[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8230-H8231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECLAMATION PROJECTS AUTHORIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1992 AMENDMENT
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1284) to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and
Adjustment Act of 1992 to increase the Federal share of the costs of
the San Gabriel Basin demonstration project.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1284
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. INCREASE IN FEDERAL SHARE OF SAN GABRIEL BASIN
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
Section 1631(d)(2) of the Reclamation Projects
Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 390h-13)
is amended--
(1) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting ``(A) Subject
to subparagraph (B), in the case''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) In the case of the San Gabriel Basin demonstration
project authorized by section 1614, the Federal share of the
cost of such project may not exceed the sum determined by
adding--
``(i) the amount that applies to that project under
subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) $12,500,000.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs.
Napolitano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1284, introduced by my colleague and friend, the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), increases the authorized
Federal cost ceilings for the San Gabriel Basin demonstration project
by $12.5 million. Local project sponsors have expressed a desire to
expand the demonstration program, which treats contaminated groundwater
and then delivers the effluent to nearby localities to justify the
Federal cost ceiling increase.
This bill will help lessen Southern California's dependence on
foreign water and project groundwater quality. It is a good bill. I
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank my colleague and friend, the chairman
of the subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Chairman Calvert),
on this issue, because this is an important issue for the Southern
California area.
I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 1284, to increase the
spending cap imposed on the San Gabriel Basin demonstration project. I
want to thank my colleagues on the other side, the gentleman from
California (Chairman Dreier), the gentleman from California (Chairman
Calvert), and the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), for their
continued assistance to me and other Members who are also working to
ensure a clean and reliable water supply for their communities.
May I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis), who
could not be here to speak to her support on this issue, as two of her
cities we are proposing are in her district.
H.R. 1284, if enacted, would simply allow the cities of Industry, El
Monte and South El Monte, located and adjacent to my district in
Southeast Los Angeles County, to have the ability to request an
additional $12.5 million in funding for assistance from the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation for cleanup of volatile organic compounds, otherwise
known as DOCs, once they are able to secure their 75 percent matching
funds.
Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing
on the bill, and witnesses representing the local municipalities and
water agencies from the San Gabriel Valley, home to
[[Page H8231]]
approximately 1.7 million residents, clearly established that there is
a clear and compelling need to extend the funding for this very
successful program.
This is part of the San Gabriel Basin, home to one of the country's
largest Superfund sites, spanning 170 square miles. It has been
contaminated by a number of substances over the past 5 decades as a
result of manufacturing and agriculture activities and other components
that we are now finding, such as perchloric, affecting our drinking
water supply.
Unfortunately, the funding level for this critical basin program was
capped at $38 million in 1996, before these three communities were able
to establish their case to Congress. This is all part and parcel of
that Superfund site cleanup.
A majority of the unfunded projects to date are in the southern part
of the basin, and that includes these three cities of Industry, El
Monte, and South El Monte. These projects are conjunctive-use projects
and could be funded under the existing Bureau of Reclamation's
demonstration project only if the 1996 budget cap is raised.
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), the
gentleman from California (Chairman Calvert), and every California
delegation member who serves on the House Committee on Resources
understands the need for California to live up to our agreement with
the other Colorado River Basin States and ultimately take no more than
4.4 million acre feet of water from the Colorado River per year.
Continuing effective aquifer cleanup activities, which H.R. 1284
allows, combined with water conservation, recycling, desalination,
above and underground storage, will allow the State of California to
meet the commitment to the 4.4 plan by the year 2016.
I would also like to express my most sincere appreciation to the
ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), and the
former ranking member of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from
California (Mr. George Miller), for their continued support for the
Bureau's title 16 water reclamation and recycling projects.
I certainly urge my colleagues to pass this issue. It is an important
issue for all of California and the rest of the Nation.
Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1284, which amends
the San Gabriel Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act
of 1992. This bill will increase the Federal cost share for the San
Gabriel Basin groundwater cleanup project.
During the project's onset in 1992, the Federal Government was
authorized to pay 2.5 percent of the cost of projects to cleanup local
water supplies. In 1996 the funding level for the program was capped at
$38 million, funding only a portion of the projects that had been
designed. As a result of the cap, projects in the southern portion of
the basin were not funded, including the El Monte Operable Unit and the
South El Monte Operable Unit in my district. Since the cap was put in
place, the Southern Operable Units have been working with EPA to
develop groundwater cleanup plans. Now, we need money to make the
cleanup happen.
Cleanup literally means the difference between healthy and unhealthy
families. This area is contaminated with perchlorate, trichloroethene
and other chlorinated solvents known as ``volatile organic compounds''
or VOCs. Each of these contaminants can cause serious health
complications. Perchlorate increases chances of cancer and can induce
thyroid problems. Trichloroethene has been shown to make people more
susceptible to lung and liver tumors. VOCs are harmful to the central
nervous system, the kidneys and the liver and can cause a higher risk
of cancer, especially leukemia.
The pollution that these communities have sustained has not only
impacted their health and environment, but also their economy.
Unemployment in the area is as high as 10 percent in some areas.
According to the U.S. Census, 26 percent of the residents live in
poverty. It has been difficult to attract businesses and jobs to the
area. One of the factors preventing those businesses and jobs from
coming to the area is the pollution.
When the cap was put in place, these areas lost the chance to access
Federal funds to clean up their environment, protect their health and
help their economy. Now we have the opportunity to make a difference in
this region by helping them accomplish these much-needed goals. I urge
adoption of this legislation and yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1284,
a bill that amends the Reclamation Projects Authorization and
Adjustment Act of 1992 to increase the Federal share of the cost of the
San Gabriel Basin demonstration project.
The San Gabriel Basin Demonstration Project was originally authorized
in 1992 under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI program. This
initiated the Federal-local partnership for this project, which is an
integral component in cleaning up the San Gabriel Valley's drinking
water supply.
The San Gabriel Demonstration Project is unique among the projects
authorized by Title XVI in that it does not focus on water reclamation
or reuse. Rather, the project will remove harmful contaminants,
including volatile organic compounds, for the San Gabriel Valley
Superfund site in order to provide the Valley with a safe supply of
drinking water. The project further involves monitoring of water wells,
construction of treatment facilities, and development of systems to
convey, pump, and store water.
H.R. 1284, championed by my good friend, neighbor, and colleague,
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, recognizes the critical funding needs
for this project's sustainability and success. By increasing the
ceiling of this authorization by $12.5 million, the Federal
Government's commitment to safe drinking water supply in our region
will continue.
I commend Chairman Ken Calvert and his Subcommittee on Water and
Power for moving this bill through the committee process, and urge my
colleagues to vote for this measure.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1284.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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