I inserted that $3.5 million for law enforcement. It is a crying need in our part of the world.

I rise to speak on legislation in regard to surplus water fees. I call it the States Water Rights Act, the States water rights legislation, and I introduced this legislation as an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: Amendment No. 909 (Purpose: To restrict charges for certain surplus…

in response to the Senator's question, absolutely not. It doesn't change any of the authorized purposes for the reservoirs and for the system. This does not impact in any way any of the authorized uses for the mainstem dams, the mainstem…

I wish to thank my colleague from South Dakota and turn to my colleague from North Dakota for any final thoughts before we yield the floor.

with that, I wish to set aside the pending amendment and call up the Hoeven amendment No. 909. I wish to close with a couple other thoughts. Senator Baucus from Montana wanted to join with us in the colloquy, but the timeline didn't work…

the Senator is absolutely right. I wish to thank him for emphasizing that point. It is very important. Again, that is why I encourage any of our colleagues to discuss this issue with us if they have any concerns whatsoever. It is just a…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Without objection, the clerk will report the Hoeven amendment. The assistant bill clerk read as follows…

I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California. Amendment No. 868

Could you actually make a commitment to when you leave office that the condition for Native American children will be improved in Indian country?

I want to follow up on an additional point beyond what Senator Hoeven talked about.

I say thank you to my colleagues from North Dakota and South Dakota. Mr. President, this is not a new issue. This is an issue--even back in the 1990s--I dealt with as the State's attorney general. Why do I mention that? I mention it…

I wish to thank again my colleague for her comments in regard to the legal aspect; again, she brings a lot of direct experience working with this issue. So I thank her for her comments with regard to the legal aspect, but she makes another…

I thank the distinguished Senator from South Dakota for joining me, and for his question. Of course, he is anticipating exactly what would happen. The States will initiate litigation against the corps if in fact the corps decides to impose…

my colleagues from North and South Dakota and I come from practical States. We come from States where we try to anticipate problems and we solve problems before they turn into big, expensive pieces of litigation, and that is what that…

I want to talk about law enforcement training because we know how critical that is.

For eight years, I got the same response which was, we share your concern.

I hope when we introduce you to North Dakota, we will be able to talk a little bit about working with county sheriffs, local law enforcement and highway patrol to expand the ability to do additional law enforcement.