[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4508-H4509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY RECYCLED WATER ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1140) to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with 
the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, to participate in the 
design, planning, and construction of an advanced water treatment plant 
facility and recycled water system, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1140

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``South Orange County Recycled 
     Water Enhancement Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--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. 16XX. SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, is authorized to 
     participate in the design, planning, and construction of an 
     advanced water treatment plant facility and recycled water 
     system.
       ``(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) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $18,500,000.

[[Page H4509]]

       ``(e) Sunset.--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.

     ``SEC. 163X. SAN CLEMENTE RECLAIMED WATER PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the City of San Clemente, California, is authorized to 
     participate in the design, planning, and construction of a 
     project to expand reclaimed water distribution, storage and 
     treatment facilities.
       ``(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) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000
       ``(e) Sunset.--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) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections in 
     section 2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 163X the following:

``Sec. 163X. San Juan Capistrano Recycled Water System.
``Sec. 163X. San Clemente Reclaimed Water Project.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Lamborn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 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 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 1140, as introduced by my colleague 
and former chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Ken Calvert, is to authorize 
the Secretary to participate in the design, planning and construction 
of an advanced water treatment facility and recycled water system.
  The continuing drought and the decrease in snow pack have led to a 
reduction in water supplies in many parts of the West. Water recycling 
projects can help communities protect against the adverse consequences 
of drought.
  H.R. 1140 will authorize limited Federal financial assistance for two 
separate water recycling projects in Southern California. One, 
beautiful San Juan Capistrano, and the other in great San Clemente.
  Recycled water can satisfy many water demands, and the enactment of 
this bill will continue our efforts to encourage the administration to 
include recycling as an effective water management strategy. I note it 
was left out of Water 2025, and I want to be sure that we continue to 
push forward for that which is very, very helpful to many communities.
  I do urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 1140.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This legislation, H.R. 1140, introduced by the distinguished former 
chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee, Ken Calvert of 
California, authorizes limited Federal assistance for two water 
recycling projects in southern Orange County. This bill helps the 
cities of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente meet their water supply 
needs, and reduces their dependence on imported water.
  I commend Representative Calvert for his longstanding leadership in 
helping all of Southern California meet its future water needs through 
a combination of water recycling, desalting, conservation and water 
storage. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Calvert), the author of the bill.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my chairman, Mrs. 
Napolitano, for the hard work that she has put into all these water 
bills and for her desire to make sure that areas such as southern 
California have water for the future.
  The South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act is a 
relatively modest yet important step toward meeting the long-term water 
needs for the West. Water recycling is an approach that more and more 
communities are tapping to meet local and regional water demand. To 
address the continued growth of water users, communities are truly 
maximizing the use of every drop of water.
  The South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act authorizes two 
water reclamation projects in the South Orange County portion of my 
district. South Orange County relies heavily on imported water from 
sources such as the Colorado River and the Bay Delta in northern 
California.
  Water reclamation projects and other steps which reduce demand for 
imported water benefit all regional water uses. The first project 
outlined in this legislation is the San Juan Capistrano recycled water 
system, which would enable the City of San Juan Capistrano to provide 
recycled water to users throughout the city and its neighboring 
communities. To meet the local demand, the City has developed a project 
that includes the construction of a water treatment facility as well as 
transmission infrastructure.
  I want to thank the San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato and the 
rest of the city council for their dedication to this important 
project.
  The second part of this project is the San Clemente Reclaimed Water 
Project, which would expand San Clemente's reclaimed water 
infrastructure by doubling its production capability. When completed, 
San Clemente's recycled water project will reduce the city's demand of 
domestic water by 3,300 acre feet of water per year. I applaud San 
Clemente Mayor Jim Dahl and the entire city council for their entire 
commitment to water recycling.
  Again, I want to thank my good friend Grace Napolitano, our 
chairwoman of the Water and Power Subcommittee, for her leadership and 
support of my legislation. I know she shares my belief that water 
recycling is an important tool in addressing growing water needs in the 
west. Mr. Speaker, I think it is crucial that we recognize and assist 
communities that are working to reduce their reliance on imported 
water, and I urge all colleagues to support the South Orange County 
Recycled Water Enhancement Act.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank staff on 
both sides who have been working collaboratively and in a bipartisan 
manner.
  Water knows no political colors or boundaries. I think we need to 
work together to be able to ensure that our economy continues growing, 
that water will continue to flow through the faucets and in the rivers 
and dams and aquifers.
  And along with Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Speaker, I want to urge all Members 
to look at their district water needs, and begin to understand it and 
be able to work with it so that we can protect the rest of the States 
that are going through, whether it is droughts or other areas that they 
need help with.
  I certainly want to thank my ranking member, Kathy McMorris, who 
isn't here, but certainly Mr. Lamborn, who has done a great job. And I 
want to thank him specifically, because to work collaboratively and get 
these bills out is critical not only in time but in the effect it has 
on our economy throughout the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1140.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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