Conveying Certain Facilities, Easements, and Rights-Of-Way to Kennewick Irrigation District

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6652) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities, easements, and rights-of-way to the Kennewick Irrigation District, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6652

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Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6652, authored by my colleague from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the ownership of certain water infrastructure resources from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Kennewick Irrigation District, which already operates and maintains the facilities.

Now, to be clear, this is not a giveaway of taxpayer-owned property. The district has a long-term contract with Reclamation to repay the capital costs of construction, with the payment to be completed by the time of the transfer.

This legislation is about supporting local water infrastructure. The transfer will allow the district to more efficiently manage water supplies, while giving the local community the ability to seek private financing, through equity, to improve vital water infrastructure.

This is also a win for the American taxpayer. Title transfers like this reduce regulatory paperwork and staff time for both parties, reduce the Federal backlog for repairs and upgrades to improve the environment and public safety, and reduce Federal liability.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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