Water Resources Development Act of 2020
Floor Speech
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Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the final ``Water Resources Development Act of 2020'' (S. 1811). Working with other members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am very pleased to reach agreement with the Senate on a truly bipartisan bill and the fourth biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to be passed by Congress since 2014.
My Congressional district includes 200 miles of the Sacramento River and is adjacent to several major ports. WRDA 2020 includes key provisions for the California Delta and Central Valley to authorize and expedite construction of flood protection and aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, address harmful algal blooms, and give local agencies greater flexibility in using federal Army Corps funds to better meet local needs. Under Chairman DeFazio's leadership, the bill finally fixes the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to ensure that regional dredging and navigation projects are fully funded.
I secured Congressional authorization for the Delta Islands and Levees Ecosystem Restoration Project, Yuba River Ecosystem Restoration Project, and Sacramento Regional Groundwater Bank in WRDA 2020. These projects provide critical flood protection and make local communities across the Central Valley more resilient to climate change.
I also secured deauthorization of the Sacramento Riverbed Gradient Restoration Facility and Western Pacific Interceptor Canal, returning these former Army Corps projects to full local control.
WRDA 2020 also expedites completion of the Army Corps' feasibility studies needed for the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project, Lower Cache Creek Flood Risk Management Project, and Sutter Bypass and Sacramento River Basin Floodplain Management Project. I look forward to securing Congressional authorization for these projects once the Army Corps completes the requisite feasibility studies.
Working with Rep. Doris O. Matsui (CA-06), I secured inclusion of our ``Yolo Bypass System Improvement Act'' in WRDA 2020 to improve coordinated planning for all restoration projects and federal permitting in the Yolo Bypass.
Lastly, I am very pleased that the new Army Corps harmful algal bloom program established under WRDA 2020 includes the California Delta as a focus area. This will better protect the Delta's precious ecosystem from toxic algal blooms.
The House report for WRDA 2020 includes my amendment directing the Army Corps to report to Congress on implementation of the Small Business Act across all the Corps' missions. This strengthens Congressional oversight over the Corps' contracting process and ensures that the Small Business Act is implemented fully in an equitably distributed manner, as intended by Congress.
I want to extend a special appreciation to my colleague Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, for her tireless work in this WRDA for the entire California delegation. WRDA 2020 ensures that Army Corps projects in California requiring earthquake-resistance and other seismic safety costs remain equally competitive for federal funding compared to projects in other states.
I urge all Members of Congress to support this bipartisan WRDA 2020, which is expected to be signed into law this year. This two-year authorization bill provides the federal support and certainty needed to keep Army Corps projects across California on time and on budget.
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