Zoe Lofgren: “the CALFED process is an unprecedented undertaking and one that is crucial to the water security of all people in…”

“the CALFED process is an unprecedented undertaking and one that is crucial to the water security of all people in California, both northern and southern, urban and rural. That is why we need a balanced reauthorization bill that respects the hard work done over the past years by all CALFED stakeholders in the blueprint record of decision agreed upon in 2000. I fear that H.R. 2828 does not achieve the delicate balance necessary because of the preauthorization of the dam projects that are controversial in their communities and among the stakeholders. So I would urge that H.R. 2828 be opposed and that the motion to recommit offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) that would correct the preauthorization provision be supported. However, I do want to give credit to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) and to all who have worked on this, because I am confident that once we get through this process in working with our Senators who have a parallel effort that avoids the flaw in this bill, that we will end up with a bill that all of us support. It is important that the CALFED process move forward.”