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<br />\674 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />BITTERNESS BETWEEN THE WESTERN STATES AND THE ADMINISTRATION. <br /> <br />THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE RECLAMATION ACT OF 1902 HAS BEEN <br />EFFECTIVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARID AND SEMI-ARID AREAS OF THIS <br />COUNTRY AND THAT IT LAUNCHED A MUCH-NEEDED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PRO- <br />GRAM. IT IS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS <br />HAVE CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE PAST 76 YEARS AND THAT THE RE- <br />CLAMATION ACT MUST BE MODIFIED. A GREAT NUMBER OF BILLS HAVE BEEN <br />PROPOSED IN THE CONGRESS WITH VARIOUS SPONSORS AND IT IS MY UNDER- <br />STANDING THAT THE NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION WORKING WITH <br />THE FARM/WATER ALLIANCE HAS DRAFTED AND WORKED FOR THE PASSAGE OF <br />S. 2818 AND H.R. 13350. <br /> <br />THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, HEADED BY SECRETARY ANDRUS, HAS <br />VOICED DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FARM/WATER ALLIANCE BILL AND GIVEN THE <br />ADMINISTRATION'S SUPPORT TO H.R. 13473. <br /> <br />I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR CANNOT OR <br />WILL NOT MEET IN WORKING SESSION WITH FARMERS THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE <br />ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FARM/WATER ALLIANCE AND WORK OUT AN EQUITABLE <br />SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF REVISING THE RECLAMATION ACT. THE AD- <br />MINISTRATION'S APPROACH OF PROVOKING A PROBLEM BY THREAT OF NEW <br />GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION FOLLOWED BY CONFRONTATION IN THE CONGRESS <br />IS CONTERPRODUCTIVE AND UNEXCUSABLE. <br /> <br />THE OBJECTIVES OF THE RECLAMATION ACT OF 1902 TO PROMOTE THE <br />DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION'S ARID AND SEMI-ARID LANDS, TO PROVIDE <br />OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GROWTH OF ECONOMICAL FAMILY FARMS AND TO HARNESS <br />THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE VALID TODAY AND <br />SHOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE PROPOSALS TO REVISE THE ACT. <br />RECOGNITION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE INEQUITY OF PRESENT ACREAGE LIMITA- <br />TIONS AND PROVISION MADE TO INCREASE THE ACREAGE THAT CAN BE HELD BY <br />AN INDIVIDUAL FARMER, A FARM FAMILY AND A CONSORTIUM OF FARMERS. A <br />WAY MUST BE FOUND TO MODIFY ACREAGE LIMITATIONS IN CONSIDERATION OF <br />DIFFERENCES IN SOIL, CLIMATIC AND OTHER FACTORS EFFECTING PRODUCTION. <br /> <br />THE ARBITRARY APPLICATION OF A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT SPECIFYING <br />A MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM THE HOME OF THE LANDOWNER TO THE FARM QUALIFYING <br />FOR RECLAMATION PROJECT WATER IS NEITHER FAIR NOR WORKABLE. RATHER, <br />A FAIR ACREAGE LIMITATION AND RESTRICTIONS ON LEASING CAN SERVE TO <br />LIMIT ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP AND PROMOTE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FARM BY <br />LANDOWNER. <br /> <br />THE NATIONAL WATER POLICY ADVANCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, THE <br />INCREASED ACTIONS BY MANY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO EXPAND REGULATORY <br />ACTIVITIES OVER WATER RESOURCES AND THE INFLEXIBLE ATTITUDE DISPLAYED <br />~Y THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ON THE REVISION OF THE RECLAMATION ACT <br />OF 1902 REFLECTS A DOUBT THAT GROWTH, HISTORICALLY THE FUEL TO THE <br />DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NATION, IS GOOD. THE GOVERNMENT IS IGNORING THE <br />REALITY THAT FAILURE TO CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATIONAL <br />RESOURCES PRECEDES A NO-GROWTH ECONOMY WHICH COULD KILL THE PROMISE <br />OF UPWARD MOBILITY. NO GROWTH OR NO DEVELOPMENT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO <br />CERTAIN CliASSESOF PEOPLE BUT IT WOULD CONDEMN THE POOR AND JOBLESS TO <br /> <br />- ~ - <br />