[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 161 (Friday, October 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE AND REHABILITATION ACT

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                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2019

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Water 
Supply Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. This legislation will 
help address the need for the new storage, conveyance, and recycling 
projects necessary to increase our drought resilience and provide the 
water security required to meet the needs of our agricultural economy 
and our local communities.
  As a farmer, former state Director of Agriculture, and now a 
Congressman representing one of the most flourishing agricultural 
regions in America, I fully understand how important it is that we 
reinvest in the water infrastructure our farms and communities were 
built upon--much of which is over a century old at this point. I have 
made it a priority to address these important issues for Central 
Washington, and for rural communities across the West, that have Bureau 
of Reclamation projects in their regions.
  That is why I am introducing this legislation--to help local water 
managers access the funds they need to repair and rebuild aging 
facilities and ensure our existing surface storage facilities are 
operating as efficiently as possible.
  The Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Utilization Act 
addresses the Bureau of Reclamation's (BOR) maintenance backlog at 
water supply infrastructure projects. Since 1902, BOR has constructed 
dams, hydropower plants, canals, and irrigation conveyances to provide 
for our water needs. Far too much of this infrastructure is in serious 
need of maintenance and repair. My legislation creates a streamlined 
process, so local water operators can initiate maintenance projects 
with extended repayment through a much more clearly-defined application 
and review process. Local users need this flexibility to access these 
resources--this bill will help them do just that.
  Earlier this year, Central Washington crossed one of the most 
significant hurdles for water needs in our region when President Trump 
signed my legislation into law authorizing the next phase of the Yakima 
Project. It was a momentous occasion and a testament to the many 
collaborative efforts and stakeholders in the Yakima Valley. But as 
many of us know, authorization is only the key first step.
  Next comes--what some would say is--the even more difficult part: 
securing the resources and the funding to actually implement those 
projects authorized. I have been working on the Yakima Project for much 
of my career, and this bill will create an easier, more-streamlined 
process to access the funds for this desperately needed infrastructure 
in Central Washington.
  This legislation also strengthens the ``Safety of Dams'' program to 
improve structural integrity of dams across the U.S. In Central 
Washington, we are no stranger to the benefits dams provide for 
irrigation districts and the agricultural industry. Like much of our 
nation's infrastructure, dams are aging and require regular maintenance 
and upkeep. The ``Safety of Dams'' program is important for ensuring 
all BOR dams across the country continue to operate safely and 
efficiently--from the Grand Coulee Dam down to the Sunnyside, Prosser, 
and Roza Diversion dams. The Yakima Project alone has five storage dam 
and reservoirs, including Bumping Lake, Clear Creek, Tieton, Cle Elum, 
Kachess, and Keechelus. Washington's 4th District truly is at the 
epicenter of need for ensuring the stability of BOR dam infrastructure, 
and this program is responsible for funding any updates or maintenance 
to these dams. However, BOR expects to reach their current statutory 
cap on the program in the next two years. My bill will increase the 
authorization of this program to meet BOR's projected funding needs for 
the future workload to ensure water users in regions like Central 
Washington can continue to enjoy the benefits of dams, large and small, 
that all make our way of life possible.
  Finally, the legislation creates a pilot program to give more 
flexibility to reservoir operators. Communities across the West know 
the impacts of droughts all too well. This bill allows local operators 
to temporarily store water in dedicated flood control space during 
certain low-risk times of the year. By addressing the maintenance 
backlog at our water supply projects, strengthening the structural 
integrity of our water infrastructure, and providing flexibility for 
water storage to best equip our communities in times of drought, we can 
secure the resources required to address the current and future water 
needs for the Yakima Valley and for water needs across the West. I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support the Water Supply 
Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. I look forward to pushing for 
its passage here in the House and for its companion legislation, led by 
Senator Martha McSally, in the United States Senate.

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