I am pleased to join Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis to present H.R. 3980, the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act.

Chairman Hastings' legislation proposes to standardize this bi-partisan practice.

Well, I knew that the gentleman would find something to say. I just want to say, dealing with the amendment, I think this amendment, again, in the spirit of adding more activity on Federal lands, I think this adds to it. I am prepared to…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I say on a personal note, I was looking for you on the floor at the end of last week. I was prepared to take Seattle and offer you 34 points. I think you probably would have taken that bet. I just want…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I think this is a good amendment, and I support the amendment. The primary purpose of this legislation is to limit unjustified Federal bureaucratic limitations on hunting and fishing. I also want to make…

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I plan to support his amendment. This is something that it seems like we wrestle with all the time here on the Federal level. There is uniqueness when you are on the ground, but yet we write rules…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just want to clarify something, Mr. Chairman, that has been said here by my friend, the ranking member, that the administration has issued a veto threat. They have not issued a veto threat. They have…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I think this amendment is in the spirit of the underlying legislation, which is to make sure that there is access for hunting and fishing. And here we have, as I said in my opening…

I urge defeat of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the…

I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Well, Mr. Chairman, I guess all good things come to an end because I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. I oppose this amendment because it undermines what I consider to be a…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to say that this amendment, I believe, also will add to the underlying legislation, which, of course, would expand the experience of hunting and fishing. So the remarks I made to his colleague…

I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment. I think that his amendment, since the idea of the whole underlying legislation is to expand as much as we can to those that want to enjoy that, I think his amendment adds to the…

I want to congratulate the gentleman on offering this amendment. I think putting this aspect into this bill will help quantify how important hunting and fishing is if you put an economic component to it. So I congratulate the gentleman. I…

The lack of rainfall has caused this calamity but it has been exacerbated by Federal regulatory actions that place the needs of a 3-inch fish over people.

Today's hearing represents a major step in advancing the need for new water storage.

I reserve the balance of my time and advise my friend I have no requests for time. I am prepared to yield back if the gentleman is prepared to yield back.

I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 2 Offered by…

do any of the fishery management committees... contain any experience in dealing with in-river fish management?

the fishermen who are directly impacted have requested flexibility.

Instead, we should be adopting an ecosystem-based fishery management approach, that includes enhancing protections for habitat, reducing bycatch, requiring fishery ecosystem plans, and ensuring we manage forage fish to account for the…

the ESA provision in the Hastings Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization... has been a source of great contention

the discussion draft that was released and circulated in mid-December.

the intent is to move forward on this legislation with the goal of reauthorizing the Act by the end of the year.

the 2006/2007 amendments, while well intentioned, may have gone too far in restricting the ability of fishery managers

But I love these shores like nowhere else in the world and it is my urgent concern that our Nation's fisheries and oceans, and all the families who depend upon them, remain healthy and strong, now and for generations to come.