[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E12]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PASS 21ST CENTURY WATER COMMISSION ACT

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                            HON. JOHN LINDER

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, over the past year, major newspapers 
reported almost daily on water problems, as over half of the United 
States experienced drought conditions. Rivers and wells dried up, 
aquifers were challenged by saltwater intrusion, and fish, wildlife, 
and crops were threatened. In many states, the droughts continue today, 
with no relief in sight. Even without the problems caused by drought, 
projected population growth for the United States indicates that water 
demand will continue to increase in coming years. It is critical that 
states across the nation find ways to store more fresh water to meet 
growing needs.
  Water resources managers will be faced with unavoidable, life-
threatening challenges in the 21st century, and we must prepare for 
these challenges now through extensive research and coordination of 
objectives among all levels of water management--federal, state, local, 
and the private sector. I am introducing a bill today to begin this 
process.
  My bill would create the ``21st Century Water Commission'' to 
recommend strategies for meeting 21st century water challenges. The 
commission, composed of seven members appointed by the President, is 
charged with assessing future water supply and demand, evaluating 
federal water programs and the coordination of federal agencies, and 
researching contemporary technologies for increasing fresh water 
resources. The commission would also make recommendations for 
conserving fresh water, storing excess water for use in times of 
drought, and repairing aging, leaky infrastructures.
  The legislation I am introducing today is designed to bring our 
nation's premier water experts and managers together to the discussion 
table to share their ideas for the future. This bill is in no way 
intended to federalize our nation's water policies; it should create a 
resource and a research engine to enable local communities to better 
solve their water problems.
  In John Steinbeck's novel, East of Eden, the narrator observes, ``It 
never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich 
years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry years. 
It was always that way.'' I have been told over and over again that the 
United States only reevaluates its water policies when a crisis hits. 
But failure to plan for future water shortages is a recipe for 
disaster. We must begin now to advance the science and knowledge that 
will be necessary to deal with 21st century water challenges.
  Last March, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman expressed that, 
``Water is going to be the biggest environmental issue that we face in 
the 21st century, in terms of both quantity and quality.'' I couldn't 
agree more. Mr. Speaker, we must begin working today to meet this 
challenge, by passing the ``21st Century Water Commission Act.''




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