Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4252, the Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin in the State of California, and for other purposes.

I would like to also thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Doc Hastings, and my good friend, chairwoman from the Water and Power Subcommittee, Grace Napolitano, and the ranking member, my good friend from the State of California, Representative Tom McClintock, for their support of this legislation.

And I want to thank Representative Bordallo from Guam for speaking in support of this much-needed legislation.

I also want to take the time to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives for their bipartisan support on an important bill, not only the Inland Empire, but it will also give us a study in terms of the effects it has on many cities too as well.

In addition, I want to commend the city of Rialto and the Perchlorate Task Force, city Councilman Ed Scott and Rialto Mayor Pro Tem Joe Baca, Jr., for their hard work and dedication in protecting families.

The city realizes that the water from over 20 wells was contaminated by perchlorate. I state, 20 wells were contaminated by Perchlorate. Perchlorate is a rocket fuel additive, an unstable organic compound that has been found to be harmful to humans because it interferes with the thyroid function. And you know when it interferes with the thyroid function it affects many women and others in that area.

I'm very familiar with the water contamination. My family lives in the city of Rialto. My children, my friends and close neighbors know what it's like to live with water that is contaminated.

When we first learned that our water was not safe to drink, we were all very much scared in terms of the water and the quality that came out and the neighbors and the people in that area. We wondered how long this water was bad. We worried about the damage caused by poor quality water. We were nervous because we drank the water, cooked with the water, bathed our children with the water.

Therefore, I drafted this bill to make sure that other families and neighboring cities will not have to suffer or have that kind of fear.

This bill is requesting that the plume in the Rialto-Colton basin is studied, and I state studied. Plumes are underground pockets of water, and some are pools of water. Some travel like underground rivers.

In Rialto, the plume has perchlorate in it. We know that the water in this plume is moving. The contaminated water is traveling underground. We don't know how big it is or how fast the water is moving. We need to know more about the plume to permanently the fix the problem.

The research established by the study in H.R. 4252 will guarantee that the problem will be identified. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey is not something done lightly. It is an intense research endeavor.

As the Nation's largest water and earth and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the U.S. Geological Survey collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific understanding about the nature of the resource, the conditions, the issues, and the problems. The diversity of the scientific experts enables them to carry out large-scale investigations and provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.

As an unbiased science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, and water, they are dedicated to the timely, relevant, impartial study of the landscape, our national resources, and the natural hazards that threaten us.

The USGS study will reduce the perchlorate problems in my area that have caused heartaches, frustration, and fear. Fortunately, under the city council of Rialto's zero tolerance policy, the city does not blend any detectable level of perchlorate into the water system. They are all making sure that water is safe by conducting well-head treatment.

But what about the cities that do not have the policies or the treatment facilities to clean their water? How will those people be affected? How will the children be affected--how will those be affected by it?

We are very familiar with the wealth of water problems in California, as described by my colleague on that side, not only in the northern portion of California, where water is very much needed in that area. Apart from those problems, water contamination is one that can be prevented.

I ask that all Members vote in support of this legislation, not because it is a California issue, but because it is a national issue that could impact anyone. It is a way to help correct a wrong and to prevent further problems.

Commissioner Connor from the Department of the Interior stated that the directives in this bill are within the USGS's jurisdiction. The USGS has found that ground water constitutes about 79 percent of the drinking water supply in the entire Inland Empire. A study by the USGS is long overdue.

We have learned that perchlorate contamination began in 1940 through the actions of the U.S. military and continued to 1960 through the work of U.S. defense contractors, and was made worse by fireworks companies.

Some cities in the area discovered the high level of perchlorate contamination in drinking water in 1996. Since that time the USGS has not made the plume a priority. I state: It has not made the plume a priority.

Water managers need to know the source, and the fate, and the transportation of perchlorate within the Rialto Colton Basin and the adjacent basin in order to effectively mitigate the contamination. That is why I drafted this bill. That's why I'm grateful that we are here today.

