[Senate Report 108-297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 616
108th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 108-297
======================================================================
UNITED STATES-MEXICO TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFER ASSESSMENT ACT
_______
July 7, 2004.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Domenici, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1957]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 1957) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico
and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic
characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority
transboundary aquifers, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Mexico Transboundary
Aquifer Assessment Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
establish a United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment
program to--
(1) systematically assess priority transboundary aquifers;
and
(2) provide the scientific foundation necessary for State and
local officials to address pressing water resource challenges
in the United States-Mexico border region.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Aquifer.--The term ``aquifer'' means a subsurface water-
bearing geologic formation from which significant quantities of
water may be extracted.
(2) Border state.--The term ``Border State'' means each of
the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means an Indian
tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community--
(A) that is recognized as eligible for the special
programs and services provided by the United States to
Indians because of their status as Indians; and
(B) the reservation of which includes a transboundary
aquifer within the exterior boundaries of the
reservation.
(4) Priority transboundary aquifer.--The term ``priority
transboundary aquifer'' means a transboundary aquifer that has
been designated for study and analysis under the program.
(5) Program.--The term ``program'' means the United States-
Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program established
under section 4(a).
(6) Reservation.--The term ``reservation'' means land that
has been set aside or that has been acknowledged as having been
set aside by the United States for the use of an Indian tribe,
the exterior boundaries of which are more particularly defined
in a final tribal treaty, agreement, executive order, Federal
statute, secretarial order, or judicial determination.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States
Geological Survey.
(8) Transboundary aquifer.--The term ``transboundary
aquifer'' means an aquifer that underlies the boundary between
the United States and Mexico.
(9) Tri-regional planning group.--The term ``Tri-Regional
Planning Group'' means the binational planning group comprised
of--
(A) the Junta Municipal de Aqua y Saneamiento de
Ciudad Juarez;
(B) the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board;
and
(C) the Lower Rio Grande Water Users Organization.
(10) Water resources research institutes.--The term ``water
resources research institutes'' means the institutes within the
Border States established under section 104 of the Water
Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303).
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation and cooperation with
the Border States, the water resources research institutes, Sandia
National Laboratories, and other appropriate entities in the United
States and Mexico, shall carry out the United States-Mexico
transboundary aquifer assessment program to characterize, map, and
model transboundary groundwater resources along the United States-
Mexico border at a level of detail determined to be appropriate for the
particular aquifer.
(b) Objectives.--The objectives of the program are to--
(1) develop and implement an integrated scientific approach
to assess transboundary groundwater resources, including--
(A)(i) identifying fresh and saline transboundary
aquifers; and
(ii) prioritizing the transboundary aquifers for
further analysis by assessing--
(I) the proximity of the transboundary
aquifer to areas of high population density;
(II) the extent to which the transboundary
aquifer is used;
(III) the susceptibility of the transboundary
aquifer to contamination; and
(IV) any other relevant criteria;
(B) evaluating all available data and publications as
part of the development of study plans for each
priority transboundary aquifer;
(C) creating a new, or enhancing an existing,
geographic information system database to characterize
the spatial and temporal aspects of each priority
transboundary aquifer; and
(D) using field studies, including support for and
expansion of ongoing monitoring and metering efforts,
to develop--
(i) the additional data necessary to
adequately define aquifer characteristics; and
(ii) scientifically sound groundwater flow
models to assist with State and local water
management and administration, including
modeling of relevant groundwater and surface
water interactions;
(2) expand existing agreements, as appropriate, between the
United States Geological Survey, the Border States, the water
resources research institutes, and appropriate authorities in
the United States and Mexico, to--
(A) conduct joint scientific investigations;
(B) archive and share relevant data; and
(C) carry out any other activities consistent with
the program; and
(3) produce scientific products for each priority
transboundary aquifer that--
(A) are capable of being broadly distributed; and
(B) provide the scientific information needed by
water managers and natural resource agencies on both
sides of the United States-Mexico border to effectively
accomplish the missions of the managers and agencies.
