number items en bloc: Calendar No. 256, H.R. 255; Calendar No. 226, H.R. 330; Calendar No. 359, H.R. 507; Calendar No. 353, H.R. 697; Calendar No. 361, H.R. 876; Calendar No. 362, H.R. 1158; Calendar No. 399, H.R. 2337; Calendar No. 369, H.R. 3110; Calendar No. 54, S. 247; Calendar No. 57, S. 311; Calendar No. 60, S. 354; Calendar No. 129, S. 363; Calendar No. 118, S. 476; and Calendar No. 120, S. 609.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 255 is a technical correction for the Provo River Transfer Act. This change will allow for the title transfer of the Provo River Canal to the Provo River Water Users Association. The administration supports the legislation, and we do not oppose the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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