Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024
Floor Speech
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7938) to amend the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to provide the Secretary of the Interior with certain authorities with respect to projects affecting the Klamath Basin watershed, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7938
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. KLAMATH PROJECT WATER AND POWER.
(a) Addressing Water, Power, and Facilities Management for Irrigation.--Section 4 of the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-498) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Restoration Activities.--The Secretary may--
``(1) plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain projects in the Klamath Basin watershed, including--
``(A) facilities to reduce fish entrainment;
``(B) projects that reduce or avoid impacts on aquatic resources of facilities involved in the storage or diversion of water for irrigation in the Klamath Project service area; and
``(C) projects that restore habitats in the Klamath Basin watershed, including Tribal fishery resources held in trust;
``(2) undertake studies, including feasibility studies, and improvements that the Secretary determines to be necessary to implement this subsection;
``(3) in implementing this subsection, enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding, financial assistance agreements, cost-sharing agreements, or other appropriate agreements with--
``(A) State, Tribal, and local governmental agencies; and
``(B) private parties; and
``(4) accept and expend non-Federal funds in order to facilitate implementation of this subsection.
``(e) Goals.--The goals of activities under subsections (b) and (d) shall include, as applicable--
``(1) the short-term and long-term reduction and resolution of conflicts relating to water in the Klamath Basin watershed; and
``(2) compatibility and utility for protecting natural resources throughout the Klamath Basin watershed, including the protection, preservation, and restoration of Klamath River Tribal fishery resources, particularly through collaboratively developed agreements.
``(f) Pumping Plant D.--The Secretary may enter into 1 or more agreements with the Tulelake Irrigation District to reimburse the Tulelake Irrigation District for not more than 69 percent of the cost incurred by the Tulelake Irrigation District for the operation and maintenance of Pumping Plant D, subject to the condition that the cost results in benefits to the United States.
``(g) Keno and Link River Dams.--The Secretary of the Interior shall comply with the terms of the agreement entitled `2016 Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement'(`Agreement'), including Attachment A to the Agreement.''.
(b) Administration; Effect.--
(1) Compliance.--In implementing the amendments made by this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall comply with--
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
(C) all other applicable laws.
(2) Effect.--None of the amendments made by this section--
(A) modify any authority or obligation of the United States with respect to any Tribal trust or treaty obligation of the United States;
(B) create or determine any water right; or
(C) affect any water right or water right claim in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. 7938, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7938, the Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024.
This legislation, sponsored by Congressman Cliff Bentz, would uphold the commitments made by the Federal Government in the agreements concerning dam removal and species restoration, which are aimed at ensuring farmers are shielded from the adverse effects of these actions.
The Klamath River Basin in southern Oregon and northern California encompasses more than 12,000 square miles with some of the most productive irrigated agriculture in the country.
The basin is partially supported by the Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Project and is home to six national wildlife refuges, which rely on basin waters to sustain migratory bird habitats and support Native American Tribal fishing grounds. However, this basin has been plagued by decades of disagreement and conflicting agency opinions on how to best conserve the ESA-listed species.
While H.R. 7938 provides the Department of the Interior the authorization to operate and improve infrastructure, it makes clear that Klamath Project irrigators are not responsible for those costs. The bill also enables Reclamation to implement conservation measures for ESA-listed species through fish screens and other restoration projects. This would protect Tribal resources in the basin and avoid additional regulatory burdens on other stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bentz for his diligent leadership on this issue and tireless support of the Klamath Basin.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7938 would provide important tools and certainty for both wildlife and people living in the Klamath River Basin. The irrigated lands of the Klamath Project support family farms and ranches, Tribal fishing rights, and the recovery of several ESA- listed fish species. This legislation builds upon vital work being done by these groups.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague, Mr. Bentz, for his work on the bill. I urge Members to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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