Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill important to public health and safety and the environment in the West. This legislation addresses a recent interpretation by the Department of the Interior, DOI, which restricts the ability of states to use certain funds under the Abandoned Mine

Land, AML, Program authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, SMCRA, for non-coal mine reclamation.

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 contained amendments to SMCRA reauthorizing collection of an AML fee on coal produced in the U.S. and making certain modifications to the AML program. Under this program, which is administered by DOI, funds are expended to reclaim abandoned mine lands, with top priority for protecting public health, safety, general welfare, and property and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past mining practices. The program is largely directed to abandoned coal mine reclamation, but under section 409 of SMCRA, limited funds have been available to address non-coal mine sites.

Unfortunately, the Department of the Interior has interpreted the amendments in a manner that limits the ability of western states to use certain funds under SMCRA to address significant problems relating to non-coal abandoned mines, despite the fact that these funds had previously been available for these purposes.

Section 409 of SMCRA, provides that states may address public health and safety hazards at abandoned mine sites, both coal and non-coal. Western states such as New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, have prioritized the use of AML funds to undertake the most pressing reclamation work on both coal and non-coal mine sites. While activities on non-coal sites have consumed a relatively insignificant portion of the funding provided for the overall AML program, the results in terms of public health and safety in these states is considerable, and there is significant work yet to be done. For example, New Mexico alone has over 15,000 remaining mine openings with a vast majority of these being non- coal. All AML-related fatalities in the State in the last few decades have been at non-coal mine sites.

I disagree with this interpretation by DOI. This result was not the intention of those of us working on the SMCRA amendments, and I believe the interpretation is in error. First, OSM's interpretation disregards the fact that section 409 was left unamended by the Congress. Furthermore, this interpretation is inconsistent with assurances repeatedly given to us by OSM during the consideration of the legislation that non-coal work could continue to be undertaken with these AML funds. Finally, the interpretation has the unacceptable result of requiring states to devote funds to low priority coal sites while leaving dangerous non-coal sites unaddressed.

The bill that I am introducing today would correct this problem by modifying the language of SMCRA to clarify that the funding would be available for noncoal reclamation as it was prior to the passage of the amendments in 2006. Under the bill, western, non-certified States could continue to use the payments comprising their so-called previously unappropriated state share balances for noncoal reclamation.

I hope that my colleagues will support this legislation, which has important implications for abandoned mine clean-up in the West.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill important to public health and safety and the environment in the West. This legislation addresses a recent interpretation by the Department of the Interior, DOI, which restricts the ability of states to use certain funds under the Abandoned Mine

Land, AML, Program authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, SMCRA, for non-coal mine reclamation.

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 contained amendments to SMCRA reauthorizing collection of an AML fee on coal produced in the U.S. and making certain modifications to the AML program. Under this program, which is administered by DOI, funds are expended to reclaim abandoned mine lands, with top priority for protecting public health, safety, general welfare, and property and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past mining practices. The program is largely directed to abandoned coal mine reclamation, but under section 409 of SMCRA, limited funds have been available to address non-coal mine sites.

Unfortunately, the Department of the Interior has interpreted the amendments in a manner that limits the ability of western states to use certain funds under SMCRA to address significant problems relating to non-coal abandoned mines, despite the fact that these funds had previously been available for these purposes.

Section 409 of SMCRA, provides that states may address public health and safety hazards at abandoned mine sites, both coal and non-coal. Western states such as New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, have prioritized the use of AML funds to undertake the most pressing reclamation work on both coal and non-coal mine sites. While activities on non-coal sites have consumed a relatively insignificant portion of the funding provided for the overall AML program, the results in terms of public health and safety in these states is considerable, and there is significant work yet to be done. For example, New Mexico alone has over 15,000 remaining mine openings with a vast majority of these being non- coal. All AML-related fatalities in the State in the last few decades have been at non-coal mine sites.

