[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LAND CONVEYANCE FROM BEALE AIR FORCE BASE TO THREE RIVERS LEVEE 
                         IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2022

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce legislation that 
would convey a small land parcel at Beale Air Force Base (AFB) in 
northern California to the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority for 
the Congressionally authorized Yuba Goldfields Levee Improvement 
Project. I thank my colleague Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA01), the 
bill's original cosponsor, who represents the neighboring Congressional 
district.
  The Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority is responsible for 
providing 200-year flood protection for southern Yuba County in 
California, protecting homes, businesses, and military infrastructure 
at Beale AFB. As a senior member of the House Transportation and 
Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I 
secured authorization for the Yuba Goldfields Levee Improvement Project 
in the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-270). 
The Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority is the non-federal sponsor 
for this project, which will provide 200-year level of flood protection 
to the community surrounding Beale AFB.
  Specifically, this project extends the Yuba River South Levee and 
crosses Beale AFB outside the fence line. Upon completing survey work 
for the proposed levee improvement project, the Three Rivers Levee 
Improvement Authority discovered that the U.S. Air Force owned a small 
parcel of approximately 0.3 acres outside the fence line and separated 
from the rest of Beale AFB by Smartville Road. In September 2020, I 
helped to secure a 25-year easement from the Air Force on behalf of the 
Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority needed to construct, operate, 
and maintain the levee.
  However, this legislation would convey ownership of the 0.3-acre 
parcel from the Air Force to the Three Rivers Levee Improvement 
Authority, so that the non-federal sponsor can continue to ensure area 
flood control in perpetuity. This public interest land conveyance will 
ensure that the area, including Beale AFB, is better protected from 
future flooding.
  As chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I plan to 
legislate this land conveyance necessary for the long-term maintenance 
of the Yuba Goldfields Levee Improvement Project in the FY2023 National 
Defense Authorization Act, if necessary. This is but one example of how 
Congress can make our military installations more resilient to flooding 
and other extreme weather exacerbated by climate change by improving 
coordination between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' civil works 
projects and the service branches.

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