George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse

Floor Speech

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I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, like any compromise, I don't like everything in this bill, but the net effect is an important step forward in protecting California and its environment against devastating droughts, and it protects Lake Tahoe against catastrophic wildfires.

My colleague from California says the California provisions are a sudden surprise to him in this water development bill. Well, he needs to pay more attention to the business on the floor. These provisions have all been in water development bills passed by bipartisan majorities from this House over the past 6 years.

If he were truly concerned about the salmon, he should be supporting this bill. This bill encourages the fish hatcheries to produce burgeoning and abundant populations of salmon.

It finally controls the nonnative predators in the delta that are, by far, the biggest single threat to salmon and smelt and other endangered species.

The reservoirs are our most important defense against drought, ensuring year-round water flows. Without reservoirs, in a drought, the water heats to lethal temperatures and often dries up. There are no fish.

In addition, this bill provides $335 million to increase our desperately needed reservoirs. It adds flexibility to management of the New Melones Reservoir. It streamlines water transfers to assure water can be more efficiently moved to where it is most needed. It adds strong protection to the northern California area of origin water rights, expedites approval of projects, and updates flood control criteria to make better use of our existing reservoirs.

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One more point on our fragile environment. This bill addresses the single greatest catastrophic threat to Lake Tahoe-- catastrophic wildfire--by expediting the reduction of dangerous fuel loads.

Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption.

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