[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CRISIS AT LAKE MEAD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Mrs. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the water in Lake 
Mead has fallen to record-breaking lows not seen since the Hoover Dam 
was constructed.
  Already, Lake Mead has fallen to just 35 percent of its capacity. And 
as you can see behind me, a bathtub ring taller than the Statue of 
Liberty surrounds the lake as a reminder of the water that was once 
there.
  This is a crisis that we can fix only with new investment and 
innovative solutions, and that is why I am supporting the bipartisan 
infrastructure package and the climate and water investment provisions 
of the Build Back Better Act. It could not be more clear. Nevada is 
ground zero for the effects of climate change, but we also are ground 
zero for the benefits of this historic legislation.
  The bipartisan infrastructure package includes more than $8 billion 
for water infrastructure. This also includes my water recycling 
legislation that will invest in large-scale water recycling projects to 
help keep more water in Lake Mead for Nevadans.
  There is not a moment to lose.
  The opportunity is here and the time to act on climate and act for 
Nevada's water and future is now.

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