[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1244-E1245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THOMAS R. CARPER WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 9, 2024

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the ``Thomas 
R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024.'' I would 
like to thank Ranking Members Larsen (D-WA) and Napolitano (D-CA) and 
Chairs Graves (R-MO) and Rouzer (R-NC), as well as their committee and 
personal office staffs, for crafting the bipartisan ``Thomas R. Carper 
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024.''
  This is the sixth consecutive biennial WRDA since 2014, continuing 
the bipartisan tradition of enacting a new WRDA every two years that 
meets the water infrastructure needs of communities across the country. 
This year's WRDA will strengthen community resilience in addressing the 
climate crisis, improve water resource projects that safeguard human 
health, and enrich America's vital natural ecosystems.
  The legislation before us today would not have been possible without 
the leadership of my longtime friend and incredible public servant, 
Ranking Member Grace Napolitano. Since 2014, Ranking Member Napolitano 
has led the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, helping 
protect our communities from droughts, restore our ecosystems, and 
invest in America's ports and harbors. While her presence on the Water 
Resources and Environment Subcommittee will be missed, her commitment 
to protecting America's water supply will benefit countless communities 
for years to come.
  The ``Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024'' (S. 4367) 
includes key priorities for Solano and Contra Costa Counties, the Bay 
Area, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and all of California's 8th 
Congressional District. As a senior member of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, I was pleased to secure several provisions in 
this bill to create local jobs by directing new federal investment into 
Mare Island, restore Bay Area wetlands, bolster water supply for local 
communities in California's 8th Congressional District, and more.
  Specifically, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024'' 
(S. 4367):
  Expands on my ongoing work to support the redevelopment of Mare 
Island by directing the Army Corps to complete a feasibility study with 
the City of Vallejo to deepen the Mare Island Strait Channel;
  Addresses the impact of sea level rise on the San Francisco Bay Area, 
by authorizing

[[Page E1245]]

the Army Corps to complete a comprehensive study focusing on the 
effects of sea level rise on disadvantaged communities in the Bay Area;
  Helps restore Bay Area wetlands in San Pablo, Grizzly, Honker, and 
Suisun Bays by requiring the Army Corps to use at least 70 percent of 
dredged materials;
  Fortifies Contra Costa County's water supply by authorizing $57 
million in federal funding for water supply projects in central Contra 
Costa County by the Delta Diablo and Ironhouse Sanitary Districts;
  Further supports the crucial use of recycled water in the East Bay by 
investing an additional $20 million to the East Bay Municipal Utility 
District's East Bayshore Recycled Water Project and Integrated Recycled 
Water Program; bringing in a total of $45 million invested in the 
District;
  Helps restore the Sacramento River floodplain by directing the Army 
Corps to use natural infrastructure in all Army Corps projects;
  Incorporates key provisions from my ``Abandoned and Derelict Vessel 
Removal Act'' (H.R. 7719), expanding the Army Corps' ability to remove 
abandoned and derelict vessels on the shoreline.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with the Chairs and Ranking 
Members, and my colleagues from both parties to get this timely 
legislation to President Biden's desk for signature by the end of the 
calendar year.

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