[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H9678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES PROGRAM ACT OF 2021
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 1466), to authorize the Director of the United States
Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor,
and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the
migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1466
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 ``Saline Lake Ecosystems in
the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Saline Lake
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and
Monitoring Program established under subsection (b).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Geological Survey.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Saline
Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and
Monitoring Program to assess and monitor the hydrology of
saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory
birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems to
inform and support coordinated management and conservation
actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and
other wildlife.
(c) Work and Implementation Plan.--
(1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2),
shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to
assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the
Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that
depend on those ecosystems.
(2) Coordinating entities.--The entities referred to in
paragraph (1) include--
(A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies;
(B) institutions of higher education;
(C) nonprofit organizations; and
(D) other local stakeholders.
(3) Inclusions.--The work and implementation plan
established under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a synthesis of available information, literature, and
data, and an assessment of scientific and informational
needs, relating to--
(i) water quantity, water quality, water use, and water
demand;
(ii) migratory bird and other wildlife populations,
habitats, and ecology;
(iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory birds; and
(iv) environmental changes and other stressors, including
climatic stressors;
(B) a description of how the plan should be implemented to
address the scientific and informational needs described in
subparagraph (A), including proposed activities, such as
monitoring, data infrastructure needs, and development of
tools necessary to implement the Program;
(C) recommendations and a cost assessment for the
implementation of the plan; and
(D) such other matters as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report describing the work and implementation plan
established under paragraph (1).
(d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement the
Program based on the information, findings, and
recommendations contained in the work and implementation plan
established under subsection (c).
(e) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.--The Secretary may
enter into cooperative funding agreements with, or provide
grants to, entities described in subsection (c)(2) for the
purposes of--
(1) participating in developing, or providing information
to inform the development of, the work and implementation
plan under subsection (c);
(2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water
quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and
(3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian
assessments and monitoring under the Program.
(f) Effect.--The work and implementation plan established
under subsection (c)(1) shall not affect--
(1) any interstate water compacts in existence on the date
of enactment of this Act, including full development of any
apportionment made in accordance with those compacts;
(2) valid and existing water rights in any State located
wholly or partially within the Great Basin;
(3) water rights held by the United States in the Great
Basin; and
(4) the management and operation of Bear Lake or Stewart
Dam, including the storage, management, and release of water.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Obernolte) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1466, introduced by Senator Jeff
Merkley and led in the House by my colleague, Representative Blake
Moore.
This bill will direct the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a
program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lakes and
associated ecosystems in the Great Basin States in the West.
Saline lakes in the Western United States are shrinking and becoming
saltier due to prolonged drought and other effects of climate change.
These shrinking lakes are exposing harmful dust that threatens the
public health of neighboring communities while harming local economies
and eliminating essential migratory bird habitat.
This program will help inform and support coordinated management and
conservation actions to benefit saline lakes.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the
Great Basin States Program Act.
Although we are considering the Senate version of this bill today, I
commend my colleague from Utah, Mr. Blake Moore, for his tireless
advocacy for both the House companion bill, which he sponsored, and the
Senate bill before us today.
This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey to establish an
assessment and monitoring program that would address the hydrology of
saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin of the Western United States.
There are 20 saline lakes located in parts of Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and
California, several actually in my district. Across this area, saline
lakes and their associated wetlands support an important network of
habitat for migratory birds and other species.
This bill will inform and support coordinated Federal, State, and
local management and conservation efforts to benefit those ecosystems,
migratory birds, and other wildlife.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging support
of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 1466, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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