Concurrent Resolution On The Budget, Fiscal Year 2016
Floor Speech
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Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, the Gardner amendment would radically change the way water is handled on public lands. There are real concerns about how Federal land management agencies deal with water, particularly in the drought-afflicted West. But this amendment is so broad that it is trying to address these problems in a way that will have numerous unintended consequences. It would make even worse some of the water shortages in the areas of the West, particularly in the Lower Colorado Basin. It would also create havoc in our national parks in both the East and the West.
The amendment would call into question the status of water contracts actually signed by the Bureau of Reclamation throughout the West. Uncertainty is the last thing we need. It would have damaging implications for settlements such as the Yakima Basin where people have come to agreement.
I agree we need to continue to work on the drought issues in the West. But saying that Federal management agencies don't have their obligations, such as helping in the national forests with firefighters----
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
Ms. CANTWELL. I urge a ``no'' vote.
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Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. While there are many of us who support full funding for PILT, this amendment is impractical. In fact, the Congressional Research Service reports indicate that attempts to set up tax equivalency for PILT would be wrought with errors and gamesmanship. That is because counties routinely tax different land uses at different rates.
Second, my colleagues should note that this may increase PILT payments more than 350 percent of today's authorized level, and that would raise the cost of this program from $4 to $5 billion, to $15 to $20 billion.
Because the amendment creates a spending-neutral reserve fund, only cuts to other mandatory spending programs could be used to fund the 350 percent rise in payments.
So, Mr. President, I cannot support this amendment. It is unsustainable and unworkable, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.
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