[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 166 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11180-H11181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS, WATER RECYCLING
AND REUSE PROJECT
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1732) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in the Williamson County, Texas, Water Recycling and Reuse
Project, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1732
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROJECT AUTHORIZATION.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Williamson County Water Recycling Act of 2003''.
(b) In General.--The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act (Title XVI of Public Law 102-575; 43
U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
1635 the following new section:
``SEC. 1636. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS, WATER RECYCLING AND
REUSE PROJECT.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with
the Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas, is authorized to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of
permanent facilities to reclaim and reuse water in Williamson
County, Texas.
``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the costs of the
project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25
percent of the total cost.
``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds
for the operation and maintenance of the project described in
subsection (a).''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 2
of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act
of 1992 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1635 the following:
``Sec. 1636. Williamson County, Texas, Water Recycling and Reuse
Project.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs.
Napolitano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).
General Leave
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
[[Page H11181]]
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1732, offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Carter) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards), authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning and
construction of facilities to reclaim and reuse water in Williamson
County, Texas. Williamson County is one of the fastest growing counties
in the State of Texas. The Texas Water Development Board has concluded
that existing water wells are being overdrawn, and surface water
supplies are not meeting current drinking water demands. This bill will
allow the communities to stretch potable water resources by replacing
drinking water with recycled water on parks, golf courses and school
grounds.
This bill is a commonsense solution for communities that want to
safeguard drinking water supplies for future generations. I urge my
colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. NAPOLITANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1732. This
bill provides the Secretary of the Interior with authority to help
finance a water recycling project to serve residents of Williamson
County, Texas. As my colleagues know, these water recycling projects
are becoming not only increasingly popular but necessary with
communities who need reliable and cost-effective ways to firm up their
community clean water supplies. It is unfortunate, however, that this
administration refuses to understand and fund the potential of these
projects. We will continue to press the administration to support these
projects.
H.R. 1732 is not controversial. I urge support for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support H.R. 1732 which authorizes
the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Williamson County,
Texas, water recycling and reuse project. I am proud to represent
Williamson County, or most of it, and I have been living there for over
30 years. During this time, I have witnessed Williamson County become
one of the fastest growing communities in the entire Nation and it has
been consistently the fastest growing county for over a decade. I have
observed the needs of this county because it has a limited supply of
water. Today some would say that water has replaced oil as the
commodity most important to the future of Texas. Unfortunately, current
water supplies will simply not meet the growing needs of Williamson
County and that community.
To meet this need, I introduced H.R. 1732 to allow the Lower Colorado
River Authority, the Brazos River Authority and local communities to
work with the Bureau of Reclamation to design, build and construct
permanent facilities to reclaim and reuse water in Williamson County.
This partnership will be an essential part of the county's water
planning efforts.
In short, this legislation will ensure current and future sources of
drinking water are made available for the residents of Williamson
County. I am excited about this partnership and believe it is a great
example of Federal and local agencies working together to make a
positive difference.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Pombo), the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and their staffs
for their efforts in having this legislation brought to the floor in a
timely manner. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Edwards), my neighbor to the north, for joining me in this effort. I
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I am very happy to hear the remarks of my colleagues. Water reuse,
water recycling has been a very, very critical project and favorite
subject of mine. Having been born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, I
understand a lot of the Texas issues with the drought along the border
that is creating havoc with farming and the economy thereof. I hope
that we can continue to address and include funding to be able to
expand not only to those areas that are in critical need but also those
areas that can be used.
We have no new water in this world. It is all the same water that
Mother Earth is recycling for us and we are helping recycle. We just
trust that we can convince the administration of its need and begin
doing it before we face very critical needs.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Edwards), the coauthor of this bill.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the gentlewoman
from California for her leadership in this very, very important area. I
also want to congratulate my colleague and neighbor in Williamson
County (Mr. Carter) for offering this important piece of legislation.
Just as oil and gas was the economic engine for Texas in the 20th
century, the availability of water will be the economic engine to Texas
in the future in the 21st century.
As someone who represents part of Williamson County, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Carter) represents about 80 percent of that county, it
is one of the largest, fastest-growing counties in the country. Water
usage there is increasing dramatically. Yet our water supply is
limited. I was very glad to cosponsor this bill with the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Carter) and will look forward to working with him to try to
see that we find the appropriations to fund this important piece of
legislation.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1732, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________