Salton Sea Drought Contingency Plan

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address concerns about the Colorado River drought contingency plan and to sound the alarm and avoid a public health crisis at the Salton Sea in southern California.

To be clear, I support the goals of the DCP, which outlines voluntary water use cuts across seven Western States in the event of a worsening drought. However, I am concerned that the current proposal to implement the DCP provides an expansive waiver to the Bureau of Reclamation that could result in the reduction of water to the Salton Sea.

The Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in all of California, and its very existence is already at risk. Ensuring the Salton Sea is protected as part of this agreement is critically important because, if the Salton Sea decline accelerates, thousands of lake beds will become exposed, subjecting residents of southern California to harmful dust that penetrates the lungs and can cause severe respiratory illness.

I look forward to working with the Natural Resources Committee to find a solution that prevents a broad waiver of Federal laws and that preserves water rights and critical environmental protections for its surrounding residents.

Madam Speaker, I support the goals of the DCP. However, I cannot in good conscience support implementation in a way that harms the Salton Sea or threatens the health of the people I serve.

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