The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PROPERTY PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR POWER MARKETING ADMINISTRATIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7150 on Oct. 23, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROPERTY PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR POWER MARKETING ADMINISTRATIONS
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2924) to provide authority to the Federal Power Marketing Administrations to reduce vandalism and destruction of property, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2924
SECTION 1. PROPERTY PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR POWER MARKETING
ADMINISTRATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Administrators of the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Southeastern Power Administration may each carry out programs to reduce vandalism, theft, and destruction of property that is under their jurisdiction.
(b) Provision of Rewards.--In carrying out a program under this section, each Administrator referred to in subsection
(a) is authorized to provide rewards (including cash rewards) to individuals who provide information or evidence leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals causing damage to, or loss of, Federal property under their jurisdiction. The amount of any one such reward paid to any individual may not exceed a value of $1,000.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Power Marketing Administration's Western Area Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, and Southeastern Power Administration are responsible for maintaining and operating over 18,000 miles of high-voltage electrical transmission lines, providing an important contribution to the movement of electrical power across our country. They also have hundreds of substations and communications sites, most located in remote areas. These facilities have been subjected to increased incidents of vandalism.
This bill would give the agencies authority to curb this threat to Federal property and our Nation's power infrastructure by vesting them with the authority to pay rewards to individuals that offer information leading to prosecution of vandals. These rewards would be limited to
$1,000 each and would be paid out of existing appropriations.
The Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration already have such authority. Bonneville estimates that they save $800,000 annually by successfully applying this program to protect Federal property. The Department of Energy has asked that we extend this authority to the other power marketing administrations, and I urge my colleagues to do so by adopting this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2924 would authorize the administrators of the Western Area and Southeastern and Southwestern Power Administrations to carry out reward programs to reduce vandalism and theft at their facilities. The bill would authorize agencies to offer up to $1,000 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals charged with vandalism and/or theft at the three power market administrations. The Bonneville Power Administration has similar authority and its rewards program has helped reduce crime.
Mr. Speaker, the administration supports H.R. 2924. It is a worthwhile bill. I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I certainly urge the passage of the legislation. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2924, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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