Just Months Into New Role, Rep. John Curtis' First Bill Overwhelmingly Passed By The House

Press Release

Congressman John Curtis has been in office just over one hundred days and already his first bill the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act has passed the House of Representatives 329-6. The bill has been endorsed by more than 20 diverse stakeholders, including state governments, water conservancy districts, Indian Tribes, and conservation organizations.

Representative John Curtis (UT-3) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his bipartisan bill:

"This important legislation will continue to promote the recovery of these endangered fish species, while also ensuring access to these critical water sources and projects for everything from irrigation to recreation" Curtis said. "After meeting personally with local officials and talking with constituents about the importance of these programs, I know how vital this legislation is to the economy of many of the rural parts of my District. I am pleased that my first bill in Congress has received such broad, bipartisan support, and I hope the Senate swiftly will take up the bill and pass it."

Background on the bill:

This bipartisan legislation extends the authorization to use upper Colorado River Storage Project Revenues for annual base funding of fish recovery programs.
The recovery programs are for four different endangered species of fish located in the Upper Colorado and San Juan Rivers: the Colorado pikeminnow, the humpback chub, the razorback sucker, and the bonytail.
These programs were last reauthorized in 2012 and they are set to expire in 2019. This extension would authorize the programs through 2023.
The bill also requires the Interior Secretary to submit a report, in consultation with the participants in the Recovery Implementation Programs, to Congress describing the accomplishments and costs of the programs.

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