Political Quotes

“the Senate has been most indulgent with a problem that is extremely serious to Colorado and, I believe, to many other States. On the Agriculture appropriations bill last year, the ranking member and the chairman of the subcommittee were kind enough to help us with an amendment that was urgently needed. It related to a policy that the Agriculture Department calls ``bypass flows.'' What that has meant is Colorado has asked for a renewal of easements which cross Federal grounds. The Forest Service has informed the State, ``You will have to forfeit a third of your water in order to achieve a renewal of an easement.'' The concept of someone being landlocked is recognized in most State laws and those State laws provide a way out of that. Whereas, if someone absolutely needs a way out across that ground, there are provisions under State law where fair compensation can be paid and they achieve that easement. What we are dealing with here is cities that have their reservoirs in the mountains surrounded by Federal ground and have no choice but to cross Federal ground to get that drinking water to those citizens. Colorado is a very dry State. Without reservoirs and without that water supply, literally, people do not have water to drink. It is not just a question of water to maintain the beautiful environments of the homes and lawns and parks. It is literally drinking water we are talking about.”