Andrea Joy Campbell: “I think this is a question that probably should have been fully debated, with some kind of a hearing, and not attached…”

“I think this is a question that probably should have been fully debated, with some kind of a hearing, and not attached to this bill. The Senator from Montana, Mr. Burns, mentioned what we often call the law of unintended consequences. That is what I am concerned about, too, without adequate input. I know this may help a rancher or a farmer survive, but I can tell you they won't survive very long once the water is gone. I don't know how many Members of this body farm or ranch. I know there are several, including me. You might make a short-term agreement to sell or lease some water, but if there is a change in the water usage and you don't get it back, that is the end of your farming and ranching in the arid West, where we have to store something like 80 percent of our yearly water needs.”