(c) Designation of Priority Transboundary Aquifers.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of the program, the Secretary
shall designate as priority transboundary aquifers--
(A) the Hueco Bolson and Mesilla aquifers underlying
parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico; and
(B) the Santa Cruz River Valley aquifers underlying
Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.
(2) Additional aquifers.--The Secretary shall, using the
criteria under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), evaluate and designate
additional priority transboundary aquifers.
(d) Cooperation With Mexico.--To ensure a comprehensive assessment of
transboundary aquifers, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, work with appropriate Federal agencies and other
organizations to develop partnerships with, and receive input from,
relevant organizations in Mexico to carry out the program.
(e) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may provide
grants or enter into cooperative agreements and other agreements with
the water resources research institutes and other Border State entities
to carry out the program.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM.
(a) Coordination With States, Tribes, and Other Entities.--The
Secretary shall coordinate the activities carried out under the program
with--
(1) the appropriate water resource agencies in the Border
States;
(2) any affected Indian tribes; and
(3) any other appropriate entities that are conducting
monitoring and metering activity with respect to a priority
transboundary aquifer.
(b) New Activity.--After the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall not initiate any new field studies or analyses under
the program before consulting with, and coordinating the activity with,
any Border State water resource agencies that have jurisdiction over
the aquifer.
(c) Study Plans; Cost Estimates.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall work closely with
appropriate Border State water resource agencies, water
resources research institutes, and other relevant entities to
develop a study plan, timeline, and cost estimate for each
priority transboundary aquifer to be studied under the program.
(2) Requirements.--A study plan developed under paragraph (1)
shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
(A) integrate existing data collection and analyses
conducted with respect to the priority transboundary
aquifer;
(B) if applicable, improve and strengthen existing
groundwater flow models developed for the priority
transboundary aquifer; and
(C) be consistent with appropriate State guidelines
and goals.
SEC. 6. EFFECT.
Nothing in this Act affects--
(1) the jurisdiction or responsibility of a Border State with
respect to managing surface or groundwater resources in the
Border State; or
(2) the water rights of any person or entity using water from
a transboundary aquifer.
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and
on completion of the program in fiscal year 2014, the Secretary shall
submit to the appropriate water resource agency in the Border States,
an interim and final report, respectively, that describes--
(1) any activities carried out under the program;
(2) any conclusions of the Secretary relating to the status
of transboundary aquifers; and
(3) the level of participation in the program of entities in
Mexico.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2014.
(b) Distribution of Funds.--Of the amounts made available under
subsection (a), 50 percent shall be made available to the water
resources research institutes to provide funding to appropriate
entities in the Border States (including Sandia National Laboratories,
State agencies, universities, the Tri-Regional Planning Group, and
other relevant organizations) and Mexico to conduct activities under
the program, including the binational collection and exchange of
scientific data.
PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE
The purpose of S. 1957 is to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico
and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic
characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority
transboundary aquifers, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
The United States and Mexico share a 2,000 mile-long border
that crosses multiple groundwater basins. Piecemeal assessments
of aquifers have been performed by the U.S. Geological Survey
and other entities over the last 50 years. However, assessments
to date have included relatively little information on the
Mexican side of the border, have not been integrated across
multiple basins around large municipal areas, and have not
included the surface water-groundwater interactions.
Additionally, data collection and numerical analysis techniques
and technology have greatly improved in recent years, resulting
in a good opportunity to develop scientific tools of
significant value to State and local water resource managers.
Accordingly, S. 1957 is intended to address the lack of
binational consensus regarding the source and availability of
future water supplies along the border by establishing a
scientific program to assess priority transboundary aquifers
comprehensively. This assessment should help State and local
water planning efforts and avoid transboundary conflicts,
particularly in rapidly expanding municipal areas along the
border where demands on groundwater quality, a matter of
increasing importance given that a lack of adequate wastewater
treatment infrastructure is responsible for ongoing groundwater
contamination.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 1957 was introduced by Senator Bingaman on November 25,
2003 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources. The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing
on S. 1957 on May 19, 2004. The Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources ordered S. 1957, as amended, favorably reported on
June 16, 2004.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an
open business meeting on June 16, 2004, by unanimous voice vote
of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1957,
if amended as described herein.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
During the consideration of S. 1957, the Committee adopted
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The substitute
amendment addresses concerns raised during the Subcommittee
hearing and in written submissions.
