House Approves Funding for Groundwater Cleanup

June 25, 2004

Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation containing critical funding for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund. The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005, H.R. 4614, was approved with strong bipartisan support 370-16.

“Once again, Congress is joining with local and state officials to provide the funding necessary to continue the work on groundwater cleanup,” Dreier said. “This continuing partnership has been successful because it is committed to results. The strength of the federal support for this program shows the funds already appropriated have been utilized efficiently and effectively.”

The legislation passed today contains an additional $9 million in new funding for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund. To date, Congress has provided $55 million to the Fund. The San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund is administered cooperatively by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Federal and non-federal monies contributed to the Fund are being used to design, construct, and operate water projects to contain and treat the groundwater contamination in the San Gabriel and Central Groundwater Basins. The San Gabriel Groundwater Basin covers more than 160 square miles in Los Angeles County and is the primary source of drinking water for over 1.2 million people.