Increasing water storage is critical.

And, Mr. Shibatani, I think I would like to maybe bring this a little bit back to my home State of Colorado.

This is not some new discovery. Yakima has been in need of additional water storage for many decades.

Without the ability to be able to store water that falls on Colorado's slopes, the West as we know it would not exist.

I will continue to oppose these policies that change existing projects and their historical mission.

We have a regulatory process that was established for the 20th century, maybe earlier on in the 20th century.

It's this generation's turn to recognize our Nation's growing water needs and to take steps to meet it.

Conservation can and should play a role; however, it alone is not the answer.

There is no compensation for the transfer of these privately held water rights, despite the fact that many stakeholders have invested millions of their own capital in developing them.

I truly appreciate your support for State rights and private property rights.

We very much support this bill and thank Congressmen Tipton and Polis in particular as Colorado Representatives and sponsors.

Their testimony supports my bill and indicates that more water storage is a long-term solution to the drought.

We would like to especially thank Colorado Congressmen Tipton and Polis, for working together to protect the rights of ski areas.

Recent Federal attempts to manipulate Federal permit lease and land management process to circumvent long-established State water law and hijack privately held water rights have sounded the alarm for all non-Federal water users that rely…

H.R. 3189 grants no new rights to any party, nor does it in any way infringe on existing rights.

That speaks to the urgency, really, of legislation of Congress acting on behalf of private property rights and Western water rights, don't you think?

To use your quote, going back 20 years, this is not a new issue, it is time that we settle it.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

So the people don't want it, the State doesn't want it, the private property owners don't want this, but the Federal Government, the BLM, the Forest Service, perhaps others are going to continue a policy of taking.

My hope is that today's hearing further strengthens the bipartisan efforts to be able to protect local water rights from the Federal Government and their overreach and takings.

Ignore State water law, ignore Congress, just write a rule.

Does it disturb you that as you noted, Mr. Porzak, that there has been no authority granted by the Congress of the United States?

I would also like to thank Mr. Bishop, Mr. Amodei, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Coffman, and Mr. Polis, who have all joined in this bipartisan effort and continue to work with me to safeguard Western water rights.

Does that speak to the importance of the Water Rights Protection Act?

We urge the House to pass this legislation without delay.