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- The U.S. House passed bills by Utah Reps. John Curtis and Celeste Maloy on Tuesday.
- Curtis' bills address Colorado River salinity and critical minerals in health care, while Maloy's focus on federal land for Utah parks and federal courts in southern Utah.
- The bills require Senate approval and presidential signature to become law.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House approved several bills sponsored by Utah Reps. John Curtis and Celeste Maloy that address environmental and judiciary issues important to the state of Utah.
Congress convened Tuesday morning after the Thanksgiving holiday with only 12 working days on the legislative calendar before the end of the lawmaking term.
Several of Curtis' colleagues bid farewell to the congressman, who will move to serve in the U.S. Senate starting in January, during presentations of his two bills Tuesday afternoon.
"While we will miss him on our committee next year, I know we will continue to find ways to work with him in his new role down at the other end of the Capitol," said Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The four bills passed by Curtis and Maloy still need to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president before they become law. Here is what each would do:
Colorado River salinity
Congress approved the Colorado River Salinity Control Program in 1974 to manage the salinity of water in the river as a result of saline rock formations that discharged salt into the water. Curtis introduced the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act earlier this year, which he said fixes an "imbalance" in the federal Lower Basin Fund that supports salinity controls.
"High salinity levels in the Colorado River have far-reaching consequences," Curtis said on the House floor Tuesday. "They threaten the beauty and integrity of Utah's national parks, impact our ranchers and farmers, and jeopardize drinking water for millions of Americans."
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, said the original program has been effective but drought has limited hydropower production and "in turn, the funds made available for salinity control programs."
"This bill before us today prompts us to once again take action to preserve the water quality in the Colorado River," she said. "We must ensure that the Colorado River's clean, fresh water does not become ruined by our inaction."
"I'm grateful for the bipartisan support for this legislation and for the dedicated work of my colleagues, including Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado," Curtis added in a statement.
Critical minerals for health care
Curtis passed another bill Tuesday, the Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act, which directs the U.S. interior secretary to consult with the secretary of Health and Human Services when designating critical minerals. Critical minerals, defined by U.S. code, are those deemed "essential to the economic or national security of the United States," with supply chains that are "vulnerable to disruption" and which "serve an essential function in the manufacturing of a product" which are important to the economic and national security of the U.S.
The interior secretary is already required to consult with the heads of several departments — Defense, Commerce, Agriculture and Energy — and Curtis' bill would add the Department of Health and Human Services to that list. He noted that medical equipment and procedures often rely on such minerals and said not having health leaders involved presents a "critical gap."
"By ensuring the health care implications of critical mineral decisions are fully considered, this legislation will help safeguard public health and our medical infrastructure," he said. "Whether it's helium or other minerals essential to producing lifesaving medical devices, we must ensure that our decision-making process reflects the needs of the health care system."
Federal land for state parks
Maloy, who was recently elected to her first full term in Congress, celebrated the passage of her Utah State Parks Adjustment Act, which would give several small parcels of federal land to the state of Utah. Those parcels are in and around Antelope Island State Park, Wasatch Mountain State Park and Fremont Indian State Park and would be transferred to the state for inclusion in the state parks.
"Utah State Parks, managed by Utahns with a deep knowledge of the land, are well cared for and maintained. However, having federal lands interspersed throughout these parks has made effective management more challenging," Maloy said. "I'm pleased to see the House pass the Utah State Parks Adjustment Act, returning these land parcels to state control."
Utah Sen. Mike Lee has introduced a companion piece of legislation in the Senate and called the House passage of the bill "an encouraging win for all Utahns and (it) demonstrates what we can accomplish when local voices are at the forefront."
Federal courts in southern Utah
Maloy and Curtis worked together on another bill, HR8666, which would allow federal court hearings to be held in Moab and Monticello. Utah has existing federal courts in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Provo and St. George, but Maloy said southeastern Utah residents are often excused from jury duty because of the long distance to the nearest court.
"Without this bill authorizing court proceedings in Moab and Monticello, southeastern Utahns must drive several hours to appear before a federal judge or serve jury duty," she said. "I'm glad the House passed this bill allowing the Central Division of the District of Utah to hold court in these rural areas, which would save Utahns time and money."
Maloy introduced the bill in June and Curtis signed on as a co-sponsor.
"With this bill's passage, we can ensure that rural Utahns have fair opportunities for a speedy trial and can fulfill their civic duties without undue burden," Curtis said.
