Dreier Water Clean Up Bill Advances in Congress

October 17, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), House Rules Committee Ranking Republican, applauded the recent advancement of key legislation that will help keep groundwater clean in the San Gabriel Valley. H.R. 123, the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Initiative was approved by the House Water and Power Subcommittee with a unanimous vote earlier this week.

"The San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund has a proven track record of success," Dreier said. "Making sure we maintain a safe drinking water supply is crucial to our quality of life. H.R. 123 is a good bill that deserves strong, bipartisan support. I hope this bill continues to move forward with the same level of support it has so far."

Congressman Dreier introduced H.R. 123 this year to increase by $50 million the authorization of federal funds for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund, created in 2000 by Dreier’s enacted legislation to help clean up perchlorate contamination and provide safe drinking water to Southern California. The initial federal authorization was $85 million, most of which has already been allocated to the ongoing clean up. The estimated total cost of clean up is now $1 billion. With the additional federal assistance that Congressman Dreier’s bill provides, the federal investment is 13.5 percent of the total cost, which reflects that this is an extraordinarily cost effective federal project.

Congressman Dreier also thanked Water and Power Subcommittee Chairwoman Grace Napolitano for her work on H.R. 123, her co-sponsorship of the bill and her continued support for the ongoing clean up. "Chairwoman Napolitano recognizes the importance of the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund. I commend her for her leadership on this issue."