To amend Public Law 99–338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1044) to amend Public Law 99-338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1044, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Representative Valadao's bill, H.R. 1044.

This bill is a commonsense measure to ensure the continued operation of existing hydroelectric facilities, which have provided reliable and affordable power to Californians over a century.

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue four 10- year renewals for a special use permit for the Kaweah Hydroelectric Project, thereby extending the project's life for up to 40 additional years.

These hydroelectric dams, located on the Kaweah and East Fork Kaweah Rivers, fall within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park, but they predate the park's expansion and have long been recognized by Congress as a valuable energy asset.

With the current statutory authorization for the permits set to expire in 2026, this bill provides much-needed certainty for the continued operation of a critical source of reliable energy. Without an extension, Southern California Edison will be forced to remove this infrastructure at enormous expense to their ratepayers.

I thank Representative Valadao for his leadership on this issue. By championing this bill, he is ensuring that more than 15 million people in California have access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), the lead sponsor of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward, commonsense bill. In the world we live in today, where we have more and more electrical energy demand, it makes no sense to be closing down any kind of electrical generation, especially one where the infrastructure is already built, working, and producing reliable and affordable baseload power.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1044 introduced by my colleague Representative Valadao of California.

This bill would allow the Secretary of the Interior to issue additional permit renewals for the Kaweah Project, a hydroelectric facility that operates within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park. The Kaweah Project has been generating clean, renewable energy since 1907. Although it was originally granted a 50-year permit, the boundaries of the Sequoia National Park were later expanded in 1943, bringing portions of the project, such as flow lines and diversions, within park lands. Since the project predated the park, it was allowed to continue operating.

In 2004, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior to issue up to three permit renewals with reasonable safeguards to ensure the project's continued operation wouldn't harm the park.

These include prohibiting any expansion of the project within the park, requiring safety assessment, and appropriate compensation for the use of public resources.

H.R. 1044 would build on that responsible approach. By allowing the Secretary to continue renewing permits for the Kaweah Project under the same protective conditions, this bill allows continued hydropower generation while upholding our responsibility to protect the park for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge support for my bill, H.R. 1044, which authorizes seven permit renewals for the Kaweah Hydroelectric Project in Tulare County, California.

Southern California Edison has operated the Kaweah Hydroelectric Project since 1899, marking well over a century of reliable, clean power.

For decades, Congress has allowed for the continued use of the Federal lands for this purpose, but unless we act now, the authorization will expire in 2026.

Without authorization, Southern California Edison would be forced to dismantle critical infrastructure, costing ratepayers in the region tens of millions of dollars and eliminating a clean, reliable, and affordable source of energy.

This bill ensures that Kaweah can keep operating without disruption or unnecessary costs for families across California.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman and his staff at the Committee on Natural Resources for their work on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and protect the Central Valley's clean energy future.