JOHN LINDER: “as the bill's sponsor, I rise to support H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act. H.R. 135 will bring together…”

“as the bill's sponsor, I rise to support H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act. H.R. 135 will bring together our Nation's premier water experts to recommend strategies for meeting our water challenges in the 21st century. I would like to thank several Members who have worked with me to bring this proposal to the floor today. First, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), chairman of the Committee on Resources; the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power; the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), the former chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member, and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), who worked so hard in getting this bill to the floor in the past Congress. H.R. 135 was approved in the 108th Congress by a voice vote on November 21, 2003. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to act on the legislation before the Congress adjourned. Creating a comprehensive water policy to meet the needs of the 21st century is a matter of human survival and quality of life for the United States. I am excited about continuing to move this bill through the legislative process early in this Congress. Water-related issues have been of interest to me for many years.…”