[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2307-H2309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 700, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WATER 
                           SUPPLY ACT OF 2007

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 215 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 215

       Resolved,  That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 700) to amend the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act to extend the pilot program for alternative water 
     source projects. The first reading of the bill shall be 
     dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of 
     the bill are

[[Page H2308]]

     waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. 
     General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not 
     exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
     chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure. After general debate the 
     bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute 
     rule. The bill shall be considered as read. Notwithstanding 
     clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill shall be in 
     order except those printed in the portion of the 
     Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 
     of rule XVIII and except pro forma amendments for the purpose 
     of debate. Each amendment so printed may be offered only by 
     the Member who caused it to be printed or his designee and 
     shall be considered as read. At the conclusion of 
     consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall 
     rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as 
     may have been adopted. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to 
     final passage without intervening motion except one motion to 
     recommit with or without instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McNulty). The gentleman from California 
(Mr. Cardoza) is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). 
All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 215 provides for the 
consideration of H.R. 700, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 
2007, under an open rule with a preprinting requirement. The rule 
provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill except for clause 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The 
bill shall be considered as read.
  The rule provides that any amendment to the bill must be printed in 
the Congressional Record prior to consideration of the bill. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, simply stated, maintaining an adequate water supply is 
critical to the health and livelihood of our agricultural industry, our 
economy, and our environment.
  However, as critical as water is to sustaining our way of life, all 
too often we take it for granted. Water does not come in an infinite 
supply. It is, in fact, a very, very scarce resource, particularly in 
my region of the country.
  There are significant water supply issues in my home district of 
California's Central Valley. The valley faces water shortages as 
various interests compete for this scarce resource.
  The Central Valley is not unique. Water scarcity is occurring across 
the country and is becoming more widespread due to several factors. 
Population is on the rise. Pollution is a constant threat. Growth and 
development are expanding. And drought can strike us at any time.
  Despite these pressing needs, we are severely lacking in programs 
that address the looming shortage. The Environmental Protection Agency, 
the Congressional Budget Office, and other organizations have estimated 
that $400 billion is needed for programs to maintain existing and build 
new water infrastructure. The EPA has also estimated that programs to 
address sewer overflows need in excess of $140 billion.
  However, even meeting the needs of these programs has been 
challenging as this administration has constantly cut funding. 
Moreover, these programs deal exclusively with protecting our water 
quality and do not address scarcity or shortages.
  While these programs are just as important, it doesn't make sense to 
have a one-track mind. Improving the quality of water is just one part 
of the equation. We also have to find innovative ways to reuse and 
recycle water that we have so it will be there to meet our needs as 
well as the needs of future generations. The rule and the bill we have 
before us today will begin to address this problem.
  Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007, H.R. 
700, is quite simple. H.R. 700 extends a critical pilot program for 
alternative water source projects. Alternative water source projects 
allow local communities to develop innovative ways to reuse and recycle 
water, thereby saving money and expanding water use options for the 
entire country. This pilot program was initially created in 2002, but 
the program has expired.
  The bill authorizes $125 million to help communities finance pilot 
projects to recycle or reuse water or to develop alternative water 
sources. It is not an excessive investment. Given the scarcity and 
challenges we face, this is just a start, but this funding is 
absolutely critical and is a step in the right direction. This will 
help spur technological development so that individuals, agriculture, 
and industry have access to the water they need. The bill is also 
fiscally responsible as it provides a 50 percent matching requirement.
  Many should be recognized for their interest in ensuring that the 
future water supply will meet future water demands. I would like to 
commend my colleagues Mr. McNerney, Mrs. Tauscher, and Mr. Kagen for 
introducing this important bill. I would also like to thank Mr. 
Oberstar and Mr. Mica for their leadership in bringing this legislation 
to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. This is a necessary bill. And this 
is a critically important investment for people today and for 
generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for yielding me the customary 
30 minutes, and I also want to congratulate the gentleman from 
California on the managing of his first rule in his capacity on the 
Rules Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, when most people think of 
the State of Washington, they imagine a cloudy day with a good chance 
of rain. However, much of the eastern part of Washington that I 
represent is very dry and very arid. In fact, my hometown of Pasco 
averages only 8 inches of rain a year, which is even less than the 
Central Valley, where my friend from California resides. This part of 
the State is also noted for its irrigated agriculture, which is the 
foundation of our rural communities.
  Water is a valuable and limited resource that is critical for farmers 
and our agricultural economy. Two areas of my district in particular 
know the value and importance of water: the Yakima River Basin and the 
Odessa Subaquifer of the Columbia Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation is 
examining both areas for potential additional water storage, and I hope 
this Congress will continue past commitments to finding solutions that 
protect the farmers and the communities in these areas.
  I also recognize the need to develop alternative sources of usable 
water for drinking and for agriculture purposes. By exploring 
innovative approaches such as membrane-filtering technologies and 
aquifer storage and retrieval, we can ensure that kitchen faucets and 
irrigation lines won't run dry in the future. Fresh water is a scarce 
and valuable resource and certainly one that we cannot afford to lose.
  The underlying legislation continues a pilot program under the Clean 
Water Act that provides grants to encourage water reclamation and 
reuse. The bill would increase authorized funding for this program by 
$50 million without any fiscal-year limitation. However, Mr. Speaker, I 
think it is important to point out that this program has never been 
funded. Therefore, the real question of whether this program warrants 
Federal funding will be left up to the Appropriations Committee and the 
subcommittee in charge of water spending to decide.
  So I urge my colleagues to support this modified open rule, and I 
hope that we can continue this openness in future legislation, 
including the supplemental spending bill, the budget resolution, and 
the Water Quality Financing Act that is expected to be on the floor 
later this week.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, maintaining an adequate 
water

[[Page H2309]]

supply is critical to the health and livelihood of our agricultural 
industry, our economy and our environment. Water is not an infinite 
supply, and water scarcity is occurring across the country and becoming 
more widespread. We have to find innovative ways to reuse and recycle 
the water that we have so it will be there to meet our needs, as well 
as the needs of future generations, and we have to provide the means to 
make that happen. This bill does just that.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and on the previous question.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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