[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 204 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE CAREER OF TOM BIRMINGHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 3, 2023

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Tom 
Birmingham who has served as the General Manager of Westlands Water 
District over the last 22 years.
  Spanning 1,000 square miles within Fresno and Kings County, Westlands 
Water District is the largest in the country. Serving as the General 
Manager, Mr. Birmingham's diligence and leadership has been 
advantageous to the greater Central Valley for more than 2 decades.
  During this time, Tom embraced the full scope of his role, and guided 
the district through countless projects, including the settlements of 
drainage litigation and litigation concerning the renewal of the 
district's 1962 water service contract. He also oversaw the acquisition 
of additional Central Valley Project water supplies to the district, 
the conversion of the district's water service contracts to repayment 
contracts, as well as the implementation of a significant land 
retirement program, which balanced the demand for water with available 
supplies. In addition to this, under Tom's leadership, Westlands Water 
District also implemented several water conservation programs, 
developed large scale renewable energy projects, constructed habitat 
restoration projects, and developed integrated water management 
programs.
  Furthermore, Tom and the Westlands team should also be proud of the 
instrumental role they played in advancing good water policy. Due to 
their exemplary efforts, they were able to influence major state and 
federal legislation, including the California 2009 Bay-Delta Reform 
Act, the CALFED authorizing legislation, the San Joaquin River 
Settlement and Restoration Program authorizing legislation, and the 
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Tom and his team 
were also integral in negotiating the water purchase agreement for the 
Yuba River Accord, which amended the 1986 coordinated operations 
agreement. Lastly, Tom and company were successful in restoring 
flexibility for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project 
operations through the 2019 biological opinions, which resulted in 
greater protections of listed species.
  After 22 years of dedication, Tom will be remembered for all of his 
hard work at Westlands. He states that he will remember the priceless 
interactions between himself and the staff of both Westlands and other 
water agencies, elected officials with whom he worked diligently, and 
the farmers he represented for so long.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Tom 
Birmingham for a distinguished career. May we continue to be inspired 
by his good work.

                          ____________________