[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   WATER SHORTAGES AND CONTAMINATION

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, August 11, 1994

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, many areas in the United 
States and around the world have water problems that will never be 
solved simply by building dams and destroying more natural river 
systems. There are many locations where we can use new advances in 
technology to help solve problems of water shortages and contamination. 
Some examples are:
  The continuing drought in California and elsewhere in the West; 
contaminated surface groundwater supplies; over-appropriated surface 
water supplies; and limited sites and environmental problems associated 
with new storage reservoirs.
  Just a few years ago, the United States was a world leader in 
developing desalination technology and putting that technology to work 
where it was needed. Unfortunately, programs to sponsor critical 
research and development of desalination technologies were stifled and 
cut back or eliminated over the last 14 years.
  Budget cuts since 1981 have all but eliminated funds for desalination 
research.
  No program exists now to provide Federal assistance when it is needed 
to build desalting plants.
  Legislation I am introducing today will address these pressing water 
resource needs by allowing the United States to more actively pursue 
desalination technologies. This legislation will:
  Renew U.S. leadership in desalination research and development; 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies to determine 
the best and most economical processes for converting saline water into 
water suitable for beneficial uses; and authorize demonstration 
projects and construction of facilities for desalination, in 
cooperation with Federal, State, and local governments and the private 
sector.
  I welcome the views of my colleagues and experts in this field as we 
consider this legislation.

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