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Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolution

Floor Speech

By: Ron Wyden
By: Ron Wyden
Date: July 2, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Infrastructure Animals and Wildlife

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Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Water for Agriculture and Conservation Act to help expand critical water conservation infrastructure that helps improve water use efficiency, fish and wildlife habitat, and agriculture productivity.

Throughout the West, communities are experiencing high levels of drought that are hurting agriculture and conservation efforts. The Water for Conservation and Farming Act aims to help communities better plan and prepare for the increased demand for clean water by funding projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds, and benefit agricultural and urban water users.

States, Tribes, and local communities are working diligently to upgrade crumbling water infrastructure but have lacked the critical resources to make meaningful improvements that last. The Water for Conservation and Farming Act would provide $120,000,000 over three years for disadvantaged communities to increase environmental protections, support agriculture, and make significant steps to improve the water supply for their communities.

The Water for Conservation and Farming Act would create a Bureau of Reclamation fund of $300 million to support water recycling projects, water-use efficiency projects and dam safety projects, as well as expanding existing programs, like WaterSMART, to get more bang for the conservation buck.

The bill would establish several new programs at the Bureau of Reclamation, which are designed to help disadvantaged communities plan and implement water conservation projects, a program to help farmers improve migratory bird habitat, and programs to implement aquatic ecosystem restoration projects.

At a time when the nation is suffering increased droughts, when farmers and ranchers are asked to do more with less, and critical habitats are suffering from less and less water, this bill will make needed investments in water conservation infrastructure that reduces demand for water, improves biodiversity, and helps farmers and ranchers plan and prepare for droughts. I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.

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