Napolitano Selected as Chair of Water & Power

(Washington D.C.)- Today Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk), was named the Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, yielding her a strong voice for her communities and the nation’s needs as she presides over water resources development, groundwater cleanup, and water recycling projects among other areas.

“I am very proud to serve under Speaker Pelosi and especially Chairman Rahall to do our very best for our country’s extremely important water needs.  I expect to work hand-in-hand with Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, any and all entities including the Bureau of Reclamation, and state and local governments, ensuring that rapidly growing urban areas in the Western states can continue to prosper from projects that develop new and sustainable water supplies.  We must help communities prepare for the impacts of drought cycles, flooding, and global warming on water supplies.”
The Water and Power Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, its work on water supply and water contamination, issues concerning hydroelectric dams, as well as work to clean up the San Gabriel Valley aquifers.  “These cleanup projects are enormously successful — bringing together funding from local agencies, state governments, and the business community to protect our local drinking water sources,” the Congresswoman noted.

“We need to direct funds to innovative projects that help communities recycle water, create new supplies through desalting ocean water in coastal areas, and aggressively direct priority attention to projects that will restore watersheds and aquatic habitats,” stated Napolitano, an avid promoter of conservation, water recycling, desalination, and sound groundwater management and storage.

Her previous legislative efforts have included assisting in the implementation of CALFED, a water management plan for the State of California, protection of the fragile ecosystem in the Bay-Delta and promotion of the use of advanced technologies.  Her legislative effort to begin removal of a 10.5 million ton uranium tailings pile at the banks of the Colorado in Moab, Utah, stands out as a major accomplishment, alleviating a very real danger to the health of more than 25 million people living in 7 states, an ecosystem that supports the Southwest’s tourism industry, two national monuments, and a variety of pristine natural habitats.

“Serving as the Chair of the Water and Power Subcommittee is a great honor and allows me to better shape water policy for the future of California and our nation, a key priority that is critical to the health and prosperity of our local businesses and families,” concluded the Congresswoman.

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