I disagree with this interpretation by DOI. This result was not the intention of those of us working on the SMCRA amendments, and I believe the interpretation is in error. First, OSM's interpretation disregards the fact that section 409 was left unamended by the Congress. Furthermore, this interpretation is inconsistent with assurances repeatedly given to us by OSM during the consideration of the legislation that non-coal work could continue to be undertaken with these AML funds. Finally, the interpretation has the unacceptable result of requiring states to devote funds to low priority coal sites while leaving dangerous non-coal sites unaddressed.

The bill that I am introducing today would correct this problem by modifying the language of SMCRA to clarify that the funding would be available for noncoal reclamation as it was prior to the passage of the amendments in 2006. Under the bill, western, non-certified States could continue to use the payments comprising their so-called previously unappropriated state share balances for noncoal reclamation.

I hope that my colleagues will support this legislation, which has important implications for abandoned mine clean-up in the West.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 9:30 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to examine the influence of non- commercial, institutional investors on the price of oil.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Rosemarie_Calabro @energy.senate.gov.

For further information, please contact Tara Billingsley at (202) 224-4756 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1633, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of inducing the battlefield and related sites of the Battle of Shepherdstown in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, as part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or Antietam National Battlefield, and for other purposes; S. 1993 and H.R. 2197, to modify the boundary of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in the State of Ohio, and for other purposes; S. 2207, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Green McAdoo School in Clinton, Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes; S. 2254, to establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, and for other purposes; S. 2262, to authorize the Preserve America Program and Save America's Treasures Program, and for other purposes; S. 2329 and H.R. 2627, to establish the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in the State of New Jersey as the successor to the Edison National Historic Site; S. 2502 and H.R. 3332, to provide for the establishment of a memorial within Kalaupapa National Historical Park located on the island of Molokai, in the State of Hawaii, to honor and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who were forcibly relocated to the Kalaupapa Peninsula from 1866 to 1969, and for other purposes; S. 2512, to establish the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, and for other purposes; H.R. 3998, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resources studies of certain lands and structures to determine the appropriate means for preservation, use, and management of the resources associated with such lands and structures.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact David Brooks at (202) 224- 9863 or Rachel Pasternack at (202) 224-0883.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit today, on behalf of Senator Lugar, Senator Stabenow, Senator Domenici and others, a resolution recognizing an exciting private-sector effort to encourage breakthrough technology in fuel economy. This effort, patterned on the Ansari X-prize competition that led to the development of spacecraft that is likely to make commercial space travel a reality, seeks to apply the same competitive spirit among the best minds in the United States to the pernicious problem of our outsized dependence on foreign oil.

The competition will launch at the upcoming New York Auto Show and sets an ambitious goal for claiming the prize; the winning entrant must produce a commercially viable vehicle that gets at least 100 miles per gallon fuel efficiency over a series of road trials meant to simulate real world driving conditions. It should be an exciting competition, and it is certainly a worthy goal. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to seeing the innovations they inspire.

Mr. President, I thank the managers of the bill and all colleagues. Let me mention, I believe Senator Kennedy wishes to speak in favor of the amendment after Senator Alexander speaks. So I believe he will be coming to the floor. I hope there is an opportunity for him to do that before we proceed too far this morning.

Amendment No. 4173

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 4173 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, this is an amendment I am offering on behalf of myself, Senator Alexander, Senator Kennedy, Senator Domenici, Senator Mikulski, Senator Ensign, and others to offer an amendment to the budget resolution to do two things: to fund the Office of Science within the Department of Energy and also to fund the National Science Foundation at the fiscal year 2009 funding levels that have been proposed in the President's budget.

Last year, on a bipartisan basis, Congress passed the COMPETES Act. I compliment my colleague, who is here on the floor with me today, Senator Alexander, for his leadership in that legislation. This was bipartisan legislation. It was strongly endorsed by Members of the Senate. It authorized a number of programs based upon the recommendations that came from the National Academies report entitled ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm.''

