Amendment to Kaweah Project Provision

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1044 introduced by my colleague Representative Valadao of California.

This bill would allow the Secretary of the Interior to issue additional permit renewals for the Kaweah Project, a hydroelectric facility that operates within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park. The Kaweah Project has been generating clean, renewable energy since 1907. Although it was originally granted a 50-year permit, the boundaries of the Sequoia National Park were later expanded in 1943, bringing portions of the project, such as flow lines and diversions, within park lands. Since the project predated the park, it was allowed to continue operating.

In 2004, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior to issue up to three permit renewals with reasonable safeguards to ensure the project's continued operation wouldn't harm the park.

These include prohibiting any expansion of the project within the park, requiring safety assessment, and appropriate compensation for the use of public resources.

H.R. 1044 would build on that responsible approach. By allowing the Secretary to continue renewing permits for the Kaweah Project under the same protective conditions, this bill allows continued hydropower generation while upholding our responsibility to protect the park for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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