starttime 1255633451.67933
MR. CARNAHAN OF MISSOURI.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
>> MR. SPEAKER, PURSUANT TO
HOUSE RESOLUTION 830, I CAL
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION INTO THE
HOUSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
THE CLERK: UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
149, H.R. 2442, A BILL TO AMEND
THE RECLAMATION, WASTEWATER AND
GROUNDWATER
ACT TO EXPAND THE BAY AREA
REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING PROGRAM
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
PURSUANT WHO HOUSE RESOLUTI
830, THE YOU -- RESOLUTION 80,
IT IS CONSIDERED READ.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. MILLER, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WASHINGTON, MR. HASTINGS,
EACH WILL CONTROL 30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. MILLER: MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MA
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. MILLER: MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I WISH TO IN THE
VERY BEGINNING COMMEND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALORNIA, THE
CHAIRMAN OF OUR EDUCATION AND
LABOR, MR. GEORGE MILLER, FOR
THE TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP AND
DEDICATION AND PERSISTENCE AND
PATIENCE WITH WHICH HE HAS HANDLED THE PEBBEDING
LEGISLATION.
I WISH TO ALSO COMMEND THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIR LADY OF OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER, OUR
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE,
MRS. GRACE NAPOLITANO.
I DO RISE IN MY CAPACITY AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON
NATURAL RESOURCES TO SPORT THE
PENDING LEGISLATION WHICH WAS
FAVORABLY REPORTED OUT OF OUR
COMMITTEE WITHOUT CONTROVERSY.
BY NOW I WOULD THINK THAT MOST
OF US ARE AWARE THAT THEREARE
MAJOR ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH
DROUGHT AND AGRICULTURE IN
CAIFORNIA.
WHILE THE RAINY SEASON HAS HIT
LITTLE TO REFILL RESERVOIRS THAT
HAVEN'T SEEN NORMAL LEVEL OF
RAINFALL FOR YEARS.
THE IMPACTS OF THE DROUGHT ARE
OBVIOUS.
WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BROWN LAWNS, OR INCREASED
RATES FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES.
TO ADDRESS THIS DIRE SITUATION,
THE PENDING MEASURE IS BASED ON
CONSERVATION THROUGH REUSE.
BY RECYCLING WATER, THIS BILL
WOULD CREATE 39,000 ACRE FEET OF
WATER OR ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPLY
OVER 24,000 HOMES.
WE'RE BRINGING THIS LEGISLATION
UP UNDER A RULE TODAY BECAUSE A
VERY VOCAL MINORITY OPPOSED THIS
BILL FOR REASONS UNRE
THE MERITS OF THE LEGISLATION.
I'M FORTUNATE TO COME FROM A
STATE WITH A FUNDED WATER
RESOURCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WATER IS
CRITICAL FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND OUR
ECONOMY.
WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY
SOME MEMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE
WANT TO USE THIS BILL AS A
STRONG MAN SO THEY CAN DEMAGOGUE
DEMOCRATS ON THE DROUGHT ISSUE.
ONE REPUBLICAN MEMBER FROM
CALIFORNIA IN PARTICULAR FILED A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
VERY G
HEADLINES AND CONTROVERSY.
UNFORTUNATELY THE AMENDMENTS
WERE NOT GERMANE TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER OF THE BILL BEFORE US,
NOR ARE THEY VERY THOUGHTFUL AND
REALISTIC SOLUTIONS TO THE
CRISIS BEFORE US.
OPPOSITION TO THIS
IS LIKE CUTTING OFF ONE'S NOSE
TO FIGHT ONE'S FACE.
WATER ISSUES ARE NOT A ZERO SUM
GAME, CREATING MORE WATER
THROUGH REUSE AND URBANIZED
AREAS REDUCES PRESSURE ON WATER
DEMANDS ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.
IF OPPONENTS TO THIS BUDGET --
LEGISLATION WANT TO FIX
CALIFORNIA'S WATER WOES, I
SUGGEST GETTING REAL ABOUT
FINDING SOLUTIONS AND STOP THE
PARTISAN POLITICAL ATTACKS.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY CREATES
NEW WATER RESOURCES THROUGH
REUSE.
BILL WITHOUT ANY CONTROVERSY
INCLUDING BILLS FROM MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, UTAH AND
OREGON. THE ONLY REASON WE ARE HERE
TODAY DEBATING THIS LEGISLATION
IS BECAUSE ONE MEMBER THINKS THE
SOLUTION TO THE SEVERE DROUGHT
IS TO GUT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND
OVERTURN COURT DECISIONS.
PERHAPS THAT MEMBER SHOULD
PROPOSE A RAIN DANCE AS WELL.
SO IT IS TIME TO SUPPORT H.R.
2442 AND MOVE FORWARD WITH
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR A REAL
DROUGHT IN CALIFORNIA.
I URGE SUPPORT OF
LEGISLATION AND YIELD BACK MY
TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN SUSPEND?
THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER, A
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MS.
SECRETARY.
THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO INFORM
THE HOUSE THAT THE SENATE HAS
AGREED TO THE CONFERENCE REPORT
ACCOMPANYING H.R. 3183, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR WATER
DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GE
PROCEED.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF AS MUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE ARE YOU LUCK CONTAMINANTLY
TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.
I SAY SO RELUCTANTLY BECAUSE I
AND COLLEAGUES ON MY SIDE OF THE
AISLE DO SUPPORT WATER
RECYCLING.
WE THINK IT'S A VALUABLE TOOL IN
PROVIDING WATT TIER TO OUR
FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES A--
WATER TO OUR FARMERS AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA JUST
AS WATER STORAGE IS A TOOL FOR PROVIDING WATER FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
MR. SPEAKER, E DEMOCRAT
SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION AND
THE MANAGER OF THIS BILL, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, HAS
SAID PREVIOUSLY AND IS CORRECT
THAT REPUBLICAN WATER RECYCLING
BILLS HAVE PASSED THIS HOUSE.
THAT IS CORRECT.
THE QUESTION IS, THEN, WHY IS
THIS BILL DIFFERENT?
AND THE ANSWER, MR. SPEAKER, IS VERY SIMPLE -- SIMPLE.
WEN THERE IS AN ECONOMIC
DISASTER OCCURRING IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA,
WHEN MANMADE AND GOVERNMENT
ENFORCED DROUGHT HAS DRIED UP
FARM AFTER FARM IN THAT VALLEY,
WITH 40,000 WORKERS UNEMPLOYED,
STANDING IN FOOD LINES AND BEING
IGNORED BY THE LEADERSHIP IN
THIS HOUSE, WHEN SOLUTIONS TO
BRING WATER AND RELIEF TO THIS
AREA HAVE BEEN BLOCKED AND
STYMIED AGAIN BY THE LEADERSHIP
IN THIS HOUSE, THEN A POINT
COMES, MR. SPEAKER, WHEN MEMBERS
OF THIS HOUSE HAVTO SAY,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THE WATER RECYCLING BILL BEFORE
US BENEFITS THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
REPRESENTS THE CITY OF SAN
FRANCISCO.
AND ONE OF HER TOP DEPUTIES WHO
HAPPENS TO BE THE SPOPSER OF
THIS BILL, IS ALSO FROM THE BAY
AREA.
THIS BILL PROVIDES MILLIONS OF
FEDERAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THE
BAY AREA.
ALL THE WHILE, TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS SUFFER
ECONOMIC DEVASTATION JUST A FEW
HOURS SOUTH AND INLAND IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
ALL THAT WAS SOUGHT BY THE TWO
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS FROM THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY WAS THE EXPRESS
SUPPORT, I MIGHT ADD, OF ONE OF
THEIR MEMBERS FROM CALIFORNIA IN
THE SAME AREA ON THE RULES
COMMITTEE, WAS TO HAVE A CHANCE,
JUST A CHANCE, TO MAKE THEIR
CASE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND VOTE
FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS
IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
MR. SPEAKER, THEY DIDN'T ASK
THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT THEY
WANTED MADE IN ORDER TO BE
PASSED, THEY JUST ASKED FOR THE
ABILITY TO BE HEARD SO THEY CAN
PERSUADE OTHERS TO PERHAPS VOTE
WITH THEM.