In the administration's written statement regarding this legislation, they indicated that the citizens relying on water from the Rialto- Colton Basin would have to compete with other administrative priorities for funding.

The message you will be sending to USGS by voting in support of this study will be that families deserve clean drinking water throughout our country, and especially those areas like mine that are being affected. Families that rely on drinking water from the tap should not have to drink contaminated water, or wonder what's going to happen to their child or fear to give that water to their children or have to go out and purchase additional water to make sure that the thyroid does not affect that woman or that child or the individuals in that home.

This is a national issue, and it's a basic right for our citizens and their families. When someone has contaminated the only source of drinking water for the community, this issue becomes a national issue.

These families should not suffer from health problems associated with perchlorate. It is common knowledge that perchlorate affects the thyroid in our body. Women and infants are at greatest risk.

I want to let you know the hardship faced by people living in the area and why this bill is important. The people are innocent victims. Others misused the land and left us with a legacy of contaminated water.

The families in my area are living under a median household income of $41,254, very low for the State of California; and 17.4 percent of these citizens live below the poverty line. People in the area have had double-digit unemployment rates for many months. This area has ranked in the top five consistently for having the highest foreclosure rate. These families already shoulder too much of the cost associated with trying to find a solution.

H.R. 4252 moves beyond finding those at fault. We need to know and fully appreciate the extent of the damage. We must do this to help isolate the problems and prevent other cities from suffering.

The contamination plume is moving and many other areas will suffer. The hot spot for contamination is in Rialto, California, which has an area that in 2009 was designated as a Superfund site. That shows how bad the problem is because it is very difficult to obtain this designation.

This Superfund designation will help take care of the hot spot. But what about the water traveling? What about the water traveling underground in the plume?

What about other cities that are impacted? What about my neighboring city and the City of Riverside? The contamination is spreading and no one knows exactly how much of the contamination is moving or where exactly it is going. The well-head treatment alone will not solve the problem because of the contamination in the ground.

The Rialto-Colton basin has a plume that is contaminated by TCE, perchlorate, and other harmful chemicals. Without treatment, the water is dangerous. I fear for the communities that do not have well-head treatment facilities. The study will identify the extent of the damage underground.

The bill does not violate PAYGO. I state the bill does not violate PAYGO requirements, but serves to notice and highlight that there is a plume in the Rialto-Colton basin that must be reviewed. We have an opportunity to be proactive. Your vote in support of this bill is proactive and will help families.

Again, I want to thank Rialto City Council member Ed Scott for coming in September of 2009 to testify in support of H.R. 4252. He spoke not only for his residents in the city of 96,000 people, but also approximately 400,000 residents who reside in the neighboring cities that are affected by the chemicals which have polluted the Rialto- Colton basin.

I want to thank the Association of California Water Agencies for writing a letter in support of the legislation. What we learn from the study in H.R. 4252 will help other areas where there is the hardship of perchlorate. There are many States who have perchlorate issues. This study will help them be aware of what could be happening underground.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4252.

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

Mr. Speaker, this well-intentioned bill tries to force the administration into making ground water cleanup in the Rialto-Colton Basin of California a priority. Everyone acknowledges that this bill is a restatement of current law, and that new funding is not authorized in this bill, but we all understand what the gentleman from California is trying to accomplish and, in the spirit of bipartisanship, Republicans supported his efforts in the Natural Resources Committee.

But I need to point out that this bipartisan gesture continues to go unreciprocated. We've been trying in vain for months now to get the same kind of bipartisan cooperation to restore full water deliveries to the Central Valley of California. The valley's economy has been devastated by the diversion of 200 billion gallons of water in order to dump that water into the Pacific Ocean to serve the left's pet cause, the 3-inch Delta Smelt.

Apologists for this policy argue that, well, it's the drought. Well, they ignore the fact that the drought we've had is a relatively minor one by historical standards, it appears to be over, and that in far more severe droughts in the past, far more water has reached the Central Valley. But that's before the environmental left took over our water policy and diverted 200 billion gallons of that water into the Pacific Ocean.