Specifically, the COMPETES Act authorized a doubling of the budgets for the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science over a period of 7 years. The Office of Science and the National Science Foundation are the two principal agencies charged with maintaining the nondefense basic science enterprise of our Nation, which serves as the wellspring for future innovation and for our global competitiveness.

For the Office of Science, the America COMPETES Act authorized a 12- percent increase relative to fiscal year 2007. The President's Advanced Competitiveness Initiative would have increased the Office of Science by 7.2 percent. For the National Science Foundation, the COMPETES Act authorized a 12-percent increase as compared to the President's Advanced Competitiveness Initiative proposed increase of 9.3 percent.

The COMPETES Act was passed into law last August. At that time, the appropriations bills in both Chambers kept the funding levels for both offices I am speaking about here at or above the President's request. But by the time the Congress made the deep cuts that were required by the administration in order to get an omnibus spending bill passed in December, all of the gains that had earlier been in appropriations bills for the Office of Science and for the National Science Foundation were lost, and both of those offices were flat funded when you account for inflation.

Let me talk a few minutes about why these two programs are so important to our ability to compete globally. As noticed in the President's budget, the National Science Foundation is the principal source of Federal support for strengthening science and math education. Education and human resource programs at the National Science Foundation support technological innovation to enhance economic competitiveness and new job growth. They address the workforce needs of the country. They help to ensure a pool of talented experts. Many of these programs are critical to developing and advancing the knowledge of our country's K through 12 math and science teachers as well.

When we passed the America COMPETES Act, we recognized that this country is facing a critical shortage in well-prepared math and science teachers. Accordingly, we significantly expanded the Robert Noyce Scholarship program, which prepares science, technology, engineering, and mathematics undergraduate students and professionals to become math and science teachers. Among a number of changes, we required increased collaboration between science and education faculty to establish STEM teacher education programs--STEM, of course, refers to science, technology, engineering, and math teachers--and increased scholarships and stipends to at least $10,000 per year, for up to 3 years of scholarship support, beginning with the junior year.

We also increased funding significantly in order to meet these objectives. Congress anticipated that the Noyce program would grow to become a major source of effective training for our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers. Research shows that students' performance on annual math and science assessments improved in almost every age group when their schools were involved in a program that linked K through 12 teachers with their colleagues in higher education.

The Math and Science Partnership I am referring to helps forge these connections between K through 12 and higher education to strengthen math and science teaching skills, improve curriculum, and provide college preparatory programs for students.

The Office of Science at the Department of Energy also makes significant contributions to math and science education. Among the things the America COMPETES Act authorizes for the Department of Science are: to help establish statewide specialty schools in math and science; to get middle and high school students around the State involved in national laboratories through internship programs; and to require the national laboratories to partner with local school districts and to adopt at least one high-need high school and transform these schools into centers of excellence in mathematics and science.

This is only a small part of what the Office of Science does. Simply put, it provides the support for much of the basic scientific research that will drive the industries of the future. It funds facilities that help us understand the basics of materials, funds research into such critical areas as biogenetic sequencing, and provides support for much of the physical sciences enterprise in this country.

Once again, for fiscal year 2009, the President has come forward proposing increases for both the National Science Foundation and the Office of Science. Relative to fiscal year 2008, the President's proposed budget increase for these two agencies amounts to $1.4 billion. This amount would not bring the levels for these two agencies to the full level we authorized in the America COMPETES Act for fiscal year 2009, but they are a substantial step in the right direction, and I strongly support these increases.

So the amendment my cosponsors and I are offering today adds another $600 million to the budget resolution, as reported by the Committee on the Budget, to at least meet the level the President has indicated he is willing to support. I believe this addition to the budget resolution can and should command broad bipartisan support in the Senate, just as the America COMPETES Act was broadly supported on a bipartisan basis here in the Senate.