THAT'S ALL ANOF US COULD ASK.
MR. SPEAKER, THAT CHANCE HAS
EN DENIED, IT'S BEEN BLOCKED.
THEIR AMENDMENTS WERE DEEMED
NONGERMANE.
IT'S BEEN LABELED AS IRRELEVANT
TO THE BILL BEFORE US.
MR. SPEAKER, MIGHT DOES NOT MAKE
RIGHT WHEN IT COMESO WHO
CONTROLS THE HOUSE BECAUSE WHAT
THE LEADERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO
DO IS POTENTIALLY PROVIDE RELIEF
TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HURT BY
JOAQUIN VALLEY.
A
GOVERNMENT.
IT'S BEEN STATED ALSO THAT THE
DROUGHT IS A CALIFORNIA ISSUE.
THE IMPLICATION OF THAT IS T
THIS IS NOT OF A CONCERN TO
OTHER AMERICANS.
MR. SPEAKER, THAT SIMPLY IS
WRONG.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA
DOES AFFECT ALL AMERICANS.
IF THIS WATER RECYCLING BILL TO
BENEFIT THE BAY AREA IS WORTHY
OF CONSIDERATION BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL 50 STATES
IN THIS HOUSE, THEN SO IS THE
DROUGHT DISASTER ISSUE.
MR. SPEAKER, IF THIS CAN HAPPEN
IN CALIFORNIA THEN WHAT OF THE
FARMERS IN THE CENTRAL
WASHINGTON DISTRICTS THAT I
REPRESENT?
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES
OF FARMLAND ARE IRRIGATED IN MY
DISTRICT WITH WATER DELI
FEDERAL PUMPS AND FROM FEDERAL
RESERVOIRS.
I DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE THE
GOVERNMENT FORCED DROUGHT
DEVASTATES THESE COMMUNITIES
THAT I REPRESENT.
NOW, MR. SPEAKER, THIS ISN'T THE
FIRST INCIDENCE WHEN FEDERAL
POLICIES HAVE THREATENED TO CUT
OF PEOPLE.
EARLIER IN THIS DECADE THE CITY
OF QUEARK IN NEW MEXICO WAS
THAT -- ALBUQUERQUE IN NEW
MEXICO WAS THREATENED WITH THE
LOSS OF ITS WATER SUPPLY DUE TO
THE PRESENCE OF THE SILVERY
MINNOW.
CONGRESS ACTED TO PROVIDE RELIEF
TO NEW MEXICO WHEN THE HOUSE AND
THE SENATE, IN A BIPARTISAN WAY,
VOTED FOR A REMEDY TO
ALBUQUERQUE'S PROBLEMS.
TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS
NO RELIEF TO
JOAQUIN VALLEY, AS RELIEF DID
COME TO THOSE IN ALBUQUERQUE.
AND THE RELIEF THAT IS BEING
SOUGHT, I MIGHT ADD, MR.
SPEAKER, IS NOT A BAILOUT.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE OFFERED
SIMPLY WERE A PLEA, AND NOT A
PLEA FOR STIMULUS FUNDING OR ANY
M
IT WAS SIMPLY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GET
PROVIDE FOR WATER FLOW.
IT DIDN'T COST ANYTHING.
BUT YET IT WAS NOT GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY.
BUT, MR. SPEAKER, IF THE HOUSE
IS GOING TO PROVIDE
AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND TENS OF
MILLIONOF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO
PROVIDEECYCLED WATER TO THE
THIS HOUSE SHOULD BE VOTING ON
LEGISLATION THAT BRINGS RELIEF
TO CALIFORNIANS SUFFERING FROM
THIS DEVTATING MANMADE
DROUGHT.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, IT'S ON THESE
GROUNDS, EVEN THOUGH I SUPPORT
THE CONCEPT OF WATER
IT'S ON THESE GROUNDS THAT I
HAVE TO STAND HERE AND URGE A NO
VOTE ON THIS BILL AND WITH THAT
I RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YIELD M
MINUTES FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ENTERING INTO A CO
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MRS. NAPOLITANO, THE CHAIRWOMAN
OF THE W
SUBCOMMITTEE
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR MY LEGISLATION, FOR HELPING TO
EXPAND THE CA
SUPPLY.
IS IT TRUE WHEN THE HOUSE
CONSIDERS THE WATER RECYCNG
BILL JUST LAST MONTH NO
AMENDMENTS WERE SOUGHT B
MINORITY AND NONE WERE INCLUDED
IN HIS WATER RECYCLING BILL AND
THAT WAS PROOF BY A VOICE VOTE?
MRS. NAPOLITANO: THAT IS
CORRECT.
THE ONE FOR MR. GALLEGLY WAS
PASSED AND NEEMEDS WERE ASKED
FOR AND NONE WERE INCLUDED.
M
ALSO TRUE THAT SO FAR THIS YEAR
THE HOUSE APROVED FIVE WATER
RECYCLING OR WATER REUSE BILLS
FOR MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY
PARTY AND NO AMEN
TIME WERE SOUGHT FOR ANY OF
THOSE FIVE BILLS, THAT THOSE
FIVE WATER BILLS WERE EACH
APPROVED UNDER SUSPENSION OF
THE RULES EITHER BY VOICE VOTE
OR A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY VOTE?
MRS. NAPOLITANO: THAT IS
CORRECT.
THE HOUSE APPROVED FIVE WATER
BILLS FOR MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY PARTY AND NO
AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED BY THE
MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY TO ANY
OF THOSE FIVE BILLS WHICH BY
THE WAY WAS MR. ISSA, MS. BONO,
MR. CHAFFETZ, MR. DREIER, AND
WERE APPROVED BY A VOICE VOTE OR SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY.
MR. MILLER: I THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I CAN PURSUE
FURTHER?
IS IT TRUE THAT WHEN MY BILL,
H.R. 2442, WAS CONSIDERED
EARLIER THIS YEAR, NO
AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED BY THE
MINORITY OR MAJORITY AND THE
BILL WAS REPORTED OUT BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT?
MRS. NAPOLITANO: TRUE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
H.R. 2442 WAS APPROVED BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND NO
AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED BY THE
MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY.
MR. MILLER: I THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED
FOR ENCAGING -- I
GENTLEWOMAN FOR GAGING IN
THIS COLLOQUY.
SHE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
AND AN IMPORTANT SOURCE THAT
NEW WATER IN CALIFORNIA AND
THROUGHOUT THE WEST AND
SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES?
MR. MILLER: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
FORMER MEMBER OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE, MR.
CALVERT.
MR. CALVERT: UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES THE LEGISLATION
BEFORE US WOULD BE APPROVED
WITHOUT MUCH ATTENTION OR
CONTROVERSY.
THE BILL SIMPLY AUTHORIZES
WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS WHICH
I STRONGLY SUPPORT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT LIVING
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE'RE LIVING ITHE MIDST OF A
CRISIS.
THE ONGOING WATER CRISIS IN
CALIFORNIA HAS CREATED AN
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN UP AND DOWN
THE STATE. STATEWIDE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS RISEN TO MORE THAN
12%.
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT HAS REACHED 20%
WITH SOME COMMUNITIES
UNEMPLOMENT NOW OVER 40%.
