AZ vs. CA:14 California Exhibits, Vol. XIV; Nos. 2051-2100

page 37

-37- empowered to act under said sections, and shall be entitled to have copies of said records on request. Sec. 17. Claims of the United States arising out of any contract authorised by this Act shall have priority over all others, secured or unsecured. Sec. 18. Nothing herein shall be construed as interfering with such rights as the States now have either to the waters within their borders or to adopt such policies and enact such laws as they may deem necessary with respect to the appropriation, control, and use of waters within their borders, except as modified by the Colorado River compact or other interstate agreement. Sec. 19. That the consent of Congress is hereby given to the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming to negotiate and enter into compacts or agreements, supplemental to and in conformity with the Colorado River compact and consistent with this Act for a comprehensive plan for the development of the Colorado River and providing for the storage, diversion, and use of the waters of said river. Any such compact or agreement may provide for the construction of dams, headworks, and other diversion works or structures for flood control, reclamation, improvement of navigation, division of water, or other purposes and/or the construction of power houses or other structures for the purpose of the development of water power and the financing of the same; and for such purposes may authorize the creation of interstate commissions and/or the creation of corporations, authorities, or other instrumentalities. (a) Such consent is given upon condition that a representative of the United States, to be appointed by the President, shall participate in the negotiations and shall