[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 AMENDING RECLAMATION PROJECTS AUTHORIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1992

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1284) to amend the Reclamation 
Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 to increase the 
Federal share of the cost of the San Gabriel Basin demonstration 
project.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Page 2, line 15, strike out ``$12,500,000'' and insert 
     ``$6,500,000''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1284 introduced by the gentlewoman from California 
(Mrs. Napolitano) increases the authorized Federal cost ceiling for the 
San Gabriel Demonstration Project by $12.5 million. The bill, as 
amended, reduces the Federal share from $12.5 million to $6.5 million.
  Local project sponsors have expressed a desire to expand the 
Demonstration Project, which treats contaminated groundwater and then 
delivers the effluent to nearby localities to justify the Federal cost 
ceiling increase. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1284, legislation to 
increase the spending cap imposed on the San Gabriel Basin 
Demonstration Project. The funding level for this program was capped at 
$38 million in 1996. With the increase authorized by H.R. 1284, 
communities in southeast Los Angeles County are assured of continued 
financial support for their groundwater cleanup projects.
  I extend my compliments to the gentlewoman from California for her 
tireless work on this bill and also wish to recognize the gentleman 
from California (Chairman Pombo), the ranking member, the gentleman 
from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer 
for their assistance. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1284, 
legislation to increase the spending cap imposed on the San Gabriel 
Basin Demonstration Project. Funding level for this program authorized 
in 1992 was capped at $38 million in 1996.
  I want to thank my California colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle--Chairman Dreier, Chairman Calvert and Chairman Pombo--for their 
continued assistance to me and other Members who are working to ensure 
a clean and reliable water supply for their local communities. I would 
also like to thank Ranking Member Rahall and Congresswoman Solis for 
their support of this bill.
  H.R. 1284, if enacted, would simply allow cities of Industry, El 
Monte and South El Monte located in and near my district throughout 
Southeast Los Angeles County to have the ability to request an 
additional $6.5 million in funding for assistance from the U.S. Bureau 
of Reclamation for cleanup of volatile organic compounds or VOC's once 
they are able to secure 75 percent State and local matching fund.
  Although the authorizing amount under this bill was decreased from 
$12.5 million to $6.5 million by the Senate, local water agencies and 
municipalities serving residents throughout my district in the San 
Gabriel Valley remain supportive of this bill, and they are eager to 
continue their aggressive groundwater cleanup efforts with the 
assurance of continued Federal funding.
  I urge my House colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1284, 
additional funding for the San Gabriel Valley Basin Demonstration 
Project.
  The San Gabriel Valley is facing serious water quality and public 
health problems. The aquifer is contaminated with volatile organic 
compounds and perchlorate, or rocket-fuel. Water providers in the San 
Gabriel Valley draw water from the Basin, home to Superfund sites that 
span more than 170 square miles. Despite its contamination, the Basin 
is needed to provide water to more than 1.5 million people.
  Our water agencies have done a wonderful job working to maintain a 
reliable, dependable and safe source of water, but they can not do it 
alone. This bill authorizes an additional $6.5 million to expand the 
Basin Demonstration Project to El Monte, South El Monte, and Puente 
Valley.
  I am proud to represent a community working so diligently to ensure 
long term reliability of its water supply, and I am proud that, 
together with Congresswoman Napolitano and Congressman Dreier, that we 
could secure these funds to help ensure a safe, reliable and dependable 
source of water for southern California.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 1284.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________