The first change deletes all findings as listed in section
2(a). The second change adds section 4(b)(1)(A)(ii)(IV) which
allows the Secretary to promulgate new scientific criteria for
the assessment of transboundary groundwater resources. The
third change provides for increased State involvement in the
designation and study of priority aquifers. The final change
designates the Santa Cruz River Valley aquifers underlying
Arizona and Sonora, Mexico as priority transboundary aquifers.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 provides the short title, the ``United States-
Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act.''
Section 2 sets forth the purposes of the Act.
Section 3 defines the terms used in the Act.
Section 4 subsection (a) directs the Secretary to carry out
the United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment
program to characterize, map, and model transboundary
groundwater resources along the United States-Mexico border.
Subsection (b) provides that the objectives of the program
are to develop and implement an integrated scientific approach
to assess transboundary groundwater resources.
Subsection (c) designates the Hueco Bolson and Mesilla
aquifers, the Santa Cruz River Valley aquifers as priority
transboundary aquifers and directs the Secretary to designate
additional priority transboundary aquifers using the criteria
under subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii).
Subsection (d) directs the Secretary to work with
appropriate Federal agencies and other organizations to develop
partnerships with, and receive input from relevant
organizations in Mexico to carry out the program.
Subsection (e) provides that the Secretary may provide
grants or enter into cooperative agreements and other
agreements with the water resources institutes and other Border
State entities to carry out the program.
Section 5 subsection (a) directs the Secretary to
coordinate the activities carried out under the program with
the appropriate water resource agencies in the Border States,
any affected Indian tribe, and any other appropriate entities
that are conducting monitoring and metering activity of a
priority transboundary aquifer.
Subsection (b) prohibits the Secretary from initiating new
field studies or analyses until consulting with and
coordinating the activity with any water resource agencies that
have jurisdiction over the aquifer.
Subsection (c) directs the Secretary to work with
appropriate entities to develop a study plan, timeline, and
cost estimate for each priority transboundary aquifer to be
studied under the program. Study plans shall take into
consideration existing data and be consistent with State
guidelines and goals.
Section 6 states that this Act has no effect on the
jurisdiction of a Border State with respect to managing surface
or groundwater resources in the Border State, nor does the Act
affect the water rights of any person or entity.
Section 7 directs the Secretary to submit a report to the
appropriate water resource agency in the Border States that
describes activities carried out under the program, conclusions
of the Secretary on the status of transboundary aquifers, and
the level of participation of the Mexican partners.
Section 8 subsection (a) authorizes $50 million to be
appropriated for the Act for fiscal years 2005 through 2014.
Subsection (b) requires that 50 percent of the funds made
available for the Act shall be distributed to the appropriate
local entities in the Border States and Mexico.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 22, 2004.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1957, the United
States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Robinson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
Enclsoure.
S. 1957--United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act
Summary: S. 1957 would establish a program within the
Department of the Interior to study and assess aquifers (i.e.,
groundwater reserves) that are located under the boundaries of
Mexico and the bordering states of Arizona, California, New
Mexico, and Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would
coordinate the program and would provide grants and technical
assistance to government agencies and other organizations in
Mexico and the four states for projects that address
groundwater issues. The bill would authorize the appropriation
of $50 million over the 2005-2014 period for federal projects,
technical assistance, and grants.
Assuming appropriation of authorized amounts, CBO estimates
that implementing S. 1957 would cost $2 million in fiscal year
2005 and $21 million over the 2005-2009 period. We estimate
that an additional $29 million would be spent after 2009,
including $25 million appropriated between 2010 and 2014.
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 1957 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments. Agencies in the four border states could receive
grant funds if they choose to participate in this program.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 1957 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
------------------------------------------------------
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Level...................................... 5 5 5 5 5
Estimated Outlays........................................ 2 4 5 5 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S.
