J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Hydropower Extension Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2457) to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of certain hydroelectric projects, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2457, as amended. This bill was introduced by Mr. Johnson from Louisiana and was reported by unanimous consent from the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill, H.R. 2457, authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, to extend the time period during which a licensee is required to commence the construction of Commission project numbers 12756, 12757, and 12758 for up to three consecutive 2-year periods.

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all Members to join me and support passage of this bill, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I echo the words from my good friend from Colorado. Hydro is an important renewable energy source, and it is one that supports all of the above. It is an increasing force across the country so that is why these bills are so important, and it also shows why they are so bipartisan.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this is the last bill in our cohort of six extension bills that we are considering today, which I hope Mr. Peters' bill will absolve us from having to do in the future.

This bill, the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Hydropower Extension Act of 2017 was introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) on May 16, 2017. It would extend the time period during which the licensee is required to commence the construction of the project for up to three consecutive 2-year periods from the date of expiration of the original extension.

Additionally, the legislation defers the obligation on the licensee to pay any annual charges required under section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act until the project actually commences construction.

Finally, the legislation allows for the prospective reinstatement of the license should that license expire prior to the legislation's date of enactment.

I just have to add a few words to what Mr. Peters said earlier. Hydropower is so important. It is such an important renewable energy source in this country. We need to do everything we can on a bipartisan basis to make sure that we expedite these dams, that we really work together to get hydropower, even more important in our energy portfolio.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will favorably consider this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent during Roll Call votes No. 300, and No. 301 due to my spouse's health situation in California. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on H.R. 2292--To extend a project of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission involving the Cannonsville Dam. I would have also voted Yea on H.R. 2457--J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Hydropower Extension Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 300 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2292), and 301 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2457), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both of the votes.