To provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1001) to provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1001, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1001 sponsored by Congresswoman Hageman. This bill requires the Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration, or WAPA, to enter into a memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing the impacts that bypass flows at Glen Canyon Dam have had on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

These flows are an attempt to manage an invasive smallmouth bass population that imperils the federally listed humpback chub below the dam. While well-intentioned, this action comes at a steep cost.

In 2024, the bypass flows produced $20 million in lost hydropower generation, which instead had to be replaced with power purchased on the open market.

WAPA makes these purchases using the Basin Fund, which is funded by hydropower revenues, not appropriations. In other words, utility customers end up footing the very expensive bill to address the impacts of predatory smallmouth bass.

The loss in revenues not only means higher electricity prices but also negative impacts on the Colorado River system, as the Basin Fund is the primary source of funding for operations and maintenance of the system's critical infrastructure.

I want to be clear: H.R. 1001 does not prevent bypass flows. It does, however, require the agencies to fully cooperate to minimize the impacts of these flows on the grid and its customers. It also requires coordination with hydropower customers and other stakeholders, including the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group.

I support this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 1001 would bring WAPA, the Bureau of Reclamation, and local stakeholders together to produce an action plan to address the effects of the bypass flows on the Basin Fund, as well as the impacts of diminished hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam on grid reliability.

The plan will also require the Federal agencies to identify the impacts of these actions on any species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

I again thank Representative Hageman for tackling these important issues.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1001, which requires the Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration, or WAPA, to enter into a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts that bypass flows at Glen Canyon Dam have had on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

It is worth taking a moment to highlight why we are here today. Under the Biden administration, the Bureau of Reclamation wanted to rush to implement bypass flows to prevent smallmouth bass and other warm water invasive nonnative fish from becoming established below the Glen Canyon Dam outlet works.

This action, however, comes at significant costs as it would mean foregoing hydropower generation for the majority of these releases.

The Bureau of Reclamation initiated its record of decision, or ROD, over Glen Canyon Dam's long-term experimental management plan supplemental EIS this past summer. It was signed on July 5, 2024, with implementation beginning just 3 days later on July 8. Pretty doggone quick.

The ROD calls for higher flows at the dam to combat the presence of predatory smallmouth bass which threaten the federally protected humpback chub. These higher flows bypass hydropower generators in order to cool the river temperature below the dam in an attempt to disrupt smallmouth bass downstream.

While this ROD was well-intentioned, it comes at a very serious cost to communities and power customers. Due to the bypass requirements, the lost hydropower generation must be replaced with power purchased on the open market.

WAPA makes these purchases from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund which is funded by power revenues or, in other words, by the customers. WAPA's preliminary estimate of energy replacement is about $20 million more than it would have been without the bypass requirements. Going forward, it projects the impact on customers to be even significantly more.

The American people are fed up with these heavyhanded decisions by the Federal Government that makes it increasingly difficult to get by in this country, particularly if you are trying to raise a family. Water is the interior West's most important resource.

For over 60 years, Glen Canyon Dam has been producing hydroelectric power, providing reliable, flexible, low-cost, emission-free baseload energy across the entire region. That is why this bill is important.

My bill requires the Bureau of Reclamation to acknowledge the effect of the decision through a memorandum of understanding that measures the economic, environmental, and reliability impacts of the action. I am grateful that this important legislation is being considered today.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1001 would direct the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to evaluate the potential impacts of the 2024 supplement to the 2016 Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Record of Decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

The Colorado River is an essential water resource, supplying water for municipal and agricultural uses, energy production, and fish and wildlife habitat. However, persistent drought, over-allocation of water resources, and the escalating impacts of climate change have placed unprecedented strain on the basin.

The record of decision was an important step in addressing species' needs below the Glen Canyon Dam, and preliminary data showed promising results in protecting native fish species.

As drought conditions worsen and water demand continues to increase, it is more critical than ever to ensure water management appropriately balances agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental needs.

This legislation will direct Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration to analyze how the record of decision may impact the fund's resources, hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam, and endangered species.

I hope to work with my colleagues across the aisle on advancing meaningful legislation to safeguard environmental and cultural resources while addressing the long-term challenges of drought and climate change.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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