CALIFORNIA'S WATER CRISIS IS
THE RESULT OF DROUGHT
CONDITIONS ON TOP OF A
FEDERALLY IMPOSED PUMPING
RESTRICTION THAT'S BEEN PLACED
ON OUR STATE'S CRITICAL WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHILE IT IS HURTING CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY, THERE IS
NO CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE ACTUALLY
BENEFITING FROM THE MEASURES
INTENDED TO PROTECT THEM.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT FLAWS AND
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT HAS TIED THE HANDS
OF JUDGES CREATING A MAN-MADE
DROUGHT THAT'S CREE --
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
SO WHAT IS THE MAJORITY DOING
TO THE INEFFICIENCIES OF THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT?
THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING.
THE REALITY IS TH
OF THE HOUSE IS TOO AFRAID TO
ALLOW AN OPEN AND FREE DEBATE
ON THESE POLICIES BECAUSE THEY
KNOW IF REASONABLE PEOPLE ARE
GIVEN A CHANCE THEY WOULD OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT THEIR
POLICIES AIMED TO PROTECT FISH
AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO GIVE
WATER TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING JUST TO SURVIVE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS
SPONSORED BY MEMBERS IN THE
MINORITY THAT WOULD RESTORE
SOME COMMON SENSE TO OUR WATER
AND ENVIRONMENTAL POY CIS.
PERHAPS THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP WOULD ALLOW THESE
BILLS TO COME TO T
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS WOULD BE
APPROVED WITHOUT MUCH ATTENTION
OR MUCH CONTROVERSY.
WITH THAT I YIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS.
THE GENTL
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER.
MR. BLUMENAUER: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I LISTEN TO MY FRIEND FROM
CALIFORNIA SAY IF WE JUST ALLOW
SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS TO COME
TO THE FLOOR THEY WOULD BE
APPROVED WITHOUT ANY
CONTROVERSY.
I BEG TO DIFFER.
SUSS SPENDING THE ENDANGERED
SPECIE
BUYOUTS, DEALING WITH ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE
YEARS TO TRY AND BALANCE THE
EQUITIES WOULD BE NOTICED.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE
REPUBLICANS WHEN THEY
CONTROLLED EVERYTHING FOR SIX
YEARS DIDN'T MOVE ANHING
RE
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, NATIVE
AMERICANS, HUNTERS AND
FISHERMEN, THE FISHERIES
INDUSTRY, THEY RELY ON SOME
SEMBLANCE OF REALITY WHEN WE
ARE DEALING WITH WATER POLICY.
I COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN FOR
BRINGING FORWARD SOMETHING TH
IS A CONSTRUCTED SOLUTION THAT
CAN
TIED UP IN COURT FOR YEARS.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO PUT PEOPLE
OUT OF WORK.
IN FACT, GOING TO CREATE JOBS.
'S GOING TO CREATE WATER.
IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE
PRESSURE.
INSTEAD, WE ARE HEARING OUR
FRIENDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE IGNORE THE VERY REAL
PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACING
TODAY.
THIS IS NOT A MAN MADE
GOVERNMENT ENFORCED DROUGHT.
THE WATER ISN'T THERE.
AND TO OVERTURN MINIMAL
PROTECTIONS FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE FISHERSIES
-- FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC,
FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE END OF
THAT'S GOING TO RESTORE WATER THAT ISN'T THERE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP THE
CALIFNIA THAT'S TIED IN
KNOTS, THAT ITS L
CAN'T DEAL WITH THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE GROUNDWATER.
WE HAVE A CRIS IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT IS MAN MADE AND
GOVERNMENT CREATED, AND THAT IS
WE HAVEN'T BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT
THE MAN
RESOURCES.
THIS IS GOING TO GET WORSE
BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE,
GLOBAL WARMING AND EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING
THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST WITH DISAPPEARING
SNOW PACK, MORE STRAIN ON
RESERVOIRS, MORE CONFLICT
BETWEEN CITIES AND TOWNS AND
RURAL AREAS, BETWEEN WILDLIFE
AND NATIVE AMERICANS.
WE GOT TO GET SERIOUS.
WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS WITH
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS AND BEING
REALISTIC ABOUT WORKING
TOGETHER TO CREATE -- TO CREAT
THE -- A FRAMEWORK FOR DEALING
WITH WATER POLICY.
LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND
DO THAT TOGETHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S NOT
DEMAGOGUE IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
WATER IN CALIFORNIA NOW,
PUTTING P
MAYBES, JUST MAYBE STARTING AN
HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW
WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH A
NATIONWIDE WATER CRIS.
THANK YOU, A
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: THANK YOU, MR.
S
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE
RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE WATER
AND POWER SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE,
MR. MCCLINTOCK.
MR. MCCLINTOCK: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, THOSE WHO BLAME
THE DROUGHT FOR OUR PROBLEMS
IGNORE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A
VERY MILD DROUGHT BY HISTORICAL
STANDARDS.
DURING MUCH MORE SEVERE
DROUGHTS THAN THE ONE WE'RE
CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING, FAR
MORE WATER FLOWED TO THE
CENTRAL VALLEY.
I WONDER IF THE PROPONENTS
WOULD DENY THAT 200 BILLION
GALLONS OF WATER HAS BEEN
DIVERTED FROM THE CETRAL
VALLEY BY THESE REGULATIONS.
IT'S MORLEY -- MORALLY
UNCONSCIONABLE THAT WATER
RECYCLING BILLS TO BENEFIT THE
PAMPERED AND PRIVILEGED
COMMUNITIES OF SAN FRANCISCO
CAN SAIL THROUGH THE HOUSE
WHILE 40,000 FAMILIES HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS IN THE
VALLEY BECAUSE THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS DIVERTED 200 BILLION
GAONS OF WATER IN ORDER TO
IULGE ONE OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL LEFT'S CROSSES --
CAUSES.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
BAS ECONOMICS OF THESE
RECYCLING BILLS.
YOU KNOW, A GENERATION AGO THE
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF OUR
WATER POLICY WAS TO CREATE
ABUNDANCE.
THAT WAS WHERE THEY HAD A
CORNUCOPIA OF PLENTIFUL WATER
ON A SCALE TO VAST THAT MANY
COMMUNITIES DIDN'T BOTHER TO
METER IT.
THAT CLEAN, CHEAP AND ABUNDANT
WATER ALSO MADE AMERICA THE
BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD AND THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF
CALIFORNIA THE BREADBASKET OF
THAT STATE.
BUT THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS ABANDONED THAT POLICY AND
REPLACED IT WITH A VERY
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY, THAT THE
GOVERNMENT PRINCIPLE FOCUS
SHOULD NOT BE TO PRODUCE
ABUNDANT WATER BUT RATHER TO
RECYCLE WATER SHORTAGES THAT
GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED BY
ABANDONING ABUNDANCE AS ITS
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE.
THE RESULT IS INCREASINGLY
EXPENSIVE WATER.
BY ITS OWN ADMISSION, THIS
ADMINISTRATION NO LONGER
ANALYZING THE COSTS AND
BENEFITS OF PROJECTS IN THE
BILL BEFORE US.
ADMINISTRATION ADMITTED THAT IT
FACES A $600 MILLION BACKLOG OF
53 WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS
LIKE THESE, AND STIL HASN'T
BOTHERED TO PRIORITIZE THEM,
LET ALONE HOW TO FUND THEM.
THIS HAS A MATCH FOR SIX LOCAL
WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS IN THE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
IT INCREASES THE MAXIMUM
FEDERAL COST SHARE FOR TWO
OTHERS
ACCORDING TO THE SPONSORS IT
WILL PRODUCE 2.6 BILLION
GALLONS OF WATER.
THAT COMES TO ABOUT 8,000
ACRE-FEET.
LET'S DO THE MATH HERE.
$38 MILLION FOR 8,000
THAT COMES TO $4,500 PER
ACRE-FOOT.
THAT'S JUST THE PERIL SHARE.