It's unfortunate that the majority actually rewrote this bill specifically to keep us from offering amendments that would address the agony of the Central Valley.

Time and again, the majority, using parliamentary gimmicks, has prevented any attempt to restore normal water deliveries to the San Joaquin Valley.

By the Obama administration's own numbers, it spent about $1.5 billion as part of the so-called ``stimulus'' in the Central Valley's six Congressional districts to save or create 1,600 jobs.

Well, today Congress has the power to restore tens of thousands of jobs lost because of water diversions at no cost to taxpayers. This House is in possession of a bill to do just that, H.R. 3105, by my colleague, Congressman Nunes. But still it studiously avoids exercising that power because this administration and this majority in Congress have chosen fish over people.

Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley are now faced with making planning decisions. Despite near record precipitation in the northern Sierra watershed--NOAA this week reported that precipitation is now 129 percent of normal--the Department of the Interior has just announced Central Valley farmers will be guaranteed only 25 percent of their normal allocations. Let me repeat that so it sinks in. Precipitation is 129 percent of normal; guaranteed water delivery is 25 percent of normal.

Even Senator Feinstein tried to give the farmers a 40 percent water allocation, yet that effort has been opposed by the environmental left and its friends in Congress.

Perchlorate contamination in the Inland Empire is the indirect result of Federal policy, and the Federal government has a responsibility to assist the people of the Inland Empire with cleanup. But the agony of California's Central Valley is the direct result of policies that Congress could change in this very bill. It's disappointing to me that the majority chooses not to do so. I think it makes a mockery of any claims of bipartisanship, although we once again extend that offer of bipartisanship by supporting this bill, and invite the majority to join us.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield whatever time he may consume to my friend and colleague representing the Central Valley of California (Mr. Nunes).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will simply appeal again to the majority, water might be controversial, but it needn't be partisan. We have done everything we can in good faith to support this bill for clean drinking water for Rialto and Colton. We would ask the majority again to reconsider its opposition to restoring the full water entitlement to the Central Valley. Again, there is something desperately wrong with our public policy when we are at 129 percent of normal in our Sierra precipitation and yet only 25 percent of the water deliveries to the Central Valley.

With that final appeal for bipartisanship, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we have a clear record of what has happened in the House of Representatives regarding what is now called H.R. 4252. This bill actually was originally called H.R. 2316, and it was marked up in the Resources Committee and then altered later. Now, why did that happen? It happened because the Democratic majority cares about clean drinking water for their constituents, but could care less about providing water to the San Joaquin Valley of California.

So I really enjoy hearing people come down here and cry about how they have contaminated drinking water. And I would only say that there is one thing worse than contaminated drinking water, and that is having no water. What has really happened here is that the radical left and the radical environmental group has taken over the entire Democratic Party, so much so that they won't even allow free and fair and open debate on not only an easy California water bill, because they are afraid to have to actually consider any amendments, but they are also doing the same thing on the government takeover of health care bill, to

where they are going to try to deem a bill passed mysteriously.

This is a terrible abuse of power. It is a terrible facade that is being put up saying that people need clean drinking water. I don't have a problem with people having clean drinking water. I think this is a noble bill, a noble cause. But you should not choose some constituents in California over an entire valley in California that has 3 million people and hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland that has been idled to the point where tens of thousands of farm workers have been thrown out of work because the Democrats in this body choose to do funny little things and change bills like this, change the numbers and think that the American people won't figure out the games that you guys continue to play on that side.

The more that you play little games like this, the more that you play little tricks like this, the more that myself and other colleagues of mine will come down here and point out the hypocrisy of the Democrats in the majority.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4252) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin in the State of California, and for other purposes.

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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4252, introduced by our colleague, Representative Joe Baca of California, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, to study the health and quality of the aquifers in the Rialto-Colton Basin. This includes a study of any perchlorate concentration plumes within an aquifer and its possible contamination of other nearby aquifers.

The ground water constitutes about 79 percent of the drinking water supply in the entire Inland Empire area of California, and it is, as such, critical to understand any threats posed by contamination to this supply.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 4252.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) such time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.