[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WESTERN WATER SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                           HON. DOC HASTINGS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing a 
bill that would expand water supplies, help resolve aging 
infrastructure in the West and protect irrigated farming acreage--all 
without increasing federal funding.
  This bill, titled the ``Western Water Supply Enhancement Act,'' 
recognizes the benefits of long-term regional water conservation 
planning at the local level by authorizing the Secretary of the 
Interior to provide up to $15 million of already-authorized federal 
funding to irrigation districts and municipal entities engaged in 
multi-year, regional, integrated and coordinated water planning. This 
legislation amends what is commonly known as the ``Secure Water Act'' 
provision of Public Law 111-11 to ensure that large conservation 
efforts are eligible. As opposed to the current small-project-by-small-
project approach to conservation, this legislation incentivizes more 
comprehensive, regional approaches throughout the western United 
States.
  These regional approaches are a result of the Endangered Species Act, 
which places additional demands on already limited water supplies 
originally devoted to agriculture or municipalities. The Endangered 
Species Act is national in scope, but many of its requirements impact 
local water districts that bear much of the financial burden. Investing 
limited federal dollars in regional conservation projects that are the 
result of federal regulations can relieve this pressure and protect and 
promote existing water uses.
  I have always been and will continue to be a strong proponent of new 
and expanded water storage. Legendary projects, such as the Grand 
Coulee, Hoover and Glen Canyon dams, are the flagship federal projects 
that have transformed the American West from the desert to some of the 
most productive agricultural land in the world. Some in the 
environmental movement believe that conservation of existing resources 
is the only way to solve our growing water and power scarcity problems. 
I beg to differ. Everything, including new storage, regulatory reform 
and new conservation, has to be on the table for us to resolve our 
supply problems.
  The Western Water Supply Enhancement Act would be one tool in that 
toolbox. It is not the solution, but it is part of the overall solution 
to help water utilities with limited, already authorized funding in 
their efforts to provide water to farm families and help promote a safe 
and affordable food supply for our nation and the world.

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