For Immediate Release                                       Contact: Amanda Molk, 202-225-5256

May 5, 2004

Napolitano Supports Committee-Passed CALFED Legislation with Reservations

Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA38) joined many of her colleagues on the House Resources Committee to support passage of H.R. 2828, CALFED reauthorization legislation.  She was very pleased to have unanimous support for her amendment to make projects that clean up contaminated groundwater, in addition to water recycling and desalination projects, eligible for CALFED funding.  “As a former city councilwoman and mayor, I saw first hand how groundwater reclamation activities and recycling efforts solved problems.  I have also learned that these projects provide solutions to some of the most challenging community issues we face today and will confront tomorrow throughout the western states.  By investing in these projects, we will enable Southern California to take less water from the Colorado River and the fragile Bay-Delta ecosystem,” Napolitano explained.

In her opening statement on behalf of Committee Democrats, Napolitano strongly cautioned Members about her important concerns regarding H.R. 2828:  “I am disappointed that this bill still includes the highly restrictive language that is intended to slow down or stop altogether critical land acquisition for ecosystem restoration projects.  I am also concerned that H.R. 2828 would change the purpose and scope of the Environmental Water Account and require Federal taxpayers to pay all of its costs.  While these are highly technical matters, they are in direct conflict with the CALFED Record of Decision (ROD), and by agreeing to this language, we would be turning a critical element of CALFED on its head and making it much harder to secure federal funding for CALFED,” the Congresswoman noted. 

Continuing to explain her concerns, Napolitano stated: “H.R. 2828 still includes a basically unrestricted authorization to build new dams and other water storage projects, with only limited opportunity for Congressional review, and I continue to have concerns about the pre-authorization of any project that has not been fully evaluated and reviewed through the CALFED process.  If Congress were to re-write the way that federal agencies execute projects in the CALFED ROD, then we would allow and encourage the California State Legislature to change how state agencies implement projects in the ROD.  I am afraid that this process will drive a wedge between the state and federal agencies and destroy the entire CALFED Bay-Delta Program which relies on a strong, partnership between state and federal governments to execute one cohesive framework,” Napolitano commented.   

“Aside from the concerns I raised, I believe that H.R. 2828 is an important effort, and I thank my friend and colleague, Chairman Ken Calvert for his work on this issue.  I look forward to continuing to work with him to improve H.R. 2828 before it is considered by the full House,” Napolitano concluded.