Angie Craig: “I send to the desk for appropriate reference a measure to expand the use and availability of the Small Reclamation…”

“I send to the desk for appropriate reference a measure to expand the use and availability of the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956. The Small Reclamation Projects Act has provided important benefits throughout the Reclamation West in the 40 years since it was first established. Over the past several years there have been various discussions on ways to expand the benefits of the program. Last Congress I introduced two measures that included some of the suggestions that have been made. Neither of the measures would have affected ongoing projects. One of the measures, S. 1564, dealt with financing. At the present time, the Secretary is limited to grants and loans to fulfill the objectives of the act. That legislation would have expanded the authority of the Secretary to include the use of loan guarantees as a way of stretching the limited federal resources. The other measure, S. 1565, revised existing law to expand the purposes for which assistance can be received from the Federal Government. Irrigation would have remained an authorized purpose, but it would no longer be a required component. The purposes would now include the augmentation and management of local water supplies, conservation of water and energy, fish and wildlife conservation, supplemental water for existing supplies, water quality improvements, and flood control.”