THE TOTAL COST OF THESE
PROJECTS IS FOUR TIMES THAT
AMOUNT.
MORE THAN $18,000 PER
ACRE-FOOT.
NOW, LET'S COMPARE THAT TO THE
CAPITAL COST OF THE NEARBY DAM.
THAT WAS ROUGHLY $60 MILLION
IN 1968.
YOU DO THE INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.
IT'S $3.5 BILLION IN TODAY'S
MONEY.
THAT DAM PRODUCES 3 1/2 MILLION
ACRE-FEET OF WATER.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THE MODERN
DAY INFLATION ADJUSTED TO THE
COST OF THE DAM, INCLUDING THE
MASSIVE POWER PLANT, COMES TO
ABOUT $1,000 PER ACRE-FOOT.
THE PROJECTS IN THIS BILL COSTS
MORE THAN $18,000 PER ACRE-FOOT
OVERALL, INCLUDING $4,500 P
NATIONAL TREASURY, WHICH IN
CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, IS
EMPTY.
I RAISED THESE ISSUES IN
COMMITTEE.
I DID NOT ACTIVELY OPPOS THE
BILL BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAD YET
TO SET FISCAL STANDARDSOR
RECYCLING MEASURES LIKE THIS
ONE.
IT NEEDS TO.
BUT I ALSO MUST AGREE WITH
RANKING MEMBER HASTINGS AND
CONGRESSMAN NUNES AND OTHERS
THAT IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT WE
SHOULD VOTE FOR 2.5 BILLION
MORE GALLONS OF WATER FOR SAN
FRANCISCO WHILE TAKING AWAY 200
BILLION GALLONS OF WATER FROM
THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF
CALIFORNIA.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE CENTRAL
VALLEY TAXPAYERS ARE STRUGGLI
WITH UP TO 40% UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE AT THE SAME TIME ALL
TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING HIGHER
GROCERY BILLS AS A RESULT OF
THESE HEARTLESS WATER
DIVERSIONS.
T
ASKED TO PAY A SUPERPREMIUM
SUBSIDY TO BAY AREA WATER USERS
WHOSE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE
ENDORSED THIS.
AND ADD INASSAULT TO -- INSULT
TO INJURY, MR. NUNES CAN'T
SUBMIT A AMENDMENT -- AN
AMENDMENT.
SO FOR ALL
ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THE
BILL.
NOT ONLY CAN WE DO THIS BETTER,
WE CANNOT BE DO ANY WORSE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. THOMPSON.
MR. THOMPSON: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS, THIS
BILL IS ABOUT FREEING UP 2 1/2
MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER
AY THROUGH RECYCLING.
WATER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE
USED THROUGHOUT THE AFFECTED AREAS IN CALIFORNIA.
THIS REDUCES WATER DEMAND FOR
OUR STATE.
AGAIN, 2.
DAY. I WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING
THAT WAS SAID EARLIER AND THAT
IS THAT THE SALMON FISHERMEN IN
CALIFORNIA, THE SALMON FISH AND
FAMILIES WERE NOT HURT AND THE
CLAIMS THAT THEY WERE WERE
BOGUS.
MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS, THE --
SALMON FISHING -- FISHERMEN AND
THEIR FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT
ON THE NORTH COAST OF
CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN OUT OF
WORK FOR THREE OF THE PAST FOUR
YEARS.
MOSTLY BECAUSE OF ILL LEGAL,
BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS ISSUED BY
THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.
- ILLEGAL, BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS
ISUED BY THE PAST
ADMINISTRATION.
FARMERS SOUTH OF THE DELTA HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING DISASTER FUNDS
FOR THEIR WATER SHORTAGES.
$95 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS, THE
ILLEGAL BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS I
MENTIONED HELPED KILL SOME 800
SPAWNING SALMON AND DEVASTATING
D THE SALMON FISHING ALONG THE
SACRAMENTO RIVER.
THEY SAW THEIR SALMON
POPULATIONS GO FROM 800,000 TO
66,000 IN THREE SHORT YEARS.
MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS,
FISHING FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PUT
OUT OF WORK IN MY DISTRICT AND
UP THROUGH -- AND INTO OREGON.
THEY'VE LOST THEIR HOMES.
THEY'VE LOST THEIR SAVINGS AND
THEY'VE LOST THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
IT'S NOT BOGUS AND IT'S
SHAMEFUL TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS.
BUT THE HEART OF THE ISS
THAT'S HERE TODAY, THE
PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL FEEL
COMFORTABLE AS CHOOSING ONE
BUSINESS MORE SUPERIOR TO
ANOTHER.
THE OPPONENT'S
ABOUT SOLUTIONS BUT RATHER
ABOUT SUGGESTING -- CAN I GET
-
MR. MILLER: ANOTHER ONE.
MR. THOMPSON: SUGGESTING THAT
MORE HARDWORKING FARMERS ARE
MORE HARD WORKING THAN
FISHERMEN IS WRONG.
THIS BILL WILL ULTIMATELY
CONSERVE 2 1/2 MILLION GALLONS
OF WATER PER DAY FOR DROUGHT-STRICKEN CALIFORNIA.
THIS
HELPS BRING FLEXIBILITY TO OUR
SYSTEM.
I WANT TO THANK MR. MILLER FOR
HIS BILL AND HIS EFFORT TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDE
MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY.
I WANT TO UR
VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT AND FOR THE UNDERLYING
BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS
RECOGNIZED.
M
INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT ON
BOTH SIDES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: YOU
HAVE 17 1/2 MINUTES LEFT AND THE
MAJORITY, 19 1/2 MINUTES.
MR. HASTINGS: OK. MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD THREE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM E
OUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, MR.
MCCARTHY.
MR. MCCARTHY: I THANK MY DEAR
FRIEND.
MR. SPEAKER, AS I LISTEN TO THIS
DEBATE, MANY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN
MAJORITY.
THEY NOT ONLY SHOW IT IN
COMMITTEE
BILLS COME TO THE FLOOR.
THE IDEA THAT -- DOESN'T HA
HERE.
THEY GO TO THE RULES COMMITTEE
AND DENY AN AMENDMENT TO EVEN
COME FORWARD.
THEY DO A COLLOQUY ON THE OTHER
SIDE TO TALK ABOUT BILLS THAT
HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A COLLOQUY TO
TALK ABOUT THE BILLS THAT HAVE
BEEN DENIED. I
VALLEY WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT IS
DOUBLE-DIGITS
SOME CITIES HAVE 40%
UNEMPLOYMENT.
BUT I DON'T HEAR A COLLOQUY FROM
Y FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE TO TALK ABOUT H.R.
3105, TURN THE PUMPS ON ACT.
THAT WE HAD 200 BILLION GALLONS
A YEAR BEING DENIED TO THE
THE PARTY IN POWER SHOWS WHERE
THEIR DESIRE IS TO GO.
TO DENY THE VALLEY'S ABILITY TO
CREATE JOBS.
I WANT TO REMIND MY FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHEN
WE HAD THE RULES DEBATE, A QUOTE
HE ONCE SAID THE NATION WITH THE
STRAIGHTEST SAIL DESTROYS IT
SELF.
THE PIPES ARE DRY, THE LAND IS
NO LONGER ABLE TO PRODUCE.
BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE
THAT WAY.
MANMADE DROUGHTS CAN CHANGE.
AND WHAT THE DEBATE TODAY IS
ABOUT AND WHAT THE PASSION YOU
FEEL FROM THIS SIDE, THE NOT A
PARTISAN PASSION.
THIS IS A PASSION
INDEPENDENCE, A PASSION OF
DEMOCRATS AND A PASSION OF
REPUBLICANS.
THIS A -- I LISTENED TO A
COLLEAGUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE -- BRING THEM HERE.
YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU HAVE THE
MAJORITY, DO NOT DENY THEM, DO
NOT DENY THE AMENDMENT.
LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER OF
THE IDEA TO WIN AT THE END OF
THE DAY.
WHEN YOU TALK OF A BILL THAT
PRODUCED 2.6 BILLION GALLON A
YEAR BUT YOU DENY BILLS THAT
DENY 200 BILLION GALLONS THIS
YEAR FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEY, NO
LONGER -- YOU TALK OF THE VALLEY
BEING DRY.
YOU LOOK AT THE RALLIES THAT
HAVE BEEN CREATED AND YOU LOOK
AT THE FACES, THEY'RE A MICROS
COULD MUCH OF AMERICA. FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE.
AND THEY COME THERE WITH ONE
SIGN, TURN THE PUMPS ON.
AND THAT IS OUR MESSAGE TODAY.
THAT IS OUR MESSAGE WITH TH
BILL, THAT W
MAKE THE DECISION TO GET THE
WATER PUMPING AGA.
I YIELD BACK -- I YIELD BACK
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINON
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. LOFGREN.
MS. LOFGREN: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
CALIFORNIA'S IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE DROUGHT.
THE SALMON FISHERS ARE IN THE
THIRD YEAR OF NO SEASON.
FARMERS ARE HURTING, FISHERMEN
ARE HURNG, BUT THIS BILL
ACTUALLY HELPS THAT PROBLEM.
I COME FROM SILICON VALLEY WHERE
HALF OF OUR WATER COMES FROM THE
DELTA.
I'VE HEARD THE NAME SAN FRANCISCO MENTIONED.
THIS HE DON'T GET ANY OF THEIR
WATER FROM THE DELTA AND THEY
DON'T HAVE ANY PROJECTS IN THIS
BILL.
BUT SILICON VALLEY GETS HALF ITS
WAT FROM THE DELTA.
AND THE PROJECTS THAT LL FLOW
TO SILICON VALLEY TO REUSE THE
WATER WE HAVE FROM OUR
GROUNDWATER SOURCES ARE GOING TO
FRE UP WATER FOR THE DELTA.
IT WILL FREE UP WATER FOR THE
FARMERS AND
AND I COUNT THAT A GOOD THING.
WE CAN GET BOMB BASS TICK HERE,
ALL OF US, IT HURTS US WHEN OUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE HURT.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THIS IS A SOLUTION, THIS IS A
SOLUTION.
SILICON VALLEY DOESN'T HAVE ANY
FARMERS AND IT DOESN'T REALLY
HAVE ANY COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN.
WE MAKE CHIPPING.
WE ALSO HAVE DOUBLE-DIGIT
UNEMPLOYMENT.
SO WE'RE ALL NEEDING TO PULL
TOGETHER HERESILICON VALLEY IS
WILLING TO DO ITS PART TO
RECYCLEO THAT THE WATER CAN
FLOW TO THOSE IN NEED.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT
THAT ALTHOUGH WE ALL VALUE SAN
FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE HAS A
MILLION PEOPLE AND SINCE SAN
FRANCISCO ISN'T PART OF THIS
BILL A AT ALL, PERHAPS WE SHOULD
REFER TO THIS AS THE SAN JOSE
BAY AREA IN THE FUTURE.
THE SAN JOSE BAY AREA IS WILLING
TO HELP OUT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
THE RECOGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. SPEAKER,
REFERENCE WAS MADE AS TO WHY WE
ARE DEBATING THIS BILL ON THE FLOOR WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE
CONCEPT OF THIS BILL BRINGS
FORWARD WATER RECYCLING HAS
BROAD SUPPORT IN THIS
BUT THE INTEREST WAS -- ERCHES
WAS MADE THAT THE ONLY REASON
WE'RE DEBATING THIS IS BECAUSE
OF ONE MEMBER, DOESN'T SAY WHERE
HE'S FROM BUT I ASSUME EYES FROM
CALIFORNIA, WHO HAS BEEN VERY
OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THE ECONOMIC
DISASTER GOING ON IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS
DEFENDING WHAT HE THINKS IS
RIGHT FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS.
AND HE IS DOING ALL THE RIGHT
THINGS WITHIN THE RULES OF THIS
HOUSE TO BRING THIS ISSUE
FORWARD SO WE CAN HAVE A DEBATE.
AND THE EFFORTS WE'VE ALSO MADE
BY THOSE REMARKS THAT THIS WAS
PARTISAN IN NATURE.
WELL, I WILL JUST REMIND, MR.
SPEAKER AND MY COLLEAGUES THAT
TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, HAD
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
NOW, -- OR BIPARTISAN
OPPOSITION.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE RULE
VOTES, THEY'RE GENERALLY ALONG
PARTY LINES.
YES, MR. SPEAKER, 23 DEMOCRATS
VOTED AGAINST THIS RULE.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVATION
OF ALL OF THEM BUT I WOULD
CERTAINLY HOPE AND I WOULD GUESS
THEY PROBABLY VOTED NO BECAUSE
THEY FELT THIS ISSUE WAS WORTHY
OF DEHE BAIT.
AND I MIGHT ADD, OF THOSE 23,
FOUR OF THEM ARE FROM THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IN
WHICH THIS BILL PASSED OUT BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
BUT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ON
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE ISSUE
AND THE COSTS.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, I JUST WANT TO
MAKE THIS POINT.
WHEN SOMEBODY IS ACCUSED OF
DEFENDING THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN
A NEGATIVE WAY, THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS HOUSE IS ALL ABOUT.
EVERY MEMBER SHOULD BE DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DEFEND
THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
SO THE DEBATE ON THIS REALLY, I
BELIEVE, IS EVOLVING INTO A
BIPARTISAN DEBATE TO HAVE A
SECONDS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: BUT WE HAVE BEEN
DENIED THAT.
I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THERE
WILL BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES LATER
ON FOR US TO REVISIT THIS AND
HAVE THESE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD BY MY
COLLEAGUES THAT LIVE IN THESE
AREAS, IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, TO
BE DEBATED.
WITH THAT I RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GEN
RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YLD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. SPEERS.
MS. SPEIER: I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I SALUTE MY GOOD FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, MR. MILLER, ON HIS
GOOD WORK.
THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE, AS HAS
BEEN SAID ALREADY, 2.6 BILLION
GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR TO
DROUGHT-STRICKEN CALIFORNIA.
ADDING ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPLY --
TO MEET THE DEMANDS TO NEARLY
25,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND IT WILL
ALSO GENERATE EITHER DIRECT OR
INDIRECTLY 3,500 JOBS.
MR. SPEAKER, ATTACKING A WATER
RECYCLING MEASURE THAT IS
DESIGNED TO HELP ALL OF
CALIFORNIA IS TRULY
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
THE NORTH COAST COUNTWATER
DISTRICT BASED IN MY
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS SAID,
AND I QUOTE, AS CALIFORNIA
CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE DROUGHT
CONDITIONS, INCREASED DEMAND FOR
WATER AND STRAIN ON THE DELTA
SUPPLIES LIKE THOSE AUTHORIZED
IN H.R. 2442 PROVIDE A LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION ESSENTIAL
TO CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY.
END QUOTE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THAT
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE
AGREE THAT WATER RECYCLING HELPS
REDUCE STRESS ON CALIFORNIA'S
FRAGILE FRESHWATER SYSTEM AND
THEY HAVE APPROVED WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS FOR
CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE
WESTERN REGION ON A BIPARTISAN
I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN AND
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS
COGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. SPEAKER, I
AMBITION VERY PLEASED TO YIELD
FIVE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, MR. NUNES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES. MR. NUNES: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND I THANK MY FRIEND
FROM WASHINGTON.
