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

Floor Speech

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Mr. CALVERT. 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.

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