Orrin Hatch: “today I wish to support two crucial programs important to Utah and the West in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill…”

“today I wish to support two crucial programs important to Utah and the West in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill pending before us. The bill includes $10 million for the Central Utah Project in the Department of the Interior. This funding makes great strides in supporting rural water infrastructure. Over the decades-long life of this project, I have always advocated for appropriate funding levels to ensure timely completion of this project. This vital program was authorized in the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act and allows the State of Utah to develop its share of the Colorado River for irrigation and water supply. This program also reaches into five other States and provides for construction of water delivery infrastructure. Over the past few years, the Obama administration has constantly tried to underfund the Central Utah Project, but Senator Alexander and Senator Feinstein have been able to restore funding to levels that enable construction to move forward. Continuing funding for this project is important to taxpayers. Once the project is built and begins to deliver water, the people of Utah will start to repay their share of the costs to the Treasury. This funding also allows mitigation work to continue, which restores and protects lands that are important to fish and wildlife that have been impacted by Federal water development for this project.…”