Dreier Votes To Fund Local Water Projects

May 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted last night to support local projects for a more reliable and cleaner water supply in the Foothills. H.R. 5427, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007, includes funding for the San Gabriel Basin Water Restoration Fund and the Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Project. H.R. 5427 was approved with bipartisan support 404-20. .

"As we continue to experience rapid growth in Southern California, the importance of a dependable and safe water supply cannot be understated. In many ways, the future of the Foothills sinks or swims on the issue of water. That is why I am very pleased that the House has continued to fund the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire water projects," said Dreier. "With this legislation, we have addressed a top local priority and held the line on spending. The energy and water bill spends less than last year, and we cut funding for programs that weren’t giving taxpayers a good return on their money."

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act contains $10 million in new funding for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund. To date, Congress has provided $69.5 million to the Fund. The San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund, which was created by legislation sponsored by Dreier in 1999, is administered cooperatively by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Federal and non-federal monies contributed to the Fund are being used to design, construct, operate and maintain water projects to contain and treat the groundwater contamination in the San Gabriel and Central Groundwater Basins. The San Gabriel Groundwater Basin covers more than 160 square miles in Los Angeles County and is the primary source of drinking water for over 1.2 million people.

Additionally, the bill provides $1 million to two new water recycling projects in the Inland Empire. The projects will produce approximately 100,000 acre-feet of new water annually in one of the most rapidly growing regions in the United States. The House passed legislation authored by Dreier to authorize these projects in 2005.

"Using the latest technology to address our water issues is the right approach," said Dreier. "We are beginning to see real progress with these projects, and the federal support will keep them moving forward."

H.R. 5427 also increases funding for the Department of Energy, with an emphasis on safe nuclear energy and research for clean and cost-effective energy solutions through the American Competitiveness Initiative. "While House Republicans address short-term fixes to high energy prices, the real payoff will come from the foundation we are building for lasting solutions. This bill supports continued progress on clean coal power, more research on renewable fuels and improved conservation programs."