[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2343-E2344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CLEAN WATER ACT ROLLBACKS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2003

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to efforts by 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rollback the Clean Water 
Act.
  Several days ago, in the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers, an 
internal EPA memo was quoted saying that the EPA is preparing a rule 
that would eliminate Clean Water Act protections for, ``Streams that 
flow for less than six months a year . . .'' State and federal 
officials have estimated that up to 20 million acres of wetlands would 
be lost.
  This preliminary rule would devastate the Southwest where many 
streams flow only seasonally or after rain or snowmelts. In Los Angeles 
County, our rivers are often only a trickle, since our community gets 
an average of 15 inches of rainfall a year. And we are not alone.

[[Page E2344]]

  Interior Secretary Gale Norton notes that, ``The American West is 
facing a serious crisis. In the long run, we will not have enough water 
to meet the fast-growing needs of city residents, farmers, ranchers, 
Native Americans, and wildlife. The demand is increasing; the supply is 
not.'' Unfortunately, the EPA must have not gotten that memo because if 
our limited water supply is jeopardized, no one's needs will be met.
  I encourage the Bush Administration to throw this rule draft away and 
start fresh with guidelines that will protect our water supplies so 
that our families are not left out to dry.

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