[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 20 (Monday, February 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATER PROJECT STREAMLINING 
                              ACT OF 2017

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                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2017

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, 
the Bureau of Reclamation Water Project Streamlining Act. This 
legislation will help many communities in the west that have been 
severely impacted by the recent droughts affecting the western United 
States. The legislation requires the Bureau of Reclamation to 
accelerate studies and provide more accountability in the agency's 
process to study the feasibility of new and/or expanded surface water 
storage, rural and Title XVI water projects, as well as water recycling 
projects. By streamlining Reclamation's environmental planning and 
study process for these water projects, the bill will ensure that 
communities in the arid West can address the critical need for water 
supplies that grow with demand. This is accomplished by applying the 
same streamlined water project development process used by the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, which were established under the Water 
Resources Reform Development Act of 2014, to the Bureau of Reclamation 
for surface water, storage, infrastructure, and recycling projects.
  Water is an indispensable resource in Central Washington and is the 
foundation on which our future will be built. However, water has become 
increasingly limited and the current supply and infrastructure is 
unable to meet existing human and environmental needs. The droughts and 
water shortages that have impacted much of the western U.S. highlight 
the critical need for new water supplies that are able to meet this 
growing demand. A streamlined process for new water storage projects is 
vital to prepare effectively for droughts and provide adequate water 
resources for future development. This bill improves the Bureau of 
Reclamation's permitting process to create new opportunities for water 
storage, recycling, and rural water projects. Put simply, my bill 
reforms the current cumbersome and lengthy process so that there is a 
mechanism to build new water and infrastructure projects in Central 
Washington and across the west.
  I welcome all members to join me in supporting this legislation and I 
urge its swift passage through the U.S. House of Representatives and 
U.S. Senate.

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