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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax |
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax |  |
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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Wilson, Pearce, U.S. House Weigh in On New Mexico’s Water Problems |
July 18, 2003 |
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| Washington, DC – Representatives Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, and the U.S. House of Representatives, took an important step today to keep federal agencies from taking water owned by New Mexico cities, farmers and other users from the San Juan Chama and Middle Rio Grande Project. Wilson authored an amendment to the FY04 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill which was adopted this morning by a voice vote. Subsequently, the bill passed the House and is now awaiting action in the U.S. Senate, where Senators Domenici and Bingaman have added similar language.
“The court’s decision has enormous consequences for all Western states, where water is such a valuable resource and critical part of the economy,” said Wilson. “Certainly, that’s true in New Mexico where the cities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque and hundreds of ranchers and farmers rely on this water. This decision sets a precedent we can’t allow to stand.”
Representative Pearce, a member of the House Resources Committee, supports the effort and is a principal co-sponsor of Wilson’s amendment. “Water is owned by the states according to the United States Constitution. Water should be controlled by the states – not the federal government. New Mexico has the right to decide how water is used – not a federal judge,” Pearce said. “I am extremely pleased that this amendment was adopted by the House.”
Under Wilson’s amendment, federal funding from the overall bill cannot be used to release water from the San Juan Chama Project or the Middle Rio Grande Project, for the purpose of complying with the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Essentially, that is what the 10th Circuit Court’s decision last month mandated. Wilson’s and Pearce’s efforts closely track efforts by New Mexico Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman on the Senate subcommittee version of the Energy and Water legislation.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson immediately expressed his support for Wilson’s and Pearce’s efforts. “I support the amendment that you plan to offer to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill,” said Governor Richardson. “It is consistent with our efforts to resolve the dispute involving the endangered Silvery Minnow and the future of Albuquerque’s water supply.”
The House Energy & Water legislation provides a total of $27.1 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water and flood control projects, the Department of Interior including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy, and several Independent Agencies. This bill is $942 million above fiscal year 2003 and $134 million above the President’s budget request.
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