Angie Craig: “I would like to express to him that I have been involved with the Senator from Colorado for well over 2 years as he…”

“I would like to express to him that I have been involved with the Senator from Colorado for well over 2 years as he fought this battle, and chairing the subcommittee that deals with forestry, we have taken a close look at the amendment and the problems involved. What has happened in the West historically--and I think the Senator from Vermont appreciates this--while the watersheds, largely the head waters, were owned or retained by the Federal Government, the right of water acquisition and water management and control was given to the States. And, of course, municipalities and irrigation districts went into those head waters and developed facilities under the permits of the Forest Service and the McCarran Act. That established the water systems of the West. In many situations we find Federal agencies, for whatever reasons, saying, ``To get reissuance of your permits, you have to give us some of the water.'' Instead of going in and filing for water like every other citizen has the responsibility to do to acquire a water right, they are extorting, as the Senator from Colorado said, by arguing that you cannot continue--we will not renew your permit or you cannot gain this right-of-way or continued access unless you do this.”