I hope that today's hearing will be a productive step in highlighting some of the shortcomings of the existing water storage regulatory framework.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Water storage is the precursor for multiple-use water management in arid regions such as the Third Congressional District of Colorado.

There is no need to see water storage as a partisan issue.

I come from a rural area, ag communities--that we all want to make sure that our children are safe.

I will do everything I possibly can to keep this regulation from ever being implemented as it is written...

the whole idea of a notice and comment period is for us to--and we received 10,000 comments on this rule--is for us to be able to take in those comments and consider them

I would like to point out this article I had from yesterday's Durango Herald, which is in my district.

Do we need the federal government? Do we need OSHA stepping in to the workplace of the family farm to be able to deal with that?

The government does not have to tell you to care about your children?

I appreciate following my colleague from Colorado, who recognizes the importance of jobs. Unfortunately, the President of the United States has turned a blind eye to the needs of the American people. In my own district in the State of…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Our colleague on the Democrat side is citing the amount of tax increase that Americans will have inflicted on them. That's what we're talking about, as well. We have an opportunity here, Mr. Speaker, to…

Yesterday, legislation that I sponsored, along with Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado, passed the House floor. This bill for the Blue Star Mothers of America updated their congressional charter for the modern era. Mr. Speaker, I am…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, generations of Americans from now will stand in judgment of the choices that we make today. In my district, as I've traveled and visited with people, from the farm and ranch community to…

the farmer, the rancher does not set their price; they pay the price, not only in terms of the sweat off of their brow but out of the limited resources that they have.

this nation owes a deep debt of gratitude to that farm and ranch community and what it is able to provide.

we will take your admonitions, particularly with the uncertainty that we are seeing out of the EPA greatly frustrating.

Now is not the time to saddle farmers and ranchers with higher costs and more onerous regulations that are driving them out of business.

Farmers and ranchers and small business owners today face a sea of onerous new regulations from the federal government.

Why do you think the Department of the Interior is going to be able to do a better job than our states in terms of regulating that?

I respect your statement on that, and the answer effectively was no, we haven't had any problem with the integrity when it comes to the fracking process.

Authorizes the use but does not guarantee the use, so that gives the Forest Service... the Forest Service could make a determination that that water could be used for something other than snow-making or other than grazing, is that correct?

So that it is very clear, people paid money for these water rights, didn't they?

Hundreds of millions.

Congress has not delegated to the Forest Service the authority necessary to allow it to require that water users relinquish part of their existing water supply or transfer their water rights in the United States as a condition for the…