Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of these appropriations bills on the floor.

I thank the full committee chairman, Rodney Frelinghuysen, for his dedication to regular order. We are committed to fulfilling our constitutional responsibility and pass these bills before the end of the fiscal year, and I commend the relevant chairmen and ranking members for their hard work on these bills.

One of the most important duties of Members of Congress is to provide for the United States Armed Forces. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill does just that. In particular, the bill provides $50 million in force protection funding for each of the services. This money could be used for access control points, air traffic control towers, and fire stations.

This funding is particularly important for bases near my congressional district: March Air Reserve Base and Camp Pendleton. March Air Reserve Base is busier than ever, including managing the deployment of over 4,000 troops every month. In order to ensure the safety of these brave men and women, a new main gate complex is needed.

At Camp Pendleton, the fire stations are in dire need of replacement. Of the top six fire stations identified for replacement by the Navy, five are at Camp Pendleton. Of the full-time stations, all but three are spartan wood- frame structures built in the 1940s. The funding in this bill would start the process of replacing old, outdated fire stations with contemporary structures able to respond to the needs of our United States Marine Corps.

I also support the Energy and Water portion of the bill put forward by my friend Mike Simpson. The robust funding for the Bureau of Reclamation will go to critical infrastructure, including $134 million for water storage projects. The bill includes language directing FERC to continue working with the industry on cost-effective ways to increase the resilience of our electric transmission system. This is especially important following one of the worst fire seasons in California's modern history.

The bill also provides strong funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, allowing them to update and improve water projects throughout the country. The report contains much-needed language for the Murrieta Creek project in my own district. The report highlights that the project is critical to the health, safety, and protection of the communities of Murrieta and Temecula.

Finally, the bill also repeals the disastrous Waters of the United States rule that would significantly restrict the ability of private landowners to make decisions about their own property. Deciding how water should be used is a State and local issue, not the Federal Government.

Mr. Chair, I thank the full committee chairman and ranking member, the relevant subcommittee chairmen and ranking members, and staff for their diligent work.

Mr. Chair, I urge passage of the bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source