I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4225 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 8, 2009 Mr. Costa (for himself and Mr. Cardoza) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize drought assistance adjustments to provide immediate funding for projects and activities that will help alleviate record unemployment and diminished agricultural production related to the drought in California.

1.

Drought assistance authority

(a)

Authorization

The Secretary of the Interior may use funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or appropriation measures through fiscal year 2012 for any required non-Federal share of the cost of projects that— (1)are funded by the Federal Government for the same purpose; (2)are located in an area described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b); and (3)have— (A)been identified as a project that will— (i)make progress towards achieving the co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem; (ii)increase water management flexibility; or (iii)reduce impacts on environmental resources from projects operated by the California State Department of Water Resources, the California State Department of Fish and Game, the Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or other relevant State and Federal agencies; (B)show potential, as determined by relevant Federal and State agencies, to restore agriculture production or agricultural employment for an area described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b); and (C)made significant progress in the completion of any necessary environmental or public review if applicable. (b)

Eligible areas

An area referred to in subsection (a)(2) is any area that— (1)has been identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as experiencing Severe, Extreme, or Exceptional Drought within the 24 months prior to the date of the enactment of this Act; or (2)has been designated as a disaster area by the State of California during calendar year 2009. (c)

Drought Assistance Adjustment

(1)

In general

The use of funds for the non-Federal share of projects as authorized in this section shall be considered a Drought Assistance Adjustment. (2)

Criteria for calculating drought assistance adjustments

The Secretary shall, within 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish criteria for calculating drought assistance adjustments utilizing existing practices for adjustments in water service and repayment rates.