Doolittle: House Sends CalFed to President's Desk

Storage Vital to Entire Program

 10/6/04 PRESS RELEASE:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Republican Conference Secretary John T. Doolittle (R-Roseville) today praised the House for passing the Water Supply, Reliability, and Environmental Improvement Act and sending it to the president's desk.  Also known as CalFed, this bill provides much-needed relief for California's growing water demands.

"California's ever increasing water demands make it crucial that we find ways today to efficiently expand firm-yield for years to come," Doolittle said.  "In order to keep up with growing water demands, we need legislation that makes storage and supply a priority.  The CalFed bill passed today does this.

"Because water storage is central to the entire program, CalFed is a positive step toward producing the firm-yield we desperately need." Doolittle continued.  "I commend Chairmen Pombo and Calvert as well as Senator Feinstein for their hard work on this strong, bipartisan bill.  I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and Governor Schwarzenegger in securing funding for water storage studies and construction as quickly as possible."

The CalFed bill includes $90 million for pre-authorized levees and levee stability projects, more than $180 million for pre-authorized water quality improvement projects throughout California (including drinking water), and $90 million for Fish and Wildlife enhancements.  It also establishes a trigger mechanism for the implementation of storage projects.  Once a project feasibility study is completed, Congress must authorize the project.  If it does not, the Secretary of the Interior must declare an imbalance in the CalFed program and prescribe what must be done to achieve balance.

Last year, Doolittle scored a major victory for increasing water supplies throughout his district with the passage of a comprehensive water management plan that surrounds the American River.

U.S. Rep. John T. Doolittle has served in the House of Representatives since 1991.  As Secretary of the House Republican Conference, he is an elected member of the House Republican Leadership.  Doolittle represents California's 4^th Congressional District and serves on the Appropriations Committee, Energy and Water and DC Appropriations Subcommittees, and the House Administration Committee.

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