Authorizing Secretary of the Interior for Construction of Lower Santa Margarita Conjunctive Use Project

AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LOWER SANTA MARGARITA CONJUNCTIVE USE PROJECT -- (House of Representatives - October 04, 2004)

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Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments and for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4389, which I introduced in June of 2004. I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the subcommittee chairman, the ranking member on the

Subcommittee on Water and Power, and all the staff who have worked so hard to bring this important piece of legislation to the floor in an expeditious fashion.

H.R. 4389 authorizes the construction of a conjunctive use water project on the Santa Margarita River in Fallbrook, California. The project will treat water drawn from the Santa Margarita River and offer a reliable water source to the Camp Pendleton Marines and the surrounding communities. Over 60,000 military and civilian personnel work aboard that base each day. It is home to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, 1st Force Service Support Group and many other tenants, more than half of whom have been serving in Iraq as we speak.

Securing a reliable source of drinking water has been an ongoing challenge for this base. In fact, this piece of legislation is really a piece of legislation begun by my predecessor, Mr. Ron Packard, who today continues to oversee the completion of this project. It is truly his legacy we are passing on today.

San Diego County has relatively few natural resources for fresh drinking water and has forced the import of 90 percent of the water it consumes annually. This project is vital for the future of San Diego County because it provides over 15,000 acre feet of drinking water that will not have to be imported from the already overtaxed Colorado River or the Bay-Delta.

Additionally, this bill will provide the first connection to Southern California's imported drinking water supply from the San Diego aqueduct. This will supply quality safe drinking water for Camp Pendleton, and the construction of this project will dramatically improve the quality of life for Marines, their families, and to this important military installation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support and passage of H.R. 4389.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4389, which I introduced on June 23, 2004. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of the Resources Committee, the Subcommittee Chairman on Water and Power and all the staff involved for reporting this bill favorably to the floor in an expeditious manner.

H.R. 4389 authorizes the construction of a conjunctive use water project on the Santa Margarita River in Fallbrook, CA. This project will treat water drawn from the Santa Margarita River and offer a reliable water supply for Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and the surrounding communities. Over 60,000 military and civilian personnel work aboard the base everyday. It is the home of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, 1st Force Service Support Group and many tenant units. Securing a reliable source of quality drinking water has been an ongoing challenge for the base.

San Diego County has relatively few natural sources to draw drinking water from and it is forced to import over 90 percent of all the water consumed annually. This project is vital to the future of San Diego County because it will provide 15,000 acre feet of drinking water; we will not need to import from the Colorado River or the Bay Delta. Additionally, this bill will provide a connection for the first time to Southern California's imported water supply via the San Diego Aqueduct.

The water quality for Camp Pendleton will dramatically improve with the construction of this project, and the quality of life of Marines and their families at this important military installation will be enhanced.

I want to thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak on H.R. 4389, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.