Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

Floor Speech

OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - March 11, 2009)

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Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, allow me to speak in support of Senate bill 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, within which are 30 separate authorizations for the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey.

The 30 bills include and highlight the changing Western water environment. The bill authorizes conservation, water-use efficiencies, water recycling projects, addresses aging infrastructure issues, and allows for the feasibility study of many much-needed water projects.

Our Subcommittee on Water and Power heard most of these bills. Some were Senate bills, and were approved by unanimously by both sides. Seven California title XVI water recycling authorizations and two groundwater recharge authorizations are included in this bill. When completed, these projects will produce 500,000 acre-feet of reclaimed reuse water and added storage capacity. There are many areas of drought in the western States, including in my home State of California, which is now facing its third unprecedented drought year. Title XVI projects would allow for communities to expand their local water resources and lessen their reliance on unreliable imported water supplies.

Finally, this legislation will ratify two tribal water right settlements in Nevada and New Mexico and set a funding mechanism for many other settlements across the West. Most importantly, S. 22 will resolve many years of litigation and bring ``peace in the valley'' through a sustainable water supply for tribal and nontribal communities.

I might add this was on a bipartisan basis out of my committee at all times.

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