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WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) today lauded the passage on the floor of the House of Representatives of her bill H.R. 1662, legislation that addresses the question of how the federal government will help pay for mandated increased guard security at dam sites after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The bill passed the House unanimously and will help to protect water and power ratepayers from paying more than their fair share of the cost of security at Bureau of Reclamation dams across the Western United States.
“I introduced H.R. 1662 to help public utilities define who should pay for mandated increased security required at Bureau of Reclamation facilities after the attacks of September 11, 2001,” said Napolitano. “The passage of this bill today marks a major triumph for ratepayers across the West by sheltering them from required additional security guard fees on top of their normal expenses for water and power. Some of these additional costly security measures should be federal responsibilities, not passed down to local governments and consumers throughout the Western United States. Today, the buck stops here.”
Congresswoman Napolitano’s legislation would eliminate unfairness in cost-sharing policy, while also providing safeguards and adequate oversight for ratepayers, through the following provisions:
• Authorize the Secretary of the Interior to undertake site security measures and require the Secretary to consult with project beneficiaries on the planning, design, and construction of these measures.
• Set a firm annual cap of $18.9 million on costs that can be passed on to water and power customers to pay for guards and patrol expenses, adjusted every year for inflation.
• Keep Congress and project beneficiaries advised of Bureau of Reclamation site security activities through reasonable and appropriate reporting requirements.
“I applaud my colleagues in the House of Representatives for moving this bill forward in a bipartisan fashion,” said Napolitano. “We must continue to provide innovative, progressive solutions to the water concerns of the people of the American West.”
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