Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.1044 - To amend Public Law 99–338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits. (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R. 1044 aims to amend Public Law 99-338, specifically concerning the Kaweah Project permits. The proposed amendment changes the number of allowable renewals from three to seven and removes a reference to Southern California Edison Company. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources before being committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.

Expected Effects

The primary effect of this bill is to extend the operational lifespan of the Kaweah Project by allowing for more permit renewals. This could lead to continued or expanded use of the project's resources. Removing the reference to Southern California Edison Company may allow for greater flexibility in project management or partnerships.

Potential Benefits

  • Extended operational lifespan of the Kaweah Project.
  • Potential for increased resource utilization.
  • Greater flexibility in project management due to the removal of specific company references.
  • Possible economic benefits from continued project operation.
  • Supports water management in the Kaweah River basin.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential environmental impacts from extended project operation.
  • Possible disruption to existing water rights or allocations.
  • Lack of transparency regarding the specific reasons for the amendment.
  • Potential for disproportionate benefits to specific stakeholders.
  • Limited information to assess the long-term consequences.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill appears to align with Congress's power to legislate on matters related to federal lands and resources, as implied by Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the US Constitution, which grants Congress the power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States. However, without more context on the Kaweah Project, a definitive assessment is challenging.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).