Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise again in qualified support of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act. This bill would authorize the Colorado River Indian Tribes, or CRIT, to enter into agreements with non-Indian water users to lease, exchange, or store a portion of its decreed water rights in Arizona. At a time when Arizona and the West are facing historic drought and water supply cutbacks, this bill could actually provide some near-term relief to those in desperate need of water. In Arizona, for example, agricultural and other water deliveries from the Colorado River have been reduced. The farmers who feed America are staring at a bleak water future as a result. This bill is not a cure-all, but it could help facilitate water transactions between the Colorado River Indian Tribes and Indian and non-Indian communities in Arizona increasing availability of water at no cost to the Federal Government. Again, it is unfortunate that despite the legislation's potential benefits, it has not gone through regular order. In fact, this bill was never introduced in the House of Representatives, and the Natural Resources Committee did not have an opportunity to discuss the merits of this legislation or offer amendments at markup. Congress can do better than this, and the House fully intends to do so in the next Congress under a Republican watch.…”