BONO MACK PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF WILDERNESS BILL
Washington,
Jan 15 -
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack today praised U.S. Senate passage of a package of public lands bills (S. 22), which includes Bono Mack’s widely supported wilderness provision that would preserve certain desert and forest landscapes and rivers in Riverside County, in addition to Bono Mack’s water recycling bill to improve water infrastructure in Southwest Riverside County. Passing in the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 73-21, the legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
“This is great news for our community,” said Bono Mack. “These wild lands are an important part of our heritage, and a reason that so many of us choose to live and work in this spectacular part of the country. I am thrilled that we are so close to seeing some of our region’s most scenic and unique landscapes preserved for years to come.
“The broad support we’ve seen for this legislation is testament to all the hard work and collaboration that has gone into crafting this bill. I am proud to have worked with so many individuals in our community and in Congress to move this bill forward, and I will continue to work to ensure its final passage.”
The California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act will protect approximately 190,000 acres of scenic and ecologically-sensitive land in Riverside County, including parts of Joshua Tree National Park, and four wild and scenic rivers.
Additionally, Bono Mack’s legislation to improve water recycling and treatment infrastructure in Southwest Riverside County was passed as a part of S. 22 today. The Rancho California Water District Recycled Water Reclamation Facility Act (H.R. 371), is a major project that will create facilities for water recycling, demineralization and desalination, and distribution of non-potable water supplies in Southern Riverside County.
“With our State experiencing severe water limitations and drought concerns, it is all the more critical that we do everything we can to conserve this precious resource. I am pleased that we are moving forward with this project that will help meet the increasing need for water from both our agricultural and residential communities,” Bono Mack said.
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