SINCE THIS HOUSE IS BEING DENIED
THE OPPORTUTY TO DEBATE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE A
MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE
CALIFORNIA WATER CRISIS, I THINK
IT'S APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE BILL BEFORE
US TODAY. THIS BILL FUNDS A WATER
RECYCLING PROJECT FOR THE BAY
AREA, THAT'S IT.
THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL POUNDS
HIS CHEST AND SAYS HE'S
PROVIDING 2.6 BILLION GALLONS
WAFF THE -- OF WATER FOR HIS
CONSTITUENTS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WHAT THE RESPONSE ALREADY NOT
DISCLOSE -- SPONSOR WILL NOT
DISCLOSE IS THAT HE HAS WORKED
CONSISTENT TO DENY DELIVERY OF
200 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER TO
AN AREA THAT HAS 40%
UNEMPLOYMENT IN SOME CASES, THAT
HAS FOLKS STANDING IN FOOD LINES
AND LAND DRY WITH TUMBLEWEEDS.
IT'S EYE RON TAKE THIS BILL
PROVIDES WATER ONLY TO ONE
LITTLE AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO,
THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY
AREA, WHICH ALREADY
PRISTINE WATER FROM A BEAUTIFUL
FROM WHERE I LIVE.
YOU HEARD ME CORRECT.
THE BAY AREA GETS WATER FROM ONE
OF THE NATION'S FLAG SHIP
NATIONAL PARKS.
THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO,
KNOWING THAT IT NEED TO
PROVIDE WATER TO ITS CITIZENS,
DESTROYED A PORTION OF YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK TO CONSTRUCT ITS
OWN WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIR.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
TH
BEFORE, IF YOU'VE EVER B
YOSEMITE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT LOOKS VERY
SIMILAR TO THE VALLEY BUT NOW
IT'S DAMMED UP.
TO THE PEOPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
IT'S REALLY NOT THE WORST OF IT
BECAUSE WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT
HOW THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
CARED SO MUCH ABOUT THE FISH.
AND THE POOR FISHERMEN THAT ARE
LOSING THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THE
WATER IS NOT BEING DELIVERED TO
THE DELTA, TO SAVE ALL THESE
FIS
LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT A
LITTLE MAP.
THIS IS HETCHHETCHY, YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK.
HERE'S THE DAM.
AND THE WATER IS PIPED.
THERE'S NOT A RIVER.
IT'S PIPED DIRECTLY INTO THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
THIS IS THE SAME WATER, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT WOULD GO DOWN TO
SAVE THE FISH TO TAKE -- THAT
THEY CARE ABOUT SO MUCH.
SO DO THEY HONESTLY CARE ABOUT
FISH OR COULD -- DOUGH THIS --
DO THEY REALLY JUST CARE ABOUT
PROVIDING WATER TO THEIR PEOPLE
AND SERVING THEIR RADICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE
WORKED FOR DECADES TO CUT WATER
OFF TO PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST
TRYING TO PROVIDE FOOD
AMERICA?
THE LEADERS IN THE
THE SURROUNDING REGION HAVE USED
THEIR MUSCLE IN THE PAST TO
ACTUALLY GET BY OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.
THEY NOT ONLY DESTROYED THE
BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PA WHEN
THEY NEEDED WATER, THEY
SUBSEQUENTLY EXEMPTED THE WATER
PROJECT FROM THE WILD AND SCENIC
RIVERSCT, THAT'S WHY THEY
BUILT THE PIPE, SO THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE TO HAVE A RIVER.
WHEN THE BAY AREA NEEDED TO ADD
TO ITS RUNWAY, THEY EXEMPTED
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS TO BUILD A
NEW AIRPORT IN THE BEAUTIFUL SAN
FRANCISCO BAY, ONE OF THE
GREATEST AREAS OF CALIFORNIA.
BUT DESPITE THEIR OWN RECD,
WHEN FOLKS A MERE TWO HOURS AWAY
ARE BLED DRY OF WATER, THEY HAVE
OPPOSED A TEMPORARY WAIVER TO
ALLOW NOT TWO BILLION GALLONS OF
WATER LIKE THIS BILL DOES BUT
20 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER.
I SUPPORT THESE WATER RECYCLING
PROJECTS BUT I OPPOSE THIS BILL
BECAUSE THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL
IS THE LEADER OF THE EFFORT TO
CUT OFF
WATER THAT WOULD SERVE THE
GREATER SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, LOS
ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO.
SO ABSENT THE INCLUSION OF
LANGUAGE THAT WILL ADDRESS THIS GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED DROUGHT,
THIS BILL SHOULD BE REJECTED.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. FARR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
MR. FARR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR YIELDING.
GREATEST AGRICULTURE IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ND GUESS WHAT?
WE DON'T GET A DROP OF THAT
WATER FROM ANYWHERE BUT THE SKY
THAT IT FALLS OUT OF AND ALL OF
THE WASTEWATER THAT WE RECYCLE,
THE LARGEST RECYCLING PROJECT
IN THE UNITED STATES, IN THE
WORLD, IRGAITING AGRICULTURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU PEOPLE
LIVING IN GLASS HOUSES
SHOULDN'T THROW STONES.
YOU TOOK A DESERT IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY AND USING
TAXPAYERS' MONEY YOU BUILD ALL
THESE PUBLIC SYSTEMS, DAMMING
UP THOSE RIVERS -- AND I'M GLAD
MR. NUNES IS GOING TO SUPPORT
US IN TEARING DOWN THAT DAM,
AND DAMMED UP THOSE RIVERS TO
GET ALL OF THE WATER INTO THE
CANALS TO TAKE THEM INTO A
DESERT.
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
IT DIDN'T RAIN.
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE CAUGHT
IN A DROUGHT.
SO WHO DO YOU BLAME? YOU BLAME EVERYTHING.
YOU BLAME THE DEMOCRATS.
YOU BLAME THE WATER.
YOU BLAME THE SKY.
DIDN'T FALL OUT OF THE SKY, BUT
YOU BLAME EVERY LAW THAT'S OUT
THERE.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES
SHOULDN'T THROW STONES BECAUSE
WHAT YOU ARE DOING ABOUT
RECYCLING ALL OF THE WASTEWATER
YOU'RE CREATING?
YOU ALWAYS HAD THAT.
OUR COMMUNITIES PUT THEIR MONEY
UP.
THIS BILL SAYS YOU HAVE TO PUT
UP 3/4 OF THE MONEY BEFORE YOU
EVEN COME AND HELP -- ASK HELP
FROM WASHINGTON.
FRANKLY, IT OUGHT TO BE THE
OTHER WAY AROUND.
RECYCLING IS SO IMPORTANT WE
SHOULD BE DOING IT IN EVERY
COMMUNITY OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
HE
1/3 HELP.
DON'T THINK THAT BECAUSE ONE
PART OF ONE STATE DIDN'T GET
ENOUGH RAIN LAST YEAR THAT WE
OUGHT TO BURY THE WHOLE THING
TRYING TO GET RECYCLED WATER.
GUESS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GET
THAT RECYCLED WATER?
YOU FREE UP PORTABLE WATER THAT
CAN GO TO OTHER THINGS.
> WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
MR. FARR: NO.
YOU'LL HAVE TIME.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT PORTABLE
WATER YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE USING
IT FOR AGRICULTURE.
YOU OUGHT TO BE USING IT FOR
DRINKING PURPOSES.
THE GULF COURSES ON THE
MONTERREY PENINSULA IRGAITED BY
RECYCLED WATER.
PEBBLE BEACH, CYPRUS, ALL THESE
BIG FAMOUS GOLF COURSES.
SO I THINK THOSE PEOPLE THAT
ARE CRITICIZING THIS BILL ARE
CRITICIZING THE FACT THAT WE
DIDN'T GET ENOUGH RAIN IN SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY OUGHT TO BE
ASKING FOR US TO HELP THEM --
HELP THEM GET RECYCLING
PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
LIKE WE HAVE IN THE SALINAS
CENTRALY.
WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BUT
WE GOT TO -- VALLEY.
WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BUT
WE HAVE TO SOLVE THEM IN
DIFFERENT WAYS AND ONE IS
RECYCLING.
THIS BILL IS GOOD FOR A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. I WOULD URGE AN AYE VOTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THEIR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD A MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. NUNES: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO REMIND MY DEMOCRAT
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE THAT THERE WERE TWO
PRESIDENTS THAT WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING THE
WATER PROJECTS THAT TURNED A
DESERT INTO THE MOST PRODUCTIVE
AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE WORLD.
ONE WAS NAMED FRANKLIN
ROOSEVELT.
AND THE OTHER WAS NAMED JOHN F.
KENNEDY.
LAST TIME I CHECKED THEY WERE
BOTH DEMOCRATS.
THAT WAS BACK WHEN THE
DEMOCRATS CARED ABOUT PROVIDING
JOBS TO PEOPLE INSTEAD OF
SERVING THEIR RADICAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS IN THE
BAY AREA.
MY HAVE WE GONE A LONG WAY IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IT'S
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
RESERVES.
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: I HAVE NO FURTHER
SPEAKERS SO I'LL RESERVE UNTIL IT'S TIME TO CLOSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. S
MUCH TIME ON BOTH SIDES?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN CONTROLS 6 1/2
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
CONTROLS 13 MINUTES.
MR. HASTINGS: MR. EAKER, IF
THE GENTLEMAN IS PREPARED TO
CLOSE, I UNDERSTAND, MR.
SPEAKER -- I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR
STOOD UP AND ASKED MY DEAR
FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
FARR, TO YIELD AND HE SAID HE
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO YIELD
BECAUSE I WANTED TO POINT OUT
SOMETHING HE SAID TO CLARIFY AT
LEAST WHAT I THINK IS HIS
INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HE WAS
SAYING.
HE WAS SAYING THAT THESE WATER
RECYCLING BILLS ARE 25/75
MATCH.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE BILL SAYS.
THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT,
HOWEVER, IN THIS BILL FOR THOSE
RECIPIENTS OF THESE FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO REPAY THESE FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I COME FROM
CENTRAL WASHINGTON, BUREAU OF
DAM, AND WHILE THEY WERE BUILT
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S
TRUE THOSE MONEYS HAVE TO BE
PAID BACK BY THOSE IRRIGATION
COMMUNITIES.
WE DON'T GET A 50% CUT.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES.
NO PUN INTENDED ON THAT.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, AS I HAVE
MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
THAT I RELUCTANTLY OPPOSE THIS
BILL BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES NOT
DO.
AND, OF COURSE, WHAT IT DOES
NOT DO IS TO PROVIDE FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS A VERY,
VERY SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEM
IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OF
CALIFORNIA.
AS I MENTIONED ON THE RULE,
SUPPORTED REPUBLICANS ON THIS.
THIS WOULD INDICATE TO ME, I
WOULD HOPE, THAT THERE IS
GROWING SUPPORT FOR HAVING THIS
ADDRESSED IN A MANNER ON THE
HOUSE -- ON THE FLOOR OF THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THAT IS
THE CASE.
AND IF OPPOSITION FROM ME AND
OTHERS IS A WAY TO GET TO THAT
POINT, I WILL BE VERY, VERY
BUT WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
HAVE TO STAND UP AND
RELUCTANTLY OPPOSE THIS BILL
FOR THE MANY REASONS I SAID IN
MY PREVIOUS REMARKS.
AND WITH THAT I'LL YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. MILLER: MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO BEGIN
BY THANKING CHAIRWOMAN
NAPOLITANO AND CHAIRMAN RAHALL,
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FULL COMMITTEE AND CHAIRWOMAN
NAPOLITANO OF THE UBCOMMITTEE
ON WATER AND POWER FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION FOR
SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF
WATER SUPPLIES IN
DROUGHT-STRICKEN REGIONS OF OUR
COUNTRY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER ALL
OF THE DEBATE, THIS IS
LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR WATER REUSE AND RECYCLING.
WATER REUSE AND RECYCLING IS
DESPERATELY NEED IN OUR STATE
OF CALIFORNIA.
THIS IS A POLICY THAT'S
SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
STATE, INCLUDING THE VALLEY,
BUT THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. EVERY PART OF THE STATE
UNDERSTANDS THE EXTENT TO
WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE NEW
SUPPLIES OF WATER THROUGH USE
AND REUSE OF CYCLING.
PEOPLE SAID I WAS HERE
ADDED A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA SINCE THE
LAST DROUGHT.
WE DIDN'T DO MUCH ABOUT WATER
POLICY SINCE THAT TIME.
BUT NOW WE PUT TOGETHER A
COALITION FOR PEOPLE THAT
BATTLEOVER THE YEARS,
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRI
CONTRACOSTA WATER DISTRICT, THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, WHY ARE THEY
COMING TOGETHER?
BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE HOW
VALUABLE REUSE AND RECYCLING
WILL BE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA GOING FORWARD TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS GROWING ECONOMY, OF ITS DIVERSE
ECONOMY, OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
AGRICULTURE, OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF BRINGING NEW BUSINESSES TO
CALIFORNIA, OF DEVELOPING AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE CLEAN WATER
AVAILABLE FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY
THROUGHOUT THE STATES.
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL, THIS POLICY SPEAKS.
IT SPEAKS TO SO MANY AREAS OF
THE STATE.
IT SPEAKS -- THIS POLICY SPEAKS
TO ORANGE COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO
COUNTY AND L.A. COUNTY AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY, AND MONTERREY
COUNTY,
WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF A SYSTEM
THAT'S OVERDESCRIBED, NOT JUST
IN DROUGHT YEARS -
OVERSUBSCRIBED NOT JUST IN
DROUGHT YEARS BUT EVERY YEAR.
NOW, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
SUGGESTED THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS
A BILL IN WHICH WE SHOULD
SETTLE CALIFORNIA WATER ISSUES.
I FIND IT RATHER INTERESTING IN
FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE
PASSED THE SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY
RECYCLE AND WATER PLANT FOR MR. CALVERT, THERE WAS NO
DISCUSSION OF THIS.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF
AMENDMENTS.
THERE WAS NO SUGGESTION THAT
THIS WAS HIGH ON ON
CALIFORNIA WATER.
WHEN WE PASSED THE LAKE HODGES
SURFACE TER IMPROVEMENT ACT
IN APRIL FOR MR. BILBRAY, NO
DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS.
NO NEED TO SETTLE THESE ISSUES HERE.
THEY NEVER ASKED FOR TIME.
THEY NEVER ASKED FOR
A
THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR A VOTE.
THEY DID IT UNANIMOUSLY AND BY
VOICE VOTE.
THE WATER DISTRICT FOR MR.
CHAFFETZ IN UTAH, NO DI
THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THE UTAH
BILL AND BATTLE IT OUT OVER
CALIFORNIA WATER.
NO SUGGESTION THAT SOMEHOW WE
WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING
OTHER THAN THAT.
IN SEPTEMBER, JUST A MONTH AGO,
WITH MR. GALLEGLY, FO
WATER DISTRICT, NO SUGGESTION
OF THIS.
NO REQUEST FOR
NO DEBATE IN THE COMMITTEE ON
THIS.
AND THEN AGAIN LAST MONTH, MR.
WALDEN FROM OREGON, NO
SUGGESTION WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
THEREGON BILL AND SETTLE THE
CALIFORNIA ISSUE.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
IN CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT
COMPLEX PROBLEM.
THE LEGISLATION, OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN STRUGGLING
FOR IT FOR TWO YEARS. THEY ARE IN SPECIAL SESSION
RIGHT NOW.
KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE VOTES OR
NOT TO DO THAT.
BUT PEOPLE ARE GETTING TOGETHER
TO TRY TO SOLVE IT.
WHEN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION
CAME IN -- BECAUSE I DON'T
REMEMBER YOU ASKING FOR THIS IN
THE FIRST YEAR OF THE DROUGHT
OR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE
YEAR OF THE DROUGHT.
BU
WHAT, 10 MONTHS AND SOMEHOW
IT'S HIS PROBLEM.
W
COME TO TOWN AND DID HAVE A
SECRE
HAVE A SECRETARY OF COMMERCE,
THEY IMMED
ATTENTION ON THIS PROBLEM.
AND WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY MET WITH THE CROSS-SECTION
OF OUR DELEGATION TO SEE HOW
THEY COULD BRING THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR TOGETHER, THE BUREAU
OF R WILDLIFE SERVICE.
THEY SENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO THE VALEY TO TRY TO GET
RELIEF TO FARMERS AND THEY
SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS.
I SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS TO
CHANGE THE LAW THAT I WROTE 10
CAN HAVE
EAST TO WEST IN THE VALLEY.
THAT'S PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT'S NOT PEOPLE JUST STANDING
BACK AND SNIPING BILLS THEY
COME THROUGH AND PRETEND THEY
WANT TO MAKE POLICY OR THEY
WANT TO CHANGE POLICY.
THAT'S JUST POLITICAL SNIPING.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THEY CHOSE
NOT TO SNIPE ON ANY REPUBLICAN
BILL.
THEY JUST DECIDED THEY WOULD
SNIPE ON THIS BILL.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT
THE END OF THE DAY THIS
LEGISLATION IS ABOUT WHETHER OR
THE FUTURE, WHETHER OR NOT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE ECONOMIC
GROWTH, WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN
USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S NOW
AVAILABLE TO US, TO PROVIDE FOR
RECYCLING, TO PROVIDE FOR REUSE
OF WATER.
WATER FOR 24,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE
LEGI
FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FOR
ORANGE COUNTY, FOR SBERNSBERN,
AND THE PROJECTS -- FOR
BERNARDINO AND THE PROJECTS.
THERE IS A $600 BILLION BACKLOG
BECAUSE THE LAST ADMINISTRATION
WOULDN'T RELEASE ANY MONEY.
WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE THE
ATTENTION, WE WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO HAVE THE ATTENTION OF THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THE
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO HELP
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
WHAT DID HE DO?
THEY LET SOME UNDERSECRETARY
WANDER AROUND CHANGING THE
SCIENCE SO WE LOST ALMOST 18
MONTHS.
AND WE HAD TO GO BACK TO REDO
AL OF THE SCIENCE BECAUSE THEY
CHANGED IT AND THEY GOT CAUGHT
AT IT.
CRIMINAL CHARGES WERE PENDING
AT ONE POINT.
SO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
HERE?
THE SUGGESTION THAT SOMEHOW
THIS ALL COMES TOGETHER AROUND
THIS BILL IS TO FORGET HISTORY,
TO FORGET THE INATTENTION TO
THIS PROBLEM WE DEALT WOFERE
THE LAST EIG YEARS AND TO
SUGGEST THAT SOMETHING THAT
THIS CAN ALL BE SETTLED HERE.
WHAT THIS BILL CAN DO IS MAKE A
MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO RELEAVING THE URBAN PRESSURE ON THE
SYSTEM BY CREATING THIS AND RECYCLING OF WATER.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY COLLEAGUES
-- PROJECTS ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE A
WERE CONTRIBUTING.
THIS IS ONE PIECE.
WE HOPE IT FWROSE.
WE HOPE IT BECOMES MORE
VALUABLE.
IT'S BIPARTISAN AND HAS BEEN
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
WHEN I ASKED FOR STIMULUS MONEY
TO GO TO RECYCLING, I ASKED THE
ADMINISTRATION, I SAID, DO IT
ON THE BASIS OF THE PRIORITIES.
DO IT AS THEY'RE STANDING IN
LINE.
SOME CITIES HAVE BEEN WAITING A
LONG TIME FOR THIS.
THEY MAY BE FURTHER A
JUST LET THEM COME AS THEY COME
UP IN LINE.
THIS ISN'T PARTISAN.
THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
PEOPLE WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
YOU WANT TO MAKE POL
POINTS?
ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WON'T CHANGE, THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WON'T CHANGE ACROSS OUR STATE.
I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION, AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED. PURSUANT TO THE HOUSE
RESOLUTION 830, THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS OERED ON THE
BI
THE QUESTION IS ON ENGROSSMENT
AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THIRD READING.
THE CLERK:
GROUNDWATER FACILITY TO EXPAND
THE BAY AREA REGIONAL WATER
RECYCLING PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHA
FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
>> MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE A MOTION
TO R
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: IS THE
GENTLEMAN OPPOSED TO THE BILL?
MR. NUNES: IN THE CURRENT FORM,
YES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION.
THE CLERK: MR. NUNES OF
CALIFORNIA MOVES TO RECOMIT
THE BILL H.R. 2442 TO THE
COMM
WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT THE
SAME BACK TO THE HOUSE FORTH
WITH WITH THE FOLLOWING
AMENDMENT -- AT THE END OF THE
BILL ADD THE FOLLOWING --
SECTION 4, CENTRAL VALLEY
PROJECTS.
A, N
OR REALLOCATION OF WATER
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
MR. MILLER: I ASK THAT
MOTION TO RECOMMIT CONTAINS A
NONGERMANE INSTRUCTION UNDER
CLAUSE 7.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RAISES A POINT OF ORDER.
BE HEARD ON THE POINT OF ORDER?
.
NUNENUN
IS PRETTY SIMPLE AND WHAT WE
HAVE BEFORE US IS LEGISLATION
THAT IS IDENTICAL TO LEGISLATION
2003 WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND I WOULD
HOPE YOU WOULD MAKE IT
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER MEMBERS WHO
WISH TO SPEAK ON THE POINT OF
ORDER?
MR. MILLER: THAT PREVIOUS ACTION
OF CONGRESS DOES NOT MAKE IT
GERMANE TO THIS LEGISLATION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR IS PREPARED TO RULE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MR. MILLER,
MAKES A POINT OF ORDER THAT
MOTION TO RECOMMIT IS NOT
GERMANE.
IT AMENDS THE RECLAMATION AND
WASTE WATER AND GROUND WATER
STUDY ACT.
THE BILL AUTHORIZES SIX NEW
WATER RECYCLING PARTNERSHIPS AND
MODIFIES TWO EXISTIN PARTNERSHIPS.
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEKS
TO ADDRESS THE CENTRAL VALLEY
PROJECT.
PROVIDES THAT NO PROPOSITION ON
A SUBJECT DIFFERENT FROM THAT
UNDER CONSIDERATION SHALL BE
ADMITTED UNDER COLOR OF THE
AMENDMENT.
ONE OF THE CENTRAL TEN EVENTS OF
THE GERMANENESS RULE, THE
AMENDMENT SHOULD RELATE TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER.
THE BILL IS CONFINED TO WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS.
THE AMENDMENT
VAKET RELATED TO THE CENTRAL
VALLEY PROJECT.
THE AMENDMENT FALLS OUTSIDE THE
UNDERLYING MEASURE AND IS NOT
GERMANE.
THE POINT OF ORDER IS SUSTAINED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
THE QUESTION IS SHALL THE
DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND AS
THE JUDGMENT OF THE HOUSE.
FOR WHAT PURPOS
MR. MILLER: MOVE TO TABLE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO TABLE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE
OPPOSED, NO. IN THOPINION OF
THE CHAIR, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
NUNESNUNES I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. T
15-MINUTE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO
TABLE WILL BE FOLLOWE
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE ON PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENT
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF