Water Supply, Reliability, and Environmental Improvement Act

WATER SUPPLY, RELIABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ACT -- (House of Representatives - October 06, 2004)

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Mrs. TAUSCHER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to have the opportunity to vote in support of reasonable and responsible CALFED legislation. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), and especially the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) for their leadership and especially the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for acceding to the Senate language.

As I said when the House first considered this legislation this summer, it is well past time that the State of California and the Federal Government get to work in active partnership to restore the delta's ecosystem and meet our State's growing water needs.

For too many years, Mr. Speaker, because agreement was not reached, California lost tens of millions of dollars which could have been used to begin work on these vitally important projects. In fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, zero was appropriated for the CALFED projects. We could not allow this to continue. And so I am glad today we are considering the Senate version of this measure, ushered through by the hard work of our senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein.

This bill preserves the existing record of decision, strips the divisive preauthorization language, and best balances the vital water interests in our region. Fortunately, today's legislation will make new water projects subject to the critical public review and public participation process which the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and I have been fighting for, which will secure the integrity of the CALFED program into the future.

Under an open process and through this renewed Federal-State partnership, we can begin to address issues of water supply restoration, ecosystem restoration, and water-quality enhancement so vital to the future of California. As the sixth largest economy in the world, as home to some of the world's most unique, yet endangered, species and ecosystems, and as a major key to the economic strength of our Nation, it is critical that we endeavor to address our State's aging water infrastructure and diminishing resources. The CALFED program will allow us to do so. I am pleased to join my California colleagues in supporting it. I urge a "yes" vote.