[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8195-H8196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      AVRA/BLACK WASH RECLAMATION AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1503) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration 
Project, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1503

       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 ``Avra/Black Wash Reclamation 
     and Riparian Restoration Project''.

     SEC. 2. PROJECT AUTHORIZATION.

       (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. 16__. AVRA/BLACK WASH RECLAMATION AND RIPARIAN 
                   RESTORATION PROJECT, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     Pima County, Arizona, may participate in the planning, 
     design, and construction of water recycling facilities and to 
     enhance and restore riparian habitat in the Black Wash 
     Sonoran Desert ecosystem in Avra Valley west of the 
     metropolitan Pima County area.
       ``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--Federal funds provided under this 
     section shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the 
     project described in subsection (a).
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $14,000,000.
       ``(e) Use of Funds.--Federal funds provided under this 
     section shall only be used for the design, planning and 
     construction of water-related infrastructure.''.

[[Page H8196]]

       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for Public 
     Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after the last item 
     relating to title XVI the following:

``Sec. 16__. Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration 
              Project, Pima County, Arizona.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. 
McMorris Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend 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. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, which I introduced on 
March 13 of this year, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration 
Project.
  The extremely arid climate of Tucson, Arizona, and that metropolitan 
area requires careful and innovative planning of both water supply and 
wastewater treatment systems.
  The proposed Avra Valley Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Site 
would spread treated wastewater on mesquite riparian forest in Black 
Wash, creating valuable riparian habitats for migrating birds, while 
recharging groundwater for the greater Tucson area.
  I want to thank the chairwoman of the subcommittee on Water and 
Power, Mrs. Napolitano, and the chairman of the Committee on Natural 
Resources, Mr. Rahall, for their assistance in advancing this 
legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1503, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The chairman and sponsor of this legislation has adequately explained 
the bill.
  As amended, the funding in this bill is now specifically targeted for 
wastewater infrastructure rather than trails and a visitors center. 
Despite this positive change, however, I note this bill also adds to 
the $328 million funding backlog in the overall program.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, 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. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1503, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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