Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 831) to establish an interest-bearing account for the non- Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 831, the bill now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Calvert from California.

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program aims to conserve native fish populations, increase habitat for migratory birds in the Lower Colorado River Basin, and allow for continued water and power deliveries.

The Federal Government contributes 50 percent of its funding, and three Lower Basin States provide the remainder. In recent years, however, the pace of funding has outpaced the pace of work, leaving available funds idle.

This legislation would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to place the program's non-Federal funds in an interest-bearing account, providing approximately $2 million annually that would otherwise be borne by the Lower Basin States.

I commend Representative Calvert for his continued leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 831.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I also want to reflect on Representative Elfreth's words, and that is the incredible work by the Natural Resources Committee, the leadership there with Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman, and an incredible staff. They do a lot to bring these bills to the floor to make sure, too, that they work through to make sure they can receive bipartisan support. Truly, what Congress needs to do is get bills through that have impacts on these districts.

Madam Speaker, you heard from Members today about the incredible impact these bills have on people's lives and on their districts. That is what makes legislating important. We should never forget that. People send us here to get things done, to get bills like this done. While they may be somewhat parochial in how they affect certain regions, it is critical to the Nation that we understand that all of us benefit when these great national treasures and natural resources are enhanced and conserved. That is really what makes it great.

I appreciate Representative Elfreth's work and her cooperation on H.R. 4294 in making sure we find a way to productively use a resource that is now in overabundance and making sure that we do everything we can within that realm.

It is key to us as members of the Natural Resources Committee to make sure we get these things done. We are entrusted not only as legislators, but we are entrusted by the people who elect us to be the stewards of what they own: the great lands, treasures, and natural resources of this Nation. That is what makes us great.

There is no other place on the planet that has this great abundance of resources that have such great impact on communities. We are all honored to be here today as advocates for that, along with our fellow Members, to make sure these pieces of legislation see their way to being signed into law.

I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I thank the incredible staff on the Natural Resources Committee for what has culminated today in a number of fantastic pieces of legislation that will make a difference in people's lives. We will continue to preserve what we hold great in this Nation, and that is our true national treasure, our natural resources.

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

Madam Speaker, if I could, this is the last of a marathon of bills. I think the breadth of the bills we saw today are a testament to this committee, from protecting sequoias in California to addressing invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake to supporting national parks in Mississippi, Missouri, and Arizona to the bill before us now. I am just in awe of this committee's work product.

I thank the chair, the ranking member, and the committee staff. This is what Americans sent us to do, and I am grateful to be a part of it. I thank my colleague from Virginia for his professionalism, as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, offered by my colleague Representative Calvert of California.

As we stand here today, the seven basin States are continuing negotiations on an agreement that will shape the future of the Colorado River, which has ramifications across the region.

The post-2026 operations are critical to managing the already overallocated river in a changing climate which has led to unprecedented drought conditions and declining water levels at key reservoirs.

I appreciate the work the States have already done to move toward a solution

and urge them and the Department of the Interior to continue working together to reach an agreement.

The Department of the Interior must also ensure that the 30 Tribal nations in the basin are part of a long-term solution, as part of the long history of collaboration in the basin, to accomplish the shared goal of continued delivery of water and power while protecting ecosystems.

Lower water levels have accelerated the spread of invasive, nonnative species and the reduction of critical habitat for native fish and wildlife.

H.R. 831 authorizes an interest-bearing account for non-Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, allowing these funds to accrue interest that can be reinvested back into the program.

This program brings together Federal, State, and local partners to protect endangered species while also ensuring the continued water operations and maintenance activities of the Lower Basin. It is funded through a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement between the Federal Government and the three Lower Basin States.

Currently no non-Federal contributions to the program are held in a non-interest-bearing account. By authorizing an interest-bearing account, H.R. 831 will help provide additional funding to further support the stability of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program and help balance water operations and ecosystem health in the Lower Basin. I urge support of H.R. 831.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton).

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for helping out today and using the word ``riparian'' on the House floor. That is always one of my favorite things.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act, a bipartisan bill that is absolutely critical to the future of my home State of Arizona and the American West.

The Colorado River is the lifeblood of our region. More than 40 million people across the seven basin States depend on it for drinking water, agriculture, and economic vitality. In Arizona alone, it supports our cities, our farmers, our Tribal communities, and our economy, including our critical semiconductor industry.

But this river is under enormous pressure from a drought now entering its 25th year, from overuse, and from a changing climate that is reshaping the West as we know it. At the same time, dozens of native fish, migratory birds, and plant species that depend on this river are fighting for survival.

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program is an incredibly successful collaboration between the Federal Government, the States, and key stakeholders. It has been doing the hard work on the ground for over two decades to manage habitats and protect native species.

This program has successfully established thousands of acres of native riparian and aquatic habitat, stocked the river with native fish, and increased the numbers of breeding migratory birds over more than 5,000 acres.

The program also provides a measure of reliability and certainty for future river operations. States like Arizona have a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act to protect these vulnerable habitats while balancing the need to deliver Colorado River water to users across the State and region.

This fund gives the Lower Basin an essential tool to protect the health of the river, and it is one less thing to fight over at a time when tensions over the river's future are exceptionally high.

The Lower Basin States of Arizona, California, and Nevada are continuing to put our money where our mouth is, contributing millions to the conservation of this critical resource.

This bill simply ensures that the money we contribute to the program can accrue interest as it sits in the Treasury's coffers. Dollars that our States put in will go a lot further at no additional cost to the taxpayers of this country.

I thank my colleagues for their partnership in getting this bill to the House floor, especially Congressman Ken Calvert of California and Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada.

Madam Speaker, I urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to approve my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 831, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025. My bill is simple and straightforward: it would establish an interest-bearing account for the nonfederal contributions for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, a cooperative effort between federal and nonfederal entities in Arizona, California, and Nevada to recover endangered species.

At a time when Congress and the Administration are looking to streamline government processes and make the taxpayer dollar go further, this bill is a perfect example of this effort. Funds deposited in the account can be accessed as needed and provide expanded opportunities for longterm investments in critical habitat restoration projects. This is especially important because over time, the pace of funding has exceeded the work expenditures, and Reclamation has accumulated over $60 million in contributed funds for future costs.

There are multiple examples of funds established by congressional action in the U.S. Treasury that are directed to be invested or to earn interest, such as the Social Security Trust Fund. It's simply common sense that we provide this same mechanism to an oversubscribed program that can deliver more benefits, more quickly.

I want to thank the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, my friend Bruce Westerman, for steering this bill through his Committee.

I urge all of my colleagues to approve this bill.