[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WATER DESALINATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 4792 to 
reauthorize funding for the Water Desalination Act of 1996. The Act has 
promoted and funded research to reduce treatment costs of previously 
unusable water sources such as brackish groundwater and coastal waters. 
These projects have proved to be valuable investments in helping to 
meet our Nation's future water needs.
  Clean water is essential for the health of all Americans. It is 
needed for drinking water and to satisfy the needs of agriculture and 
industry throughout the country. As our population continues to grow, 
so will our need for water. As conventional water supplies become over 
used, we will need to look at new resources such as sea water to 
supplement our supply. It is imperative that we do so now and be 
prepared for the future.
  In addition, our nation's drinking water supplies are subject to 
contamination from pollution from automobile emissions and septic 
tanks. New technologies being studied and developed under research 
funded by the Act would remove these contaminants so that once polluted 
water can be safely used.
  The reauthorization of the Water Desalination Act will enable us to 
continue working toward securing a clean and safe water supply for our 
nation's future. I urge my colleagues to support and pass this much 
needed piece of legislation.
  H.R. 4792, is printed below with original cosponsors.

                107th Congress, 2d Session, May 22, 2002

  Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the following sponsors are hereby added to:
(1) Ken Calvert
(2) Silvestre Reyes
(3) Lucille Roybal-Allard
(4) Susan Davis
(5) Robert Underwood
(6) Duncan Hunter
(7) Jim McGovern
(8) Bob Filner
(9) Dana Rohrabacher
(10) Grace Napolitano
(11) Karen Thurman
(12) Hilda Solis
(13) Juanita Millender-McDonald
Member Signature: Steve Horn

                               H.R. 4792

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 8 of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 
     3622, 3624; P.L. 104-298; 42 U.S.C. 10301 note) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) Section 3.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out section 3 of this Act $5,000,000 per year for 
     fiscal years 2003-2008. Of these amounts, up to $1,000,000 in 
     each fiscal year may be awarded to institutions of higher 
     education, including United States-Mexico binational research 
     foundations and interuniversity research programs established 
     by the two countries, for research grants without any cost-
     sharing requirement.
       ``(b) Section 4.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out section 4 of this Act $25,000,000 for fiscal 
     years 2003 through 2008.''.

     

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