1957 will be enacted near the end of fiscal year 2004 and that
the $50 million authorized to be appropriated for the proposed
aquifer program will be appropriated evenly over the next 10
years. As provided in the legislation, one-half of each year's
appropriation would be awarded to laboratories, governmental
agencies, universities, and other entities in Mexico or the
four border states. The remaining half would be used by the
USGS to carry out the federal component of the program that
would include program coordination, data integration, and
technical assistance.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1957
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments. Agencies in the four border states could
receive grant funds if they choose to participate in this
program.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller; and
Impact on the Private Sector: Crystal Taylor.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 1957. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant responsibilities on private individuals and
businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 1957.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
On June 16, 2004, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth executive views on S. 1957. These reports had not been
received at the time the report on S. 1957 was filed. When the
reports become available, the Chairman will request that they
be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the
Senate. The testimony provided by the Department of the
Interior at the Subcommittee hearing follows:
Statement of Charles G. Groat, Director, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Madam Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you
for the opportunity to participate in this hearing to discuss
the important role of water in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
and to provide the Administration's views on S. 1957, the
``United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act.''
The Administration supports the provisions of S. 1957, ``The
United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act'',
however, we note that we currently are undertaking some work in
the areas covered by the bill and that no new authorities are
needed. The program authorized in this bill would need to
compete among the Survey's other priorities for funding.
BACKGROUND
The international border region of the United States and
Mexico (border region) has, during the past decade, experienced
significant economic expansion accompanied by rapid population
growth and urban development. The removal of international
trade barriers quickly transformed the region's several small
to mid-size cities into some of the fastest growing population
centers in both countries. As a result, the people residing on
both sides of the border now face numerous complex social,
political, economic, infrastructure, public health, natural
resource, and environmental-quality challenges. Along the
entire length of the mostly arid international border region,
perhaps the greatest challenge is how to effectively address
the need for safe, sustainable supplies of good quality water
for public, industrial, and agricultural uses, while
maintaining a delicate balance with the needs of a very fragile
natural-resource system.
The limited surface-water supplies along the border have
been allocated for several decades under international treaties
and domestic laws. However, allocation of ground water in the
border region is poorly regulated because little is known about
its availability, sustainability, and quality; about how ground
water interacts with surface-water bodies; and about the
susceptibility of ground water to contamination. Ground water
also is an important source of life-sustaining base flow to
many streams and essential for maintaining critical aquatic
habitats.
Ground-water pumping has lowered the water table, depleted
aquifers, and reduced the base flow of many streams thus
decreasing the quantity of water available to support critical
riparian habitats. Excessive ground-water pumping in some major
urban centers, such as in the El Paso/Juarez metropolitan
region, has caused land subsidence that has damaged homes and
essential urban infrastructure. In addition to the effects of
ground- and surface-water depletion, degradation of water
quality has reduced habitat suitability for the region's
diverse biota. The problems associated with limited water
quantity and competing uses of water also have resulted in
impaired and degraded water quality and serious issues related
to human health on both sides of the border. Water quantity and
quality will most likely be the determining and limiting
factors that ultimately control future economic development,
population growth, and human health along the United States-
Mexico border.
S. 1957
S. 1957 directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish
a United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program
to systematically assess priority transboundary aquifers and
provide the scientific foundation necessary for State and local
officials to address pressing water resource challenges in the
border region. The bill further directs the Secretary of the
Interior to implement this program in cooperation with the
Border states as well as with other appropriate entities,
including affected Indian tribes.
The proposed, collaborative scientific investigations and
research efforts would address critical water supply,
environmental, and natural-resource issues in the border
region, and contribute to an improved understanding of the
relations between the border region's many water, natural-
resource, biological, and human-health related issues. We agree
that a multi-discipline, binational, scientific approach is
needed to address these complex, interrelated transboundary
issues. Additionally, these studies would develop and document
the tools, scientific methodologies, and procedures for
collecting and integrating hydrologic, geologic, biologic, and
other spatial data into a binational geographic information
system for analysis and modeling applications.
