[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 31 (Monday, February 23, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H1628-H1629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY RECYCLED WATER ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 637) 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. 637

       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.
       ``(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 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             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 to 
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.
  The purpose of H.R. 637, as introduced by our colleague from 
California, Mr. Calvert, is to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation 
with the Cities of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, California, to 
participate in the design, planning and construction of an advanced 
water treatment plant 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 drought. H.R. 637 would 
authorize limited Federal financial assistance for two separate water 
recycling projects in southern California--one in San Juan Capistrano 
and the other in San Clemente.

                              {time}  1615

  Recycled water can satisfy many water demands.
  The House favorably passed identical legislation in the 110th 
Congress. So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 637.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 637. I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This was sponsored by the distinguished former chairman of the House 
Water and Power Subcommittee, Mr. Calvert of California, and will help 
resolve water supply shortages in southern California by authorizing 
limited Federal assistance for water recycling projects in the Cities 
of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
  Historic drought and litigation to protect a three-inch fish will 
lead to decreased water deliveries in southern California, and as a 
result, less imported water will be recycled in the coming year. 
However, water recycling is a long-term necessity for southern 
California and other arid regions of the West. So all of these projects 
together will help ensure that there will be no such thing as 
wastewater.
  So I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It deals with water, 
fish--and no swallows.
  I reserve the balance of my time. However, I request once again of 
the gentlelady from Guam if she has other speakers.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time.

[[Page H1629]]

  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I will simply yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. I again urge Members to support the bill.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the South Orange County Recycled Water 
Enhancement Act is a relatively modest, yet important step towards 
meeting the long-term water needs for the West.
  Last week, Federal water managers said that they plan to cut off 
water, at least temporarily, to thousands of California farms as a 
result of the drought affecting the State. With the State and Federal 
reservoirs at their lowest levels since 1992, mandatory water rationing 
is just around the corner. In the midst of our dramatic economic 
downturn, the lack of water simply makes a bad economic situation 
worse. The passage of any legislation that enables communities in the 
West to be more drought-resistant could not be timelier.
  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 Bay-Delta in northern 
California. Water reclamation projects, and other steps that reduce 
demand for imported water, benefit all regional water users.
  The first project outlined in the 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 San 
Juan Capistrano Mayor Mark Nielsen and the rest of the city council for 
their dedication to this important project.
  The second project is the San Clemente Reclaimed Water Project which 
would expand San Clemente's reclaimed water infrastructure by doubling 
its production capacity. When completed, San Clemente's Reclaimed Water 
Project will reduce the city's demand of domestic water by 3,300 acre-
feet per year. I applaud San Clemente Mayor Lori Donchak and the entire 
city council for their continued commitment to water recycling.
  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 of my colleagues to support the South Orange County 
Recycled Water Enhancement Act.
  Ms. Bordallo. 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. 637.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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