Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Legislation - State & Federal Category
Click here to view all posts

Congressman George Miller: Republicans vote against expanded water supply for drought-stricken California

Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:56 pm

From Congressman George Miller’s office:

“WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) issued the following statement after congressional Republicans voted against his non-controversial legislation to provide alternative water supplies to California:

“When it comes to providing clean water to California, congressional Republicans have now shown their true colors. The legislation that the House voted on today would supply California with much-needed funding for alternative water supplies — but congressional Republicans just said no.

“The water projects authorized in this bill will provide 2.6 billion gallons of water per year for drought-stricken California, adding enough water to the system to meet the needs of 24,225 households. But 169 Republicans voted against it.

“Instead, congressional Republicans decided to pull the same old political games and showed a complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand – the measure they defeated today could have added significant water supplies to California’s Central Valley Project system.

“California is in the third year of a serious drought and we’re putting an inordinate amount of pressure on the Bay-Delta and on the water system as a whole. Finding solutions for these issues are too important for political stunts.

“We will bring up the bill again and pass it, but Rep. Nunes and his fellow obstructionists have delayed progress for California water issues – they have voted against jobs for Californians, they have voted against expanding water supplies, they have voted against developing new technology, and they have voted against expanding our economy. They have nothing to offer California but partisan stunts. They may have delayed this bill, but they will not defeat it.”

H.R. 2442, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009, builds on a successful partnership that Congress has already authorized – adding six additional water recycling projects for the Bay Area that would provide 7.2 million gallons of water per day. Water recycling projects allow local water managers to treat wastewater and use the clean, recycled water for landscape irrigation and other uses, including at golf courses, and city parks.

For more information on the bill, go to: http://georgemiller.house.gov/news/2009/05/new_legislation_would_expand_i.html.

September 30, 2009 · Filed Under Legislation - State & Federal

Comments

One Response to “Congressman George Miller: Republicans vote against expanded water supply for drought-stricken California”

  1. WaterSource on October 1st, 2009 3:22 am

    “…2.6 billion gallons …” equals only 8000 acre feet !

    If only the citizens knew that their governments were refusing to look at an additional MILLION ACRE FEET ( 325.9 billion gallons) of fresh water EACH YEAR which could be stored/accumulated in Lake Mead for the benefit of Nevada and California citizens …

    By simple exchange, all of California could benefit and so could much of Nevada !

    Obviously, I don’t have a lobbyist to wine and dine the politicians into inquiry … but I do have what they are supposedly looking for … ample fresh water that can be developed without harm to the environment or the water rights of anyone, anywhere. Who cares ? …

    waterrdw@yahoo.com Retired Water Rights Analyst

Leave a Reply