To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities, easements, and rights-of-way to the Kennewick Irrigation District, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I missed some votes on Wednesday, December 19, all votes on Thursday, December 20, and some votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Roll Call Vote Number 440 (Passage of H.R. 7327, the SECURE Technology Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 441 (Passage of H.R. 7279, the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 442 (Passage of H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 443 (Passage of H.R. 6652): YES;

Roll Call Vote 444 (Passage of S. 1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 445 (Passage of S. 3530, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 446 (Agreeing to H. Res. 1180): NO;

Roll Call Vote Number 447 (Agreeing to H. Res. 1181): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 448 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S. 756, the First Step Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 449 (Passage of H.R. 7328, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 450 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5075, the Ashanti Alert Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 451 (Passage of H.R. 7093, the Clean Up the Code Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 452 (Passage of S. 2896, the Justice Against Corruption on K Street Act of 2018 or JACK Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 453 (Passage of S. 2961, the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 454 (Passage of S. 2679, the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 455 (Passage of H.R. 7227, the Taxpayer First Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 456 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2019): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 457 (Passage of S. 2652, the Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 458 (Passage of S. 2765, the RBIC Advisers Relief Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 459 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act):

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6652) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities, easements, and rights-of-way to the Kennewick Irrigation District, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6652, authored by my colleague from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the ownership of certain water infrastructure resources from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Kennewick Irrigation District, which already operates and maintains the facilities.

Now, to be clear, this is not a giveaway of taxpayer-owned property. The district has a long-term contract with Reclamation to repay the capital costs of construction, with the payment to be completed by the time of the transfer.

This legislation is about supporting local water infrastructure. The transfer will allow the district to more efficiently manage water supplies, while giving the local community the ability to seek private financing, through equity, to improve vital water infrastructure.

This is also a win for the American taxpayer. Title transfers like this reduce regulatory paperwork and staff time for both parties, reduce the Federal backlog for repairs and upgrades to improve the environment and public safety, and reduce Federal liability.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), the author of this measure and a leader on the Natural Resources Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the good gentleman from California for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my legislation, H.R. 6652, to transfer Bureau of Reclamation works to the Kennewick Irrigation District.

As many of my colleagues know far too well, communities across the Western United States too often are faced with the detrimental impacts of droughts and water shortages. Water providers across central Washington and across the West face numerous challenges to supply water, including growing demand, aging infrastructure, and changing precipitation patterns.

By transferring the Bureau of Reclamation works to a local entity, like the Kennewick Irrigation District, water suppliers can better manage critical water resources and empower water managers to be as responsive, efficient, and innovative as possible in serving their community.

In addition to transferring the works, the legislation before us will provide for reduced Federal liabilities and, with the Kennewick Irrigation District prepaying for the works, there is an additional cost-savings benefit to the Federal Government.

I thank the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee in the House, Chairman Bishop, for moving this legislation forward, which truly is a win-win for local water providers, the Federal Government, and taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Mr. Bill Ball, the staff director of the Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans, for his tremendous work at the committee; and a personal shout-out to one of my office staff members, Travis Martinez, for his work.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation on final passage, and I look forward to the Senate moving swiftly to get this legislation to the President's desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6652, as stated, authorizes the conveyance of certain water facilities owned by the Bureau of Reclamation to the Kennewick Irrigation District in Washington.

Before transferring the water facilities and associated lands, the legislation wisely requires an assessment be completed under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The bill also requires the Department of the Interior affirm that the transfer won't have a negative effect on the environment or harm Tribal trust resources before the transfer can take place.

Mr. Speaker, these are important safeguards. I applaud Congressman Newhouse for agreeing to them.

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

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.