I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I know my colleague from Tennessee is here to speak in favor of it as well. I again compliment him for his leadership on the issue.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to consider S. 2593, a bill to establish a program at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to carry out collaborative ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes on public land, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact Rachel Pasternack at (202) 224-0883 or Scott Miller at (202) 224-5488.

Mr. President, I wish to speak about the tragic deaths of women and girls in Guatemala and to note the passage of a resolution I introduced that is aimed at enhancing efforts by the Governments of Guatemala and the United States to address this serious issue. The resolution, S. Res. 178, which passed the Senate last night, is cosponsored by Senators Boxer, Casey, Dodd, Durbin, Feingold, Feinstein, Lautenberg, Leahy, Lincoln, Menendez, Sanders, Smith, and Snowe.

Mr. President, since 2001 more than 2,000 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala. Although the overall murder rate in the country is extremely troubling, the murder rate with regard to women has increased at an alarming rate it almost doubled from 2001 to 2006. While these killings may be due to a variety of factors, what clearly unifies these cases is the fact that very few of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. It is my understanding that, as of 2006, there were only 20 convictions for these killings.

The general lack of respect for the rule of law, inadequate legal protections for women, ongoing violence in the country, corruption, insufficient resources, substandard investigations, and the lack of independent and effective judicial and prosecutorial systems, all contribute to the inability of the Government of Guatemala to hold those responsible for these killings accountable for their crimes. The result is a sense of impunity for crimes against women in the country.

The Government of Guatemala has taken some steps to address these killings. Guatemala has created special police and prosecutorial units to investigate these murders and repealed the so-called ``Rape Law'' which had absolved perpetrators of criminal responsibility for rape upon the perpetrator's marriage with the victim. The Government also entered into an agreement with the United Nations to establish the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, CICIG, which has a mandate to investigate and prosecute illegal security groups operating with impunity. And Guatemala established the National Institute for Forensic Sciences to improve investigatory and evidence gathering efforts.

The resolution the Senate passed last night is aimed at raising awareness of this issue and encouraging the Governments of Guatemala and the United States to work together to stop these killings. Among other things, the resolution: condemns these murders and expresses the sympathy of the Senate to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala; encourages the Government of Guatemala to act

with due diligence in investigating and prosecuting those responsible for these crimes; urges the Government of Guatemala to strengthen domestic violence laws and to provide adequate resources necessary to improve the integrity of the prosecutorial and judicial systems; urges the President and the Secretary of State to incorporate this issue into the bilateral agenda between the Governments of Guatemala and the United States; and encourages the Secretary of State to provide assistance in training and equipping special police units to investigate these crimes, implementing judicial reforms and rule of law programs, establishing a missing persons system, creating an effective witness protection program, and supporting efforts to enhance forensic capabilities.

Mr. President, I believe it is very important to give this issue the attention it deserves. Last year, the House of Representatives passed a similar measure, which was introduced by Congresswoman Solis. With passage of this resolution, I am very pleased that the Senate has spoken regarding the need to stop these senseless killings.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the oversight hearing that was scheduled before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources regarding old- growth forest science, policy and management in the Pacific Northwest region has been rescheduled.

The rescheduled hearing will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact Rachel Pasternack at (202) 224-0883 or Kira Finkler at 202-224-5523.

Mr. President, I wish to add my voice to those of my colleagues who have stood to salute the Peace Corps.

The Peace Corps is one of our country's most effective international development programs. Since its inception in 1961, the Peace Corps has sent over 190,000 volunteers to 139 developing countries, where they have helped build thousands of schools, health clinics, and small businesses.

Equally as important, the Peace Corps is one of our country's most important public diplomacy programs. The sight of ordinary Americans volunteering to serve the world's most disadvantaged populations cannot help but elevate good will toward our country. Fifty-nine volunteers from my home State of New Mexico are currently serving in countries ranging from Ukraine and Georgia in Europe, to Malawi and Senegal in Africa, to Peru and Honduras in Central America.

