LOWER COLORADO RIVER MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT OF 2025

LOWER COLORADO RIVER MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2527-H2529] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] LOWER COLORADO RIVER MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT OF 2025 Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 831) to establish an interest-bearing account for the non- Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 831 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Lower Colorado River Multi- Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. INTEREST-BEARING FUND. Section 9402 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11; 123 Stat. 1328) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(c) Interest-Bearing Account for Non-Federal Contributions.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Agreement.--The term `Agreement' means the agreement entitled the `Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Funding and Management Agreement' and dated April 4, 2005. ``(B) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program established by paragraph (2). ``(C) Non-federal contribution.--The term `non-Federal contribution' means an amount contributed by a State Party for the non-Federal cost share described in section 8 of the Agreement. ``(D) State party.--The term `State Party' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Agreement. ``(2) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the `Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program', consisting of-- ``(A) any amounts deposited in the Fund under paragraph (3); and ``(B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (4). ``(3) Deposits to fund.-- ``(A) In general.--Pursuant to section 8.4 of the Agreement, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund-- ``(i) any unexpended non-Federal contributions provided before the date of enactment of this subsection; and ``(ii) any non-Federal contributions provided on or after the date of enactment of this subsection. ``(B) Availability of amounts.-- ``(i) Expenditure.--Amounts deposited in the Fund under subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, for expenditure-- ``(I) as provided in the Program Documents; and ``(II) in accordance with this section. ``(ii) Interest.--Amounts derived from interest earned on amounts in the Fund under subparagraph (A) shall be made available, subject to appropriation of amounts derived from such interest, to the Secretary for expenditure-- ``(I) as provided in the Program Documents; and ``(II) in accordance with this section. ``(4) Investment of amounts.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury may invest any portion of the Fund that is not, as determined by the Secretary, required to meet the current needs of the Fund. ``(B) Requirement.--Investments under subparagraph (A) may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. ``(5) Transfers of amounts.-- ``(A) Transfer of previously contributed funds.--The amounts required to be deposited in the Fund under paragraph (3)(A)(i) shall be transferred from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection. ``(B) Transfer of future contributed funds.--As soon as practicable after the date on which amounts described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) are contributed, those amounts shall be transferred to the Fund. ``(C) Responsibility of state parties.--In accordance with the Agreement, on deposit of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (3), the State Parties shall not be responsible for any losses due to investment of those amounts the Fund.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia. General Leave Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 831, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia? There was no objection. Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Calvert from California. The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program aims to conserve native fish populations, increase habitat for migratory birds in the Lower Colorado River Basin, and allow for continued water and power deliveries. The Federal Government contributes 50 percent of its funding, and three Lower Basin States provide the remainder. In recent years, however, the pace of funding has outpaced the pace of work, leaving available funds idle. This legislation would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to place the program's non-Federal funds in an interest-bearing account, providing approximately $2 million annually that would otherwise be borne by the Lower Basin States. I commend Representative Calvert for his continued leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 831. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, if I could, this is the last of a marathon of bills. I think the breadth of the bills we saw today are a testament to this committee, from protecting sequoias in California to addressing invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake to supporting national parks in Mississippi, Missouri, and Arizona to the bill before us now. I am just in awe of this committee's work product. I thank the chair, the ranking member, and the committee staff. This is what Americans sent us to do, and I am grateful to be a part of it. I thank my colleague from Virginia for his professionalism, as well. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 831, offered by my colleague Representative Calvert of California. As we stand here today, the seven basin States are continuing negotiations on an agreement that will shape the future of the Colorado River, which has ramifications across the region. The post-2026 operations are critical to managing the already overallocated river in a changing climate which has led to unprecedented drought conditions and declining water levels at key reservoirs. I appreciate the work the States have already done to move toward a solution [[Page H2528]] and urge them and the Department of the Interior to continue working together to reach an agreement. The Department of the Interior must also ensure that the 30 Tribal nations in the basin are part of a long-term solution, as part of the long history of collaboration in the basin, to accomplish the shared goal of continued delivery of water and power while protecting ecosystems. Lower water levels have accelerated the spread of invasive, nonnative species and the reduction of critical habitat for native fish and wildlife. H.R. 831 authorizes an interest-bearing account for non-Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, allowing these funds to accrue interest that can be reinvested back into the program. This program brings together Federal, State, and local partners to protect endangered species while also ensuring the continued water operations and maintenance activities of the Lower Basin. It is funded through a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement between the Federal Government and the three Lower Basin States. Currently no non-Federal contributions to the program are held in a non-interest-bearing account. By authorizing an interest-bearing account, H.R. 831 will help provide additional funding to further support the stability of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program and help balance water operations and ecosystem health in the Lower Basin. I urge support of H.R. 831. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton). Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act, a bipartisan bill that is absolutely critical to the future of my home State of Arizona and the American West. The Colorado River is the lifeblood of our region. More than 40 million people across the seven basin States depend on it for drinking water, agriculture, and economic vitality. In Arizona alone, it supports our cities, our farmers, our Tribal communities, and our economy, including our critical semiconductor industry. But this river is under enormous pressure from a drought now entering its 25th year, from overuse, and from a changing climate that is reshaping the West as we know it. At the same time, dozens of native fish, migratory birds, and plant species that depend on this river are fighting for survival. The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program is an incredibly successful collaboration between the Federal Government, the States, and key stakeholders. It has been doing the hard work on the ground for over two decades to manage habitats and protect native species. This program has successfully established thousands of acres of native riparian and aquatic habitat, stocked the river with native fish, and increased the numbers of breeding migratory birds over more than 5,000 acres. The progra

Referenced legislation: HR831, HR831, HR4294