Thomas Daschle: “today I am introducing the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal Land Conveyance Act of 2003. This proposal is the…”

“today I am introducing the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal Land Conveyance Act of 2003. This proposal is the culmination of more than 4 years of discussion with local landowners, the South Dakota Water Congress, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, local legislators, representatives of South Dakota sportsmen groups and affected citizens. It lays out a plan to convey certain parcels of land acquired for the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal features of the Oahe Irrigation Project in South Dakota to the Commission of School and Public Lands of the State of South Dakota for the purpose of mitigating lost wildlife habitat, and provides the option to preferential leaseholders to purchase their original parcels from the Commission. The bill I'm introducing today is the result of consultations with the Energy and Natural Resources Committee when it considered the bill last July. The committee incorporated changes to the legislation that will ensure a smooth transition of land from federal to private ownership, increase county tax revenues, as well as provide the tools and future funding necessary to help the state of South Dakota improve wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities. The Senate unanimously approved this legislation late last fall, but it was not considered by the House of Representatives before Congress adjourned for the year. I hope that my colleagues will once again support this effort, and that we can see this bill signed into law.”