Niki Tsongas: “The Contra Costa Canal serves as a primary water delivery system for 500,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa…”

“The Contra Costa Canal serves as a primary water delivery system for 500,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa County, California. The canal system is currently too exposed, resulting in safety hazards, degraded water quality and supply, and increased maintenance costs. Tragically, 81 people have drowned in the canal since it became operational. H.R. 6040 will transfer ownership of the Contra Costa Canal from the Department of the Interior to the Contra Costa Water District so the district can upgrade this 81-year-old water infrastructure with a secure, buried pipeline. In addition to the many benefits of this legislation to the people of the county, transferring ownership of the canal will also benefit wildlife. The planned updates to the system will reduce unnecessary water losses from seepage in unlined portions of the canal and prevent further losses from evaporation. Preventing water loss will ensure that additional water is delivered to national wildlife refuges in California. Mr. Speaker, I support passage of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.”