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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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
Home » Word-duh » Wilson Named Conferee for Defe... » Wilson Works to Increase Water... » Wilson Supports Bingaman Domen... » A True American Hero » Fliers Ready, Passports Aren`t » STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE HE... » Medicare Change Helps New Mexi... » Wilson Announces Possible Vet ... » Energy & Commerce Committee Pa... » Baca Ranch Sale is Official » KIRTLAND TAPPED FOR MAJOR NEW ... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Calls on Secretary Nort... » Wilson Touts NM Homeland Secur... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Rep. Wilson Wants to Improve T... » E-Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue ... » Wilson Appointed to House Page... » Placitas Library Gets $350K » Wilson Announces Federal Funds... » Thanking Our Troops » The Great American Jobs Machin... » Wilson Welcomes Next Step in I... » A bracelet and a simple questi... » Wilson Nails the E-mails » How you can help ... » Wilson Announces Federal Fundi... » Wilson Introduces Legislation ... » Wilson Statement on Iraq Suppl... » Wilson Added to Commerce Healt... » Wilson Supports Veterans And H... » Resources for Veterans » Kirtland AFB Hosts Successful ... » Wilson Announces Hearing on ‘S... » Wilson Announces Over $79,000 ... » Wilson Urges Stronger Federal ... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 6 » Wilson Opposes Union-Only Labo... » E-Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue ... » Wilson: Congress Should Heed G... » Wilson’s Spam Act Passes Overw... » Wilson: Don`t Charge Parents ... » New Mexico Students Can Reach ... » Wilson Votes to Create Jobs an... » Wilson Working to Raise Profil... » Wilson Introduces NM Aquifer A... » Wilson Applauds Deal to Purcha... » Bill to Protect N.M. Land Goes... » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 7 » Jobs, schools, health care fac... » We`re Back! » Wilson: House Passes Comprehen... » Wilson: Albuquerque Companies ... » ‘Scooby’s Bill’ Gets Hearing i... » Recriminations on Capitol Hill... » Wilson Opposes Bush Administra... » Statement on Colin McMillan`s ... » Wilson Works to Raise Profile ... » State of the District » E-Newsletter Volume 6 Issue 58 » A woman`s place is in... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 28 » Facing Challenges Together » Home Heating Help » Wilson: LANL Has Long Road to ... » Adding Prescription Drugs to M... » Wilson Encourages Cuomo To Rel... » Border Patrol Job Fair » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Asks DOE to Release Oil... » E-Newsletter Volume 4 Issue 10 » Wilson demands answer from Edu... » Welcome Home » Wilson Statement regarding res... » Wilson Attaches Amendment to P... » Wilson Votes to Override Veto ... » Wilson Opposes Troop Increase » E-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 9 » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 7 » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 6 » Wilson touts education bill be... » E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 8 » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Supported TB Bill Passe... » Iraq » Wilson, Pearce, U.S. House Wei...
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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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