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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE AND REHABILITATION ACT
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HON. DAN NEWHOUSE
of washington
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 11, 2019
Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Water
Supply Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. This legislation will
help address the need for the new storage, conveyance, and recycling
projects necessary to increase our drought resilience and provide the
water security required to meet the needs of our agricultural economy
and our local communities.
As a farmer, former state Director of Agriculture, and now a
Congressman representing one of the most flourishing agricultural
regions in America, I fully understand how important it is that we
reinvest in the water infrastructure our farms and communities were
built upon--much of which is over a century old at this point. I have
made it a priority to address these important issues for Central
Washington, and for rural communities across the West, that have Bureau
of Reclamation projects in their regions.
That is why I am introducing this legislation--to help local water
managers access the funds they need to repair and rebuild aging
facilities and ensure our existing surface storage facilities are
operating as efficiently as possible.
The Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Utilization Act
addresses the Bureau of Reclamation's (BOR) maintenance backlog at
water supply infrastructure projects. Since 1902, BOR has constructed
dams, hydropower plants, canals, and irrigation conveyances to provide
for our water needs. Far too much of this infrastructure is in serious
need of maintenance and repair. My legislation creates a streamlined
process, so local water operators can initiate maintenance projects
with extended repayment through a much more clearly-defined application
and review process. Local users need this flexibility to access these
resources--this bill will help them do just that.
Earlier this year, Central Washington crossed one of the most
significant hurdles for water needs in our region when President Trump
signed my legislation into law authorizing the next phase of the Yakima
Project. It was a momentous occasion and a testament to the many
collaborative efforts and stakeholders in the Yakima Valley. But as
many of us know, authorization is only the key first step.
Next comes--what some would say is--the even more difficult part:
securing the resources and the funding to actually implement those
projects authorized. I have been working on the Yakima Project for much
of my career, and this bill will create an easier, more-streamlined
process to access the funds for this desperately needed infrastructure
in Central Washington.
This legislation also strengthens the ``Safety of Dams'' program to
improve structural integrity of dams across the U.S. In Central
Washington, we are no stranger to the benefits dams provide for
irrigation districts and the agricultural industry. Like much of our
nation's infrastructure, dams are aging and require regular maintenance
and upkeep. The ``Safety of Dams'' program is important for ensuring
all BOR dams across the country continue to operate safely and
efficiently--from the Grand Coulee Dam down to the Sunnyside, Prosser,
and Roza Diversion dams. The Yakima Project alone has five storage dam
and reservoirs, including Bumping Lake, Clear Creek, Tieton, Cle Elum,
Kachess, and Keechelus. Washington's 4th District truly is at the
epicenter of need for ensuring the stability of BOR dam infrastructure,
and this program is responsible for funding any updates or maintenance
to these dams. However, BOR expects to reach their current statutory
cap on the program in the next two years. My bill will increase the
authorization of this program to meet BOR's projected funding needs for
the future workload to ensure water users in regions like Central
Washington can continue to enjoy the benefits of dams, large and small,
that all make our way of life possible.
Finally, the legislation creates a pilot program to give more
flexibility to reservoir operators. Communities across the West know
the impacts of droughts all too well. This bill allows local operators
to temporarily store water in dedicated flood control space during
certain low-risk times of the year. By addressing the maintenance
backlog at our water supply projects, strengthening the structural
integrity of our water infrastructure, and providing flexibility for
water storage to best equip our communities in times of drought, we can
secure the resources required to address the current and future water
needs for the Yakima Valley and for water needs across the West. I
encourage all of my colleagues to support the Water Supply
Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. I look forward to pushing for
its passage here in the House and for its companion legislation, led by
Senator Martha McSally, in the United States Senate.
____________________
