[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1689-H1690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     AMENDING THE RECLAMATION WASTEWATER AND GROUNDWATER STUDY AND 
                             FACILITIES ACT

  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2341) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the design, planning, and construction of a project to 
reclaim and reuse wastewater within and outside of the service area of 
the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2341

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, WASTEWATER 
                   RECLAMATION AND REUSE PROJECT.

       (a) Authorization of Project.--The Reclamation Wastewater 
     and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102-575, 
     title XVI; 43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 1636. AUSTIN, TEXAS, WATER RECLAMATION AND REUSE 
                   PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of Austin Water and Wastewater Utility, Texas, is 
     authorized to participate in the planning (including an 
     appraisal and feasibility study), design, and construction 
     of, and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse 
     wastewater, including degraded groundwaters, within and 
     outside of the service area of the City of Austin Water and 
     Wastewater Utility, Texas.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized 
     by this section.
       ``(d) Sunset of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary 
     to carry out any provisions of this section shall terminate 
     10 years after the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of Public Law 102-575 (106 Stat. 4600) is amended by adding 
     at the end of the items relating to chapter XVI the 
     following:
``Sec. 1636. Austin, Texas, water reclamation and reuse project.''. 

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RENZI. Madam 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 Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 2341, introduced by Mr. Doggett, authorizes 
Federal participation in a water reuse project in Austin, Texas. 
Drought and increasing demands continue to stress existing water 
supplies. As a result, the city of Austin is being proactive and 
planning for its future water needs. This project is part of Austin's 
effort to create new water supplies. I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, we support the passage of H.R. 2341. Similar 
legislation was introduced in the 107th Congress, and we commend Mr. 
Doggett for his persistence and hard work to secure authorization for 
this important project.
  The city of Austin is keenly aware that additional sources of water 
will be required to meet future water demands. The city has decided to 
meet the expected water supply shortfall by implementing aggressive 
water conservation and water recycling and reclamation programs.
  The water recycling project identified in this bill will be eligible 
for limited financial assistance under the Bureau of Reclamation's 
title 16 water recycling program. Water recycling and desalination 
projects are proven technologies that can help stretch limited water 
supplies in areas such as Texas.
  I want to express our full support for this legislation, and I offer 
my congratulations to Mr. Doggett for his leadership.
  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of both of my 
colleagues on the floor and the support of both the chairmen and the 
ranking members and staff of the Resources Committee and the 
subcommittee.
  I rise in support of this legislation that I have offered on behalf 
of the City of Austin in addressing the growing water needs that we 
have in Central Texas in a fiscally and environmentally responsible 
way.
  This particular project deals with the design, planning, and 
construction of a project to use wastewater and reclaim it in our 
community.
  The Bureau of Reclamation was originally authorized to get involved 
with such projects in 1992, and this bill adds Austin to the list of 
eligible projects under what is known as Title 16. The bill will help 
the City with Federal funds to supplement what Austin is already doing 
locally to expand our water reclamation facilities.
  Under Title 16, Federal participation is limited, and the City will 
remain responsible for at least three-fourths of the cost of the 
project.
  Reclaimed water, or treated wastewater, is generally used when high-
quality drinkable water is not required, such as for irrigation, 
industrial cooling towers, and for various manufacturing purposes.
  For more than 20 years, the City of Austin has operated its own water 
reclamation project for irrigation and to supply the composting 
operations at the Hornsby Bend Plant on the Colorado River.
  In Texas, although we have some mighty powerful rivers, we also have 
a mighty thirsty State. I believe that by conserving the many resources 
with which we have been blessed in Central Texas, we can ensure an 
ample water supply for the indefinite future.
  This reclamation initiative will reduce the demand on Austin's 
existing water supply and conserve high-quality water from the Colorado 
River for human consumption.
  Austin's existing reclaimed water system consists of 16 miles of 
pipe, 1.5 million gallons of storage in 2 tanks, 3 pump stations, and 2 
pressure zones. We envision a much-expanded system under the master 
plan. We will reclaim water through 123 miles of pipe, 17 million 
gallons of storage, and multiple pump stations and pressure zones. For 
the system to grow from its existing limited capacity to its ultimate 
size will take about $200 million in additional infrastructure over the 
coming years. When completed, the expanded system authorized by this 
bill could eventually save as much as 9 billion gallons of water every 
year.
  Austin is already a national leader in planning for a sustainable 
future that improves our quality of life, boosts economic development, 
and protects the environment. Water conservation is a key part of that 
plan and a critical issue for a growing economy in an environmentally-
minded city. Even with active water conservation programs, the maximum 
daily demand for water in Austin increased by 43 percent during the 
1990s. Austin recognizes that aggressive conservation efforts can meet 
about half of our future shortfall, but expanding our reclamation 
capabilities can get us the rest of the way there.
  Ben Franklin once said, ``When the well is dry, we know the worth of 
water.'' Well, this bill demonstrates that Austinites know the worth of 
water before our source of water goes

[[Page H1690]]

dry, and we are taking steps to ensure water for our future.
  The City and the Bureau of Reclamation have already advanced the 
project by completing a favorable Appraisal Report and beginning a 
Feasibility Study. The Appraisal Report concluded that the city's 
projected water ``shortage can be eliminated by more aggressive water 
reclamation'' and that ``there is a Federal interest in pursuing water 
reclamation and reuse investigations in Austin.''
  In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt said, ``The conservation of natural 
resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it 
will avail us little to solve all others.'' With your help, the capital 
of the Lone Star State can make even more significant strides in 
managing its water resources. I urge approval of this legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the 
gentleman from Texas, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2341, 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.

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