Today, I urge the Peace Corps to consider returning to the poorest country in our own hemisphere. That country is Haiti.

According to the U.N. Development Program, over three-quarters of Haitians subsist on less than $2 per day and over half on less than $1 per day. Haiti is one of the poorest of the poor. The security situation in Haiti was precarious for much of the new century--which is why the Peace Corps left. But one year ago, a brighter picture emerged. The international community launched a concerted effort to rid Haiti's slums of violent gangs. President Rene Preval made real efforts to promote political reconciliation in the country. Because of these efforts, we have a genuine window of opportunity to make a difference in Haiti. But this window will not last forever. In the best tradition of the Peace Corps, we Americans should seize this opportunity while we have the chance.

I can think of no better way of honoring the Peace Corps than by calling upon it to consider returning to Haiti.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that an oversight hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony regarding old-growth forest science, policy and management in the Pacific Northwest region.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected] .gov. For further information, please contact Rachel Pasternack at (202) 224-0883 or Kira Finkler at 202-224-5523.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that an oversight hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 3 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose is to receive testimony on the impacts of the capability of the United States to maintain a domestic enrichment capability as a result of the recently initialed amendment between the United States and the Russian Federation on the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Jonathan Epstein (202) 228- 3031 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to Senator Smith's amendment, No. 3897, to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, S. 1200, and urge my fellow Senators to vote against this amendment.

This amendment would expressly authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, HHS, to utilize a new ``area distribution fund'' methodology to allocate Indian Health Service, IHS, health care facilities construction, HCFC, funding.

This approach could result in critical projects that are on the current IHS HCFC priority list from receiving funding. These projects have been waiting for many years, and in some cases decades, to receive funding. Furthermore, section 301 of the underlying bill, which the Smith amendment would amend, represents the results of hours of bipartisan negotiations on this issue throughout the last 2 years. While I understand Senator Smith's desire to provide a possible avenue for his tribes to receive funding, this amendment would undo the very delicate compromise that was reached in the underlying bill.

According to the IHS staff briefings, the entire concept of an area distribution fund does not guarantee that all IHS service areas receive HCFC funding; instead, it creates a new criterion that must be used to determine IHS HCFC funding priorities. The current criteria utilized by IHS are focused on directing funding to the IHS areas in most need, where IHS patients are most isolated and least likely to have access to care. This geographic criterion does not represent good policy but simply an attempt to spread the very paltry funding provided for IHS HCFC projects even more thinly based on location instead of need. Instead of playing games with the distribution formula, we in Congress should be working to ensure that there is adequate funding for IHS HCFC projects so that the current backlog is addressed and new projects from throughout the country may be added.

I note that Navajo Nation also strongly opposes this amendment. The following discussion provides a summary of their concerns.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that an oversight hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this oversight hearing is to receive testimony on the Energy Information Administration's revised Annual Energy Outlook.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Tara Billingsley at (202) 224-4756 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

committee on energy and natural resources

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that an oversight hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this oversight hearing is to receive testimony on Hardrock Mining: Issues Relating to Abandoned Mine Lands and Uranium Mining.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Patty Beneke at 202-224-5451 or Gina Weinstock at 202-224-5684.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on February 28, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 177/H.R. 2085, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the McGee Creek Authority certain facilities of the McGee Creek Project, Oklahoma, and for other purposes; S. 1473/H.R. 1855, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Madera Irrigation District for purposes of supporting the Madera Water Supply Enhancement Project; S. 1474/H.R. 1139, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design and construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, and other uses from the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Santa Ana River, California, and for other purposes; S. 1929, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility study of water augmentation alternatives in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed; S. 2370, to clear title to certain real property in New Mexico associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project, and for other purposes; H.R. 2381, to promote Department of the Interior efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Michael Connor at (202) 224- 5479 or Gina Weinstock at (202) 224-5684.

Mr. President, what is the pending amendment?

Mr. President, if it is in order, I will withdraw my underlying amendment.