[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO STEVEN HALL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 2, 2007

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, this week, the Association of California of 
Water Agencies, representative of private and public water experts, 
marks the coming retirement of its Executive Director, Steven Hall. He 
is a person who knows that water is the life-blood of California, and 
has been a key figure in planning for our state's future.
  Steven Hall has held that position since 1992 and has helped 
formulate and guide the development and allocation of the water 
resources upon which the entire California population and agricultural 
production are dependent. Representing the urban and agricultural users 
of California, the association is the largest of its kind and has an 
enormous impact on citizens and consumers throughout the nation.
  Prior to assuming his responsibilities at A.C.W.A, Steven Hall was 
Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, which he 
founded. The Coalition was a first-of-its-kind coalition of 
agricultural water users and water agencies which developed strategic 
information and policy related to agricultural water use in the state. 
He was instrumental in enactment of major water transfer legislation 
and related issues.
  For 4 years prior to his work at the Coalition, he founded and 
directed the Land Preservation Association which developed and 
implemented policy on irrigation and drainage in California. He helped 
develop policy and funding solutions for impacted agricultural land as 
well as serving on policy and technical work groups formulating 
recommendations to state and federal policy makers.
  Perhaps his greatest achievement was lead negotiator in the three-way 
efforts between agricultural, urban and environmental water users that 
led to creation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. CALFED is a unique 
collaboration among 25 state and federal agencies with a mission of 
improving water supplies in California and the health of the San 
Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a body of water on 
which two-thirds of California's citizens depend for water. As a result 
of the early work of the program, the California Bay-Delta Authority 
was formed to oversee the program's implementation, and Congress 
adopted the plan in 2004. Steve Hall was a guiding force behind these 
accomplishments, and he leaves much of its work as his legacy.
  Steve Hall is a friend and role model to all of us who know him. His 
passion for family and friends is well-known. Steve's ability to 
combine humor with work has made public policy efforts productive and 
enjoyable.
  At the end of the day, we are all judged by how we handle success and 
adversity. No one has demonstrated any better than our friend Steve 
Hall on how we deal with life's challenges. Let the record clearly 
state that Steve Hall is a true gentleman and a class act.
  I join the other members of the California Congressional delegation 
and all of Steve's friends in wishing him well, and congratulating him 
for the depth and scope of his accomplishments that have affected all 
California.

                          ____________________