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Napolitano's Provision for $245 Million to Combat Drought & Boost Water Supplies Included in Bureau of Reclamation's Blueprint for Implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

January 18, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) praised the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's blueprint for implementation of the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes $245 million for WaterSMART Title XVI's Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects, bill language Napolitano inserted into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to better prepare communities in Southern California and the west for ongoing drought cycles.

"We are thrilled to welcome $245 million in new funding to combat drought, boost water supplies, and better meet the unique water needs of Southern Californians and millions of other Americans in the west," Napolitano said. " The Bureau of Reclamation's Title XVI water recycling programs have proven to be some of the most cost-effective federal programs in improving water supply and will continue to provide long-term savings, while boosting job growth and lessening our reliance on imported water. I have been fighting for more than two decades to increase funding levels for Title XVI, and I applaud the Biden administration for recognizing this critical need with robust funding to back it up."

The language Napolitano submitted was based on her bill, H.R. 1015, the Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act, which aims to assist water agencies with the expansion, planning, design, and building of water recycling plants and modernizing water infrastructure in California and other western states.

"With a backlog of existing projects awaiting federal dollars, these funds will help bring more recycling projects online faster, adding jobs, modernizing our water infrastructure, and expanding our regional water portfolio in the process," Napolitano added. "The drought is not over—not here in Southern California, nor many other parts of the west. With climate change, population growth, and a global pandemic threatening vital water supplies, we must act urgently to safeguard our communities from water shortages and drought."

As Chairwoman of the Transportation Committee's Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Napolitano successfully included in the law this and several other key provisions to deliver federal assistance to clean water projects, water supply projects, and environmental improvements and recreation.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021.

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