[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 186 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H5664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WATER STORAGE PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA

  (Mr. VALADAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, for the first time in over 3 years, 
California is drought-free.
  This year's rainfall has helped to replenish depleted groundwater and 
reservoirs, but we have missed an opportunity to capture and store more 
of this valuable resource.
  Since October of 2022, over 28 million acre-feet of water has been 
sent to the ocean, enough surface supply to sustain our agriculture 
producers for an entire year. We can and must do better so our 
communities are prepared for both dry and wet years.
  Last week, the House passed my bill, the WATER for California Act as 
part of the Energy and Water appropriations bill.
  This bill makes additional funding available for raising Shasta Dam, 
extends authorization of the successful water storage project program 
established by the WIIN Act, and codifies the 2019 biological opinions.
  These actions aim to provide a clean, reliable water supply to our 
communities and farmers who grow one-quarter of the country's food.
  If California's water problems continue to go unaddressed, the entire 
Nation's food supply is at risk.
  Madam Speaker, I urge the Senate to keep these provisions in the bill 
and get this bill across the finish line.

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