[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20724-20725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 5400

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the unanimous 
consent request to pass H.R. 5400, a bill authored by my friend and 
colleague from Nebraska, the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
International Monetary Policy, Congressman Doug Bereuter. This 
legislation is a well-crafted, thoughtful and bi-partisan bill that is 
certainly worthy of passage by unanimous consent.
  This legislation will help the North American Development (NAD) Bank 
to accomplish its stated goal of improving the potable water supply, 
wastewater treatment and municipal solid waste management services 
within America's Mexico border region more efficiently. Addressing the 
problem of an inadequate water supply along our nation's southern 
border is a laudable goal, and one that is certainly worthy of the 
support of every member of Congress.

[[Page 20725]]

  I would also like to acknowledge my gratitude to Chairman Bereuter 
for allowing me to include in this legislation an amendment that 
recognizes the particular difficulty that southern California has in 
meeting its potable water needs, and directs the NAD Bank to support:
  (1) The development of qualified water conservation projects in 
southern California and other eligible areas in the four United States 
border States, including the conjunctive use and storage of surface and 
ground water, delivery system conservation, the re-regulation of 
reservoirs, improved irrigation practices, wastewater reclamation, 
regional water management modeling, operational and optimization 
studies to improve water conservation, and cross-border water exchanges 
consistent with treaties; and,
  (2) New water supply research and projects along the Mexico border in 
southern California and other eligible areas in the four United States 
border States to desalinate ocean seawater and brackish surface and 
groundwater, and dispose of or manage the brines resulting from 
desalination.
  In California, over the last two decades the population has grown by 
more than 30 percent while the water supply has increased by only 2 
percent. But as California's need for water increases, the number of 
available sources for drinking water are shrinking. For example, Lake 
Mead (on the Colorado River), has dropped 28 feet in the last two years 
and is on track to soon be at a 30 year low, a situation that has been 
exacerbated by the recent drought.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the North American Development Bank's 
mission of providing clean and safe water to all of America's southern 
border areas, especially southern California. By passing this 
legislation by unanimous consent, Congress has acknowledged southern 
California's dire need for ensuring an adequate water supply and the 
important role that the North American Development Bank can play in 
accomplishing this objective.

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