[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 65 (Thursday, April 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Hoeven):
  S. 1413. A bill to authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin 
River Restoration Settlement Act; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration 
Settlement Act.
  This crucial piece of legislation would simply increase the 
authorization of funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, 
SJRRP, which supports one of the most productive agricultural regions 
in the United States while also creating a healthy, living river for 
Chinook salmon. Increasing the cap for the program will enable the 
Bureau of Reclamation, the State of California, and key partners to 
advance projects necessary to the continued success of the program. Our 
bill retains a provision in the original legislation from 2009 that 
authorized the SJRRP and set forth a one-for-one match from non-Federal 
sources for any Federal appropriated dollars. The bill would also 
increase the authorization of appropriations to help restore canal 
capacity for the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals to address subsidence.
  A fully implemented SJRRP is crucial for managing the San Joaquin 
River system, restoring fish populations, and ensuring reliable water 
supplies for farmers. Without an increased funding cap, Federal support 
will likely fall short, threatening both water reliability and 
ecosystem restoration and undermining decades of collaboration and 
progress.
  That is why our bill is supported by a broad range of agricultural 
water users, the State of California, and key local partner, because 
the SJRRP's success benefits both farmers and the environment. This 
type of collaboration demonstrates how we can manage our limited water 
resources to provide water supply reliability while also benefiting our 
ecosystems.
  While we were able to pass this bill through the Senate by unanimous 
consent at the end of 2024, it did not pass the House of 
Representatives in time to be signed into law. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues in both Chambers to advance this 
commonsense, straightforward legislation on the floor as soon as 
possible. And I thank Senator Hoeven for his support for my 
legislation.
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