On the recordJuly 2, 2020
Mr. President, today I am introducing the Water for Agriculture and Conservation Act to help expand critical water conservation infrastructure that helps improve water use efficiency, fish and wildlife habitat, and agriculture productivity. Throughout the West, communities are experiencing high levels of drought that are hurting agriculture and conservation efforts. The Water for Conservation and Farming Act aims to help communities better plan and prepare for the increased demand for clean water by funding projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds, and benefit agricultural and urban water users. States, Tribes, and local communities are working diligently to upgrade crumbling water infrastructure but have lacked the critical resources to make meaningful improvements that last. The Water for Conservation and Farming Act would provide $120,000,000 over three years for disadvantaged communities to increase environmental protections, support agriculture, and make significant steps to improve the water supply for their communities. The Water for Conservation and Farming Act would create a Bureau of Reclamation fund of $300 million to support water recycling projects, water-use efficiency projects and dam safety projects, as well as expanding existing programs, like WaterSMART, to get more bang for the conservation buck.…
Source
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