Gardner, McSally unveil bipartisan bill to increase water supply in West

U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced the bipartisan Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act to help needy states in the West.

“In Colorado and the West, combating drought requires a comprehensive approach,” said Sen. Gardner, the bill’s lead sponsor. “Storage and conservation are key parts of our water resource management. Tens of millions of people in the western United States rely on Colorado rivers to provide water for agricultural, municipal and consumptive use, as well as support for our growing recreation economy. In the face of these challenges, I’m proud to be joining this bipartisan legislation that will aid efforts to prevent severe water shortages.”

Sens. Gardner and McSally on June 20 introduced S. 1932 with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to support water infrastructure in the nation’s Reclamation States, among other purposes, according to the congressional record.

“Reliable water infrastructure is critical for the water security of every Arizona family and business,” said McSally, who chairs the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, which oversees western water resources issues in the United States.

“This bill will launch development of new facilities to help water infrastructure meet the growing demand,” she said. “I am committed to ensuring existing water infrastructure in Arizona and across the West receives the proper investment it needs and look forward to taking up the bill in the Water and Power Subcommittee soon.”

Among key provisions in S. 1932 are those to extend federal funding an additional five years, including $670 million for surface and groundwater storage projects; $100 million for water recycling projects; and $60 million for desalination projects.

S. 1932 also would establish a new loan program for water agencies designed to spur investment in new water supply projects, according to a summary provided by Sen. McSally’s office, which noted that repayments could be deferred until five years after a project’s completion.

Additionally, the proposal would authorize $140 million for habitat restoration and environmental compliance projects, according to the summary.