[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H8195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SANTA ROSA URBAN WATER REUSE PLAN ACT
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 716) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
participate in the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 716
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 ``Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse
Plan Act''.
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 new section:
``SEC. 16__. CITY OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, URBAN WATER
REUSE PLAN.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with
the City of Santa Rosa, California, is authorized to
participate in the design, planning, and construction of
projects to implement the plan titled `Santa Rosa Urban Water
Reuse Plan'.
``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the costs of the
projects authorized by this section shall not exceed 25
percent of the total cost. The Secretary shall credit the
City of Santa Rosa with the value of all expenditures made
before the date of the enactment of this section that are
used toward completion of projects that are compatible with
this section.
``(c) Limitations.--
``(1) Federal funds shall not be used for the operation or
maintenance of a project authorized by this section.
``(2) Funds authorized by this legislation shall not be
used for the development of new wetland areas.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section
2 of Public Law 102-575 is amended by inserting after the
last item relating to title XVI the following:
``Sec. 16__. City of Santa Rosa, California, Urban Water Reuse Plan.''.
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, the purpose of H.R. 716, as amended, is to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design
and construction of the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan. The water
recycling facilities authorized by this legislation will result in
significant improvements in water quality and water supply reliability
in the Santa Rosa area.
I commend the sponsor of this legislation, Ms. Woolsey, for her
commitment in this important project.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Woolsey).
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 716.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Rahall for his leadership in
bringing H.R. 716, the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse bill, to the floor.
The Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse bill is a huge step in the right
direction for the City of Santa Rosa. It will help the city increase
its reuse of wastewater as an alternative to releasing the water into
the Russian River, where my district receives the great majority of our
drinking water. The project is especially important in a region that
remains arid for 6 months of the year and where droughts pose a genuine
threat to humans and endangered species.
Under the reuse plan, the City of Santa Rosa will use recycled water
for landscape irrigation, allowing the city to conserve valuable water
for human consumption and for watershed preservation and enhancement.
It is essential that we find new ways to reuse wastewater and prevent
further discharge into nearby waterways. This project can help the City
of Santa Rosa by making great strides in its water reuse program and
give the city an opportunity to help endangered species, and at the
same time protect the Russian River from further discharge.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of H.R. 1716, the Santa Rosa Urban
Water Reuse bill.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The chairman and sponsor have adequately explained the bill. I
applaud the amendment agreed to in committee that prohibits taxpayer
dollars from being used to create unrelated wetlands in this project.
However, given that the majority has not fully funded the title XVI
program in the Energy and Water appropriations bill, I note that this
bill makes the $328 million backlog problem worse.
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. 716, 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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