Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1963, the Bureau of Reclamation Conduit Hydropower Development Equity and Jobs Act.
In Congress, one of our top priorities is to secure American energy independence, and as we all see in this institution, we don't always agree on how best to meet that goal. However, hydropower is a clean, renewable source of energy, and finding innovative ways to develop this resource is an area where most of us can agree. I am grateful that Chairman McClintock and Ranking Member Grijalva support this bill, and I was pleased to see the bipartisan spirit behind this legislation.
Bureau of Reclamation projects, such as canals, pipelines, and dams, play an important role in supplying water for our communities. Agriculture is the primary economic driver in my home State of Montana, and having a sound and strong irrigation system is critically important to us back home.
H.R. 1963 will amend the Water Conservation and Utilization Act to allow for conduit hydropower development on 11 Bureau of Reclamation projects governed under this act. That includes some in my home State of Montana, including the Buffalo Rapids near Miles City, the intake project by Glendive, the Milk River Project, as well as the Missoula Valley Project. With this legislation, our irrigation systems can also power our homes and our businesses. Additionally, this bill will help provide revenues to improve critical infrastructure for farmers and ranchers who rely on these systems.
In Montana, balancing energy development with responsible stewardship of our resources is the way we do business in Montana. Our livelihoods, our access to recreation, and the future of our State for our kids rely on a robust, balanced energy plan that also protects our unique landscapes, and that is what keeps us Montanans loving the place we call home. A diverse energy portfolio helps keep electric prices low for Montana families and creates jobs. Hydropower is an important part of that puzzle, and my bill will help us get there.
H.R. 1963 has received strong bipartisan support in committee, and I urge the same here today.
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