Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - June 17, 2004)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 674 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 4568.
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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
I would ask that the chairman engage in a colloquy. Mr. Chairman, as we all know and probably too well, water issues in the Klamath Basin have caused a number of conflicts, not only in the upper, mid, and lower basin but also right here in this House in Washington, DC.
But, Mr. Chairman, this afternoon I would like to bring to our attention what I believe to be a very positive step towards bringing some meaningful help to this issue of water throughout the Klamath Basin, a positive step that addresses both the issues that are important to farming and the issues important to fishing.
The land management agencies have pointed out that by repairing two dams in the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area that we could provide extra cool, clean water down one of the Klamath River's most important tributaries. I am working with other members of the California delegation and our colleague from the Oregon delegation who has this Klamath Basin in his district to explore potentially promising alternatives for the Klamath Basin, and I would ask my colleagues to please indulge us and to help us work through this in using the Interior appropriations bill as the vehicle to provide whatever may prove to be necessary to make these good, positive steps to continue so we can get this behind us.
In closing, I also would like to extend an invitation for those who are going to meet in the upper Klamath to discuss resource issues that are important to farming to please note they are welcome to come down to the mid- and the lower basin to hear from fishermen and fishing families so they fully understand what is important to the needs of the entire Klamath Basin.
Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. THOMPSON of California. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.
Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I would be happy to work with the gentleman on exploring promising solutions to the Klamath situation and with the California delegation and the Oregon delegation, also; and I commend the gentleman for his work.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much.