To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1854.

This bill will revise a previously authorized project to allow the mountain community of Big Bear, which is located in the 41st Congressional District, to move forward with the Army Corps of Engineers to begin replacement of an aging water infrastructure. The bill reduces the authorized amount of the project by $3 million.

The city of Big Bear Lake currently distributes water through pipes that are over 70 years old and crumbling by the minute. This lack of integrity from the water infrastructure has led to declining water quality, massive water loss, and dangerously low flow levels that do not meet firefighting standards.

California is in the midst of a water crisis, and San Bernardino County has been granted Federal disaster status due to extreme drought conditions. In a misguided effort to protect fish, the Federal Government has shut off pumps for the California Aqueduct, further reducing water supplies for southern California communities. Under these severe conditions, we cannot overlook any opportunity to conserve what water we have. This bill will provide immediate and measurable conservation.

Equally dire, Big Bear is located within the San Bernardino National Forest. Because of lack of consistent management in the past, the San Bernardino National Forest has become a powder keg for wildfire. We have made some progress at reducing the threat through aggressive hazardous fuels removal, but the danger remains extreme. Replacing the water infrastructure will help protect the Big Bear community and provide the U.S. Forest Service with another vital weapon in the event of catastrophic wildfire.

As a side benefit, the increased pressure in the pipes will also drastically reduce the power consumption currently needed to pump water throughout the system. It has been a priority of this Congress to implement policies that conserve resources and I believe this bill is consistent with those goals.

I urge a ``yes'' vote of H.R. 1854.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1854, amending the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify a project in the vicinity of Big Bear, California.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 was enacted in November 2007. Included in the bill is a project that authorized assistance for the city of Big Bear, California. As authorized, the bill provided $15 million of assistance to the city to construct a wastewater treatment facility.

Since enactment, however, the city has decided against constructing the project and would instead use the authority to upgrade its water supply distribution system at a lower cost than originally authorized. The new cost of the project is $9 million.

This project is especially critical to this region of California which is typically subjected to catastrophic wildfires. Upgrades to the water supply in the vicinity of Big Bear would increase water pressure at peak demand periods and improve water quality.

It's not often that a Member of Congress asks us to cut authorized levels of funding for their congressional district. This bill is an act of good governance and truth-in-budgeting.

I want to thank Representative Lewis for his leadership on this issue and urge all Members to vote in favor of H.R. 1854.

Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am submitting the following: in regards to my bill, H.R. 1854 to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California.

Agency: Army Corps of Engineers

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Big Bear Department of Water and Power

Address of Requesting Entity: 41972 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Description of Request: The city of Big Bear Lake delivers its potable water from 70 year old 2-inch diameter pipes that have led to declining water quality at the faucet, massive unaccounted for water loss, and most dangerously--low water pressure.

Because of this lack of water pressure the city does not have the capability to effectively fight a fire of size within city boundaries. Big Bear exists within the San Bernardino National Forest one of the most high risk zones for wildfire in the State of California. It has also led to rampant power consumption to move water through the system making Big Bear Lake the second highest rate payer in the region.

This bill will modify an existing authorization for Big Bear Department of Water and Power and reduce the previously authorized amount by $3,000,000.

Amount: $9,000,000

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1854) to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1854.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to consider H.R. 1854 to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify the environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California. This bill provides technical corrections to the Big Bear Lake project, originally authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

H.R. 1854 changes the authorized purpose of the Big Bear Lake project from wastewater treatment to water supply infrastructure. In addition, the authorized funding level is reduced by $6 million to a $9 million authorized funding level. We have no objections to this bill as introduced.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1854, offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California. The Big Bear Lake project was originally authorized in Water Resources Development Act of 2007 for the purpose of wastewater treatment at a funding level of $15 million. This bill modifies the Big Bear Lake Project, reducing the authorized funding to $9 million and changing the project purpose to water supply infrastructure.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1854.