S. 1957 objectives include expanding existing agreements
between the USGS, Border states, State Water Resources Research
Institutes, and appropriate authorities in the United States
and Mexico to conduct joint investigations; document, manage,
and share data; and carry out the necessary binational work
efforts. Such collaboration would produce timely, widely
accepted scientific products and understanding of each priority
binational aquifer that is needed by water and natural-resource
managers to effectively accomplish their missions.
The role identified for the Department of the Interior in
this bill is consistent with the USGS leadership role in
monitoring, interpretation, research, and assessment of the
health and status of the water and biological resources of the
Nation. As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological
science, and civilian mapping agency, the USGS provides the
largest single non-regulatory hydrologic investigative and
research capability in the Nation.
This proposed scientific collaboration by Federal, State,
Tribal, and academic institutions touches on many of the
interdisciplinary core competencies of the USGS. At its heart,
the proposed collaboration would effectively capitalize on the
collective scientific capability and resources of the
partnering institutions. The integration of this relevant
science would address the most pressing and complex natural
resource and environmental problems in these very fragile
landscapes and complex ecosystems.
The USGS has been active in a number of relevant programs
and investigations in the arid southwest and hence has a
working knowledge of proven methods and innovative technologies
for effectively characterizing, monitoring, and mapping the
border region's ground-water resources. We believe we have the
authority to implement the activities called for in the bill
and would continue to provide resources to address the goals of
S. 1957, provided these activities successfully compete against
other USGS priorities. In FY 2004, roughly $500,000 will be
spent on such on-the-ground activities by USGS. The President's
FY 2005 Budget sustains this funding level. USGS scientists
working from offices in each of the four Border states activity
participate in these programs and investigations, and are
called upon by the States and border communities to provide
essential technical insight and understanding for solving
critical water supply and natural-resource problems. Our
scientists serve on a large number of relevant committees, task
forces, and advisory groups in the border region. Regional
coordination and communication of USGS programs and activities
along the international border is further enhanced internally
through our Border Strategy Team as well as within the
Department of the Interior as a result of our active
participation on the U.S.-Mexico Field Coordination Committee.
Talking with our partners in the Border states and
communities, in the other Interior Bureaus, and other Federal
agencies, as well as with scientists and government officials
in Mexico, it is widely acknowledged that the lack of a
standardized, binational database on the availability, use, and
quality of the transboundary ground-water resources is perhaps
the most significant impediment in addressing the Border
region's numerous complex water-supply and natural-resource
challenges. The lack of basic inventory and monitoring
information pertaining to border water resources and water-
dependent environments prevents a comprehensive understanding
of watershed and regional processes and issues, and hinders the
ability of science to provide the essential predictive
capability to characterize or describe potential cause and
effect relations associated with alternative land and water use
and management actions.
The program and investigations called for in this bill
would support the development and maintenance of such a
standardized, binational hydrologic database and associated
data analysis tools. Early into the program, it would be
essential that binational consensus be reached on common
investigative approaches, common field data collection
protocols, laboratory methodologies, and data management,
documentation, and reporting systems. Once these technical
issues are resolved, it would be much easier to streamline the
treaty requirements related to the review and public release of
impartial, transboundary investigations having limited scope.
Obtaining this consensus for the entire Border region would
greatly enhance transboundary scientific collaboration in the
future.
SUMMARY
The proposed investigations and pertinent research efforts
authorized by S. 1957 would address critical water,
environmental, and health issues in the Border region and
contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the
relations between the region's many water, natural-resource,
biological, and health related issues. It is important that a
binational, multi-discipline scientific approach be taken to
address these interrelated issues. Additionally, these
binational studies would develop and document the tools,
methodologies, and procedures to collect and integrate
hydrologic, biologic, and other spatial data into a geographic
information system for analysis and modeling applications.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to present
this testimony. I will be pleased to answer questions you and
other Members of the Subcommittee might have.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 1957, as
ordered reported.