[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 160 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11803-H11804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SANTA ANA RIVER WATER SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2007

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 813) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project, to 
authorize the Secretary to carry out a program to assist agencies in 
projects to construct regional brine lines in California, to authorize 
the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination 
demonstration and reclamation project, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 813

       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 Ana River Water Supply 
     Enhancement Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. PRADO BASIN NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.

       (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__. PRADO BASIN NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Orange County Water District, shall participate in the 
     planning, design, and construction of natural treatment 
     systems and wetlands for the flows of the Santa Ana River, 
     California, and its tributaries into the Prado Basin.
       ``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost of the project.
       ``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall 
     not be used for the operation and maintenance of the project 
     described in subsection (a).
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000.
       ``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no 
     effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section 
     2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after 
     the last item the following:

``16__. Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project.''.

     SEC. 3. REGIONAL BRINE LINES.

       (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 further amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 16__. REGIONAL BRINE LINES.

       ``(a) Southern California.--The Secretary, under Federal 
     reclamation laws and in cooperation with units of local 
     government, may assist agencies in projects to construct 
     regional brine lines to export the salinity imported from the 
     Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean as identified in--
       ``(1) the Salinity Management Study prepared by the Bureau 
     of Reclamation and the Metropolitan Water District of 
     Southern California; and
       ``(2) the Southern California Comprehensive Water 
     Reclamation and Reuse Study prepared by the Bureau of 
     Reclamation.
       ``(b) Agreements and Regulations.--The Secretary may enter 
     into such agreements and promulgate such regulations as are 
     necessary to carry out this section.
       ``(c) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
     project to construct regional brine lines described in 
     subsection (a) shall not exceed--
       ``(1) 25 percent of the total cost of the project; or
       ``(2) $40,000,000.
       ``(d) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall 
     not be used for operation or maintenance of any project 
     described in subsection (a).
       ``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no 
     effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section 
     2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after 
     the last item the following:

``16__. Regional brine lines.''.

     SEC. 4. LOWER CHINO DAIRY AREA DESALINATION DEMONSTRATION AND 
                   RECLAMATION PROJECT.

       (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 further amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 16__. LOWER CHINO DAIRY AREA DESALINATION 
                   DEMONSTRATION AND RECLAMATION PROJECT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Chino Basin Watermaster, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, 
     and the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority and acting 
     under the Federal reclamation laws, shall participate in the 
     design, planning, and construction of the Lower Chino Dairy 
     Area desalination demonstration and reclamation project.
       ``(b) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed--
       ``(1) 25 percent of the total cost of the project; or
       ``(2) $50,000,000.
       ``(c) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall 
     not be used for operation or maintenance of the project 
     described in subsection (a).
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
     carry out this section.
       ``(e) Sunset of Authority.--This section shall have no 
     effect after the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in section 
     2 of Public Law 102-575 is further amended by inserting after 
     the last item the following:

``16__. Lower Chino dairy area desalination demonstration and 
              reclamation project.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.

[[Page H11804]]

                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative 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 Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 813, as amended, is to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to participate in several important projects 
to improve water supplies in Southern California. In consultation with 
the minority, the legislation has been amended to eliminate the 
authorization and funding for a technology center. Similar legislation 
passed the House in the 109th Congress.
  So, Mr. Speaker, we support this noncontroversial bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 813.
  H.R. 813 does enjoy bipartisan support from the Orange County, 
California delegation. This legislation seeks to reduce Southern 
California's dependence on imported water by helping localities build 
needed desalinization infrastructure in the region.
  Congressman Gary Miller's bill could not be considered at a better 
time since millions of water consumers in Southern California may soon 
feel the brunt of water rationing due to a lawsuit and subsequent 
judicial decision reducing water deliveries to the region.
  A number of our colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, sent a letter over 
a month ago requesting that the Democratic majority hold a hearing on 
the impacts of this decision. This Congress needs to recognize that 
people are a part of the water equation as well in this endangered 
species debate. We hope the majority will work with us on this 
important hearing and ways to avoid future water shut-offs.
  This legislation may be too late to mitigate harmful lawsuits and 
judicial decisions, but it will help in the long term; and that is why 
we support the bill.
  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H.R. 813, the Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act 
of 2007, which will significantly increase Southern California's water 
supply.
  The Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2007 authorizes 
federal funding for a number of important local water projects. When 
complete, these projects will increase Southern California's water 
supply by over 37 billion gallons per year.
  Because of dwindling supplies, increasing demands, and looming 
drought, Southern California communities continue to seek non-
traditional methods to produce dependable water sources. I am pleased 
that the House has recognized the importance of addressing the chronic 
water shortages in Southern California by providing the funding 
resources necessary to help local water agencies improve water 
reliability and diversity.
  H.R. 813, the Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2007, 
will improve Southern California's water supply by developing wetlands 
in the Prado Basin, and expanding groundwater desalination in the Chino 
Basin, and constructing regional brine lines.
  Specifically, H.R. 813 authorizes the federal government to spend $20 
million to develop large-scale wetlands along the Santa Ana River in 
the Prado Basin, to purify the River before it replenishes Orange 
County's groundwater supplies. This expanded natural treatment system 
will provide an additional 24.5 billion gallons of water per year.
  In addition, H.R. 813 authorizes $50 million in federal funding to 
expand groundwater desalination in the Chino Basin from the current 2.9 
billion gallons per year to 13 billion gallons per year. This will 
provide a new fresh drinking water supply for Jurupa Community Services 
District, Santa Ana Mutual Water Company in Riverside County, and the 
cities of Norco, Chino, Chino Hills, and Ontario in San Bernardino 
County.
  Also, the bill authorizes $40 million in federal funding to provide 
methods to safely and efficiently discard excess brine from nearby 
desalination plants by constructing a line that transports residual 
brine to the Pacific Ocean. This will ensure salt water does not 
contaminate fresh groundwater supplies.
  If we want to sustain America's economic growth and provide for a 
rapidly increasing population, we must ensure our communities have 
efficient and reliable access to water resources. By encouraging the 
use of innovative technologies through water recycling and 
desalination, this bill ensures that more drinking water will be 
available across Southern California.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. As 
it moves forward through the legislative process, I will continue to 
urge for its expeditious enactment.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 813, 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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