George Miller: “I rise in support of H.R. 1905 making appropriations for the energy and water development for fiscal year 1996. This…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1905 making appropriations for the energy and water development for fiscal year 1996. This bill provides funds for critical flood control and navigation projects in Contra Costa County and the San Francisco Bay Area of California. I appreciate the Committee's continued support for these projects. H.R. 1905 and the accompanying Committee report also raise several issues which I will address in my capacity as Ranking Democratic Member of the Committee on Resources. First, H.R. 1905 will fund important individual projects and program activities of the Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau of Reclamation has demonstrated consistent leadership in the Administration's efforts to implement significant reforms to Federal water management and construction programs. Second, H.R. 1905 includes significant funding to implement various programs authorized by P.L. 102-575, the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992. In particular, title 34 of the law, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act [CVPIA], includes many innovative measures to conserve water and to restore fish and wildlife habitat that has been adversely affected by the development of water and power projects in California.”