House Bill Funds Critical Infrastructure and Offers Relief from California’s Drought
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“In two days, the House moved in quick succession to pass the first two appropriations bills for fiscal year 2016. Today’s Energy and Water appropriations bill provides necessary resources for America’s infrastructure, including our electric grid, nuclear stockpiles, and critical water projects.
“Also, as California endures the worst drought in a century, the Bureau of Reclamation continues to drag its feet on feasibility studies for new water storage projects. Thanks to Representative David Valadao (CA-21), this bill will force the Bureau of Reclamation to finally make a decision on these studies that have been stuck in the bureaucracy for upward of five to ten years. When completed, the projects could increase our water storage capacity by 1 to 1.5 million acre-feet, which is almost the same amount of water estimated to be saved by Governor Brown’s rationing mandate. Frankly, it’s inexcusable that these projects have waited so long for approval.
“I want to thank Chairman Hal Rogers (KY-05) and Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (ID-02) for providing the leadership that both allowed the House to start the appropriations process at the earliest time since 1974 and ensured the passage of these two strong, bipartisan appropriations bills this week.”
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