Doc Hastings: “House Resolution 539 waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. The…”

“House Resolution 539 waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. The resolution also provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. The energy and water development appropriations conference report provides a total of $30.5 billion to fund the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, Department of Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation and several independent agencies for the current fiscal year. The Bureau of Reclamation receives $1.1 billion to maintain and operate water infrastructure projects throughout the West. The Department of Energy constitutes the bulk of the bill with funding of $24.3 billion. This represents a decrease of $129 million from fiscal year 2005. Overall, the conference report represents a compromise between the House- and Senate-passed bills and deserves the support of my colleagues. Madam Speaker, included in this bill are a number of projects and provisions of importance to my central Washington congressional district. The Bureau of Reclamation's budget provides $1.5 million to keep pace with a Federal study looking to add more water storage in the Yakima River basin and the potential of the Black Rock reservoir. Water storage is critical to the farmers and communities in this arid part of our Nation, and this year's drought made clear the importance of finding solutions for creating additional storage.…”