Jeff Bingaman: “Again, Mr. President, I think the Senator from Idaho is pointing out a problem that does not exist. I think we have made…”

“Again, Mr. President, I think the Senator from Idaho is pointing out a problem that does not exist. I think we have made it very clear that with regard to existing water rights, with regard to new water rights, with regard to Federal reserved water rights, there is nothing in this bill and there is nothing intended in this bill that is to change the law with regard to it. That is exactly what we have said. That is exactly what we mean. There is no hole for the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior to jump into. There is no ambiguity here that needs an interpretation. Nobody in the committee raised this issue. The Senator chairs the appropriate subcommittee. This was not raised. This language has remained unchanged through the markup. Nobody has raised this concern until right now on the Senate floor. I do not think it is a valid concern. That is my response.”