Providing for Consideration of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2028, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, and Providing for Consideration of S. 612, George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse
Floor Speech
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I thank my colleague for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to address my concerns regarding WRDA. My home district of Sacramento is the most at-risk major American city for flooding, and with the damaging effects of our changing climate, that risk is not going away. We sit at the confluence of two great rivers, making flood control absolutely essential for the safety of my constituents. That is why I have worked diligently for years to ensure we are making the investments we need to protect our region; but our levees are aging, which is why I have worked so strongly and fought for the inclusion of two projects in this bill: the American River Common Features and the West Sacramento projects. Combined, these projects will result in almost $3 billion worth of lifesaving investments in my region.
This isn't just about protecting a few buildings. The area that these projects support protect upwards of 400,000 people. It includes four major highway systems, an international airport, the State capitol, and a major water and electric grid.
This is about protecting the future of my beloved city of Sacramento, which is why I am so disappointed that WRDA has become a vehicle for a poison pill. The drought language that was airdropped into this bill at the last minute pits one region of California against another. It will be detrimental to northern California's economy and environment, and I am concerned about its impact on our region's water supply.
I share my colleagues' concerns about the drought, but we need to work together on a solution that takes the well-being of every part of our State into account. It is extremely unfortunate that WRDA is being used as a vehicle for legislation that we should consider as a stand-alone bill, especially given the careful bipartisan work that our colleagues have put into this legislative package.
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