North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alaska, the former chairman of the committee.

I also want to thank the gentleman Ralph Hall and the gentleman Sam Johnson, also from north Texas, that joined with me in this important bill.

I want to thank my friends on the Democratic side, in particular Mr. DeFazio, for his not only effort and understanding, but an effort in making sure that water resources all across this country, the needs of the people, are understood.

Mr. Speaker, we are under increased problems all across this country, distressed because of the lack of water. We have lots of areas of the country that are undergoing tremendous changes, and that means that local people have to make accommodations; but that also means that, many times, they have to work with the Federal Government, in this case, through the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

I would like to also thank the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the North Texas Municipal Water District for their hard work on this important issue. The opportunity for us to resolve this issue means that 1.5 million north Texans who need to make sure that they have adequate, safe, and good water resources, that we can continue a plan in north Texas that we agreed to. We agree this is the right thing to do.

We also agree that we are after the good Lord to help us out with some rain; but in the meantime, the Lord also says those that help themselves, that that is the right way to do it.

We are trying to work together. Today, as Mr. Hall has said, it is an opportunity to see Republicans and Democrats, those people in Washington who have come to represent the American people, many of us just for our own district, but all of us working together can work to resolve differences and problems that sometimes occur back home for the benefit of so many other people.

Today, I want to thank the chairman of the committee, Doc Hastings, for carefully reviewing, understanding, looking at what we are trying to do, and making sure that, if we showed up with a bill that had been well vetted back home where we had agreement, where we knew what we were talking about and tried to make it as narrow as was necessary, but large enough to handle the issue, that we could move forward with this.

This is the kind of leadership in Washington, D.C., quite honestly, that we need, where we are challenged back home appropriately, where we have to bring our ideas to Washington, where we have to, in essence, think with each other, and then come up with a good plan. This is true of not just Republicans and Democrats in this instance, but also true of the Corps of Engineers.

I want to thank the administration for their help in this effort. Many times, people can jump in the way of a great idea to help people. In this case, it didn't happen.

I am in full support of H.R. 4032 as it stands tonight. Many people in north Texas will perhaps not even know what we are doing, but this will be a sigh of relief for those who do know what we are doing this week and head into the very, very difficult summer months. This way, people can plan forward and do the right thing.

I want to thank Mr. Young for not only allowing me to be on the floor today, but for him scheduling time to have a bunch of Texans come and plead their case. It is my hope this Congress, this House of Representatives, will in fact support and agree to this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4032, the North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014. This bill is a prime example of how both sides of the aisle can work together for the good of our citizens.

As we know, water is our most vital resource and one of our primary needs, and I am grateful for Congressmen Sam Johnson and Pete Sessions for their sponsorship of this bill to enhance water resources for the people of north Texas. I also would like to thank Chairman Hastings of the Natural Resources Committee and committee staff for their work on this measure and for bringing this bill to the floor today, and I thank the gentleman from Alaska.

Many lakes across America have been infested with various invasive species. In the State of Texas, our lakes have been infested with zebra mussels. I am sure many of you have seen these in your States. They started in New York and have worked their way down to Texas lakes.

In December 2012, the House and Senate were successful in passing the North Texas Zebra Mussel Barrier Act, which became public law. This law permits the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority to pump water from Lake Texoma into the Wylie, Texas, water treatment plant, where the water will be cleaned of zebra mussels without being in violation of the Lacey Act.

It is safe to say that wherever zebra mussels are found, their partner in crime--quagga mussels--are more than likely to be found as well. Today's bill, H.R. 4032, expands the exemption from zebra mussels to all aquatic invasive species and plants, and will enable the North Texas Municipal Water District to do its job. It does not encourage extra pumping that would harm Lake Texoma's current low water levels. Such action will better serve more than 1.5 million north Texans in a manner that provides safe water and much-needed jobs.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that provides safe and clean water to north Texans.

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

H.R. 4032, the North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act, provides a very specific and necessary exemption to the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981.

The bill would allow the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority to transport water that contains potentially invasive species from the Oklahoma side of Lake Texoma into Texas. However, all water would be kept in closed conveyance systems and would be fully treated, with all zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and other potentially harmful aquatic life being fully removed before being released into any water body.

Two years ago, we passed legislation that allowed the water district to pump water containing zebra mussel larvae from Lake Texoma, but now, quagga mussels have emerged as a threat there as well.

These species are the bane of many a power plant and municipal water plant operator. Hundreds of millions will be spent in the near future to deal with these problems in intake and outflow pipes and other infrastructure.

They also harm our fisheries by crowding out native species and taking their food. They are driving out our native mussels toward extinction. The Lacey Act is vital to our Nation's interests because it prevents--or hopefully prevents the spread of undesirable, injurious species like zebra and quagga mussels. A strong Lacey Act is vital to our economy and our environment.

That said, Texas needs access to this water. The aforementioned entities have a comprehensive plan for ensuring that these water transfers do not cause invasive species to spread.

For those reasons, we will support H.R. 4032; but we need to remember that this bill, which was put forward as a remedy to a very difficult and a very unique situation, is not a precedent for broad-spread exemptions to the Lacey Act.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4032) to exempt from Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 certain water transfers by the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the author of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

If the gentleman will listen for a moment, big brothers have to think of little brothers. Alaska is the big brother, and Texas is the little brother.

This is a good bill. I want to compliment the Texas delegation supporting Mr. Hall especially, Mr. Sessions and Mr. Johnson.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Environment and Public Works Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4032 and the Senate proceed to its consideration and to the consideration of Calendar No. 344, S. 2198 en bloc.

Madam President, it is my understanding that my request was at this point granted; is that right?

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Feinstein-Murkowski substitute amendment to S. 2198, which is at the desk, be agreed to, the bills, as amended where applicable, be read a third time and passed en bloc; that a Feinstein-Murkowski amendment to the title of S. 2198, which is at the desk, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.