[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13581-H13582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1992 AMENDMENT

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 1854) to amend the Water Resources Development 
Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big 
Bear Lake, California.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1854

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

     SECTION 1. BIG BEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA

       Section 219(f)(84) of the Water Resources Development Act 
     of 1992 (121 Stat. 1259) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(84) Big Bear Lake, California.--$9,000,000 for water 
     supply infrastructure improvements for Big Bear Lake, 
     California.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Larsen) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1854.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to consider 
H.R. 1854 to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to 
modify the environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, 
California. This bill provides technical corrections to the Big Bear 
Lake project, originally authorized in the Water Resources Development 
Act of 2007.
  H.R. 1854 changes the authorized purpose of the Big Bear Lake project 
from wastewater treatment to water supply infrastructure. In addition, 
the authorized funding level is reduced by $6 million to a $9 million 
authorized funding level. We have no objections to this bill as 
introduced.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1854, amending the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify a project in the vicinity 
of Big Bear, California.
  The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 was enacted in November 
2007. Included in the bill is a project that authorized assistance for 
the city of Big Bear, California. As authorized, the bill provided $15 
million of assistance to the city to construct a wastewater treatment 
facility.
  Since enactment, however, the city has decided against constructing 
the project and would instead use the authority to upgrade its water 
supply distribution system at a lower cost than originally authorized. 
The new cost of the project is $9 million.
  This project is especially critical to this region of California 
which is typically subjected to catastrophic wildfires. Upgrades to the 
water supply in the vicinity of Big Bear would increase water pressure 
at peak demand periods and improve water quality.
  It's not often that a Member of Congress asks us to cut authorized 
levels of funding for their congressional district. This bill is an act 
of good governance and truth-in-budgeting.
  I want to thank Representative Lewis for his leadership on this issue 
and urge all Members to vote in favor of H.R. 1854.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1854.
  This bill will revise a previously authorized project to allow the 
mountain community of Big Bear, which is located in the 41st 
Congressional District, to move forward with the Army Corps of 
Engineers to begin replacement of an aging water infrastructure. The 
bill reduces the authorized amount of the project by $3 million.
  The city of Big Bear Lake currently distributes water through pipes 
that are over 70 years old and crumbling by the minute. This lack of 
integrity from the water infrastructure has led to declining water 
quality, massive water loss, and dangerously low flow levels that do 
not meet firefighting standards.
  California is in the midst of a water crisis, and San Bernardino 
County has been granted Federal disaster status due to extreme drought 
conditions. In a misguided effort to protect fish, the Federal 
Government has shut off pumps for the California Aqueduct, further 
reducing water supplies for southern California communities. Under 
these severe conditions, we cannot overlook any opportunity to conserve 
what water we have. This bill will provide immediate and measurable 
conservation.
  Equally dire, Big Bear is located within the San Bernardino National 
Forest. Because of lack of consistent management in the past, the San 
Bernardino National Forest has become a powder keg for wildfire. We 
have made some progress at reducing the threat through aggressive 
hazardous fuels removal, but the danger remains extreme. Replacing the 
water infrastructure will help protect the Big Bear community and 
provide the U.S. Forest Service with another vital weapon in the event 
of catastrophic wildfire.

[[Page H13582]]

  As a side benefit, the increased pressure in the pipes will also 
drastically reduce the power consumption currently needed to pump water 
throughout the system. It has been a priority of this Congress to 
implement policies that conserve resources and I believe this bill is 
consistent with those goals.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote of H.R. 1854.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1854, offered by 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), to amend the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure 
project for Big Bear Lake, California. The Big Bear Lake project was 
originally authorized in Water Resources Development Act of 2007 for 
the purpose of wastewater treatment at a funding level of $15 million. 
This bill modifies the Big Bear Lake Project, reducing the authorized 
funding to $9 million and changing the project purpose to water supply 
infrastructure.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1854.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. 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 Washington (Mr. Larsen) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1854.
  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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