{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-about-colorado-river-basin-water-security-and", "What They Are Saying About the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Following Congressman Andy Biggs\u2019s (AZ-05) introduction of the Colorado River Basin and Infrastructure Act, several public officials expressed their support for the landmark legislation. The bill would expand water supplies, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, and strengthen long-term water security throughout the Colorado River Basin.\n\n\u201cThe Colorado River powers Arizona\u2019s homes, farms, factories, and critical industries that keep America strong. Prolonged drought is pushing the system to the brink; we can\u2019t sit back while levels keep dropping,\u201dsaid Congressman Abe Hamadeh.\u201cThat\u2019s why Congressman Hamadeh joined @RepAndyBiggsAZ's bipartisan effort demanding emergency funding for infrastructure upgrades, conservation, and long-term planning in the Colorado River Basin.\u201d\n\n\u201cArizona can\u2019t make it rain or snow, but we can take action to secure our water future,\u201d said Senate President Warren Petersen. \u201cArizona has known for years that shortages could put the Central Arizona Project at risk. Valuable time to develop alternative supplies has already been lost, and we cannot afford to lose any more. That\u2019s why we worked with Congressman Biggs to make sure Arizona\u2019s priorities helped shape this federal plan.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Biggs has put forward a serious proposal that addresses the problem Arizona should have started preparing for years ago: we need more water,\u201d House Speaker Steve Montenegro said. \u201cFor too long, the discussion has centered on how to divide a declining supply. This legislation takes a better approach by removing unnecessary federal delays and putting real resources behind projects that can increase supply. Long-term water augmentation is the path forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur job is to make sure Arizona families and businesses have reliable water without driving up costs,\u201d said Senate President Pro Tempore and Natural Resources Committee Chairman T.J. Shope. \u201cWe cannot solve a water shortage by arguing over smaller and smaller shares of the river. We need to make the pie bigger, and this bill gives Arizona and the other Basin states practical ways to bring more water into the system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to stop trading paper around and start bringing new, real wet water into the state. Congressman Biggs\u2019 plan prioritizes just that,\u201d House Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter said. \u201cInstead of focusing on scarcity, as Governor Hobbs has done by instituting water-use moratoriums and vetoing bills designed to authorize access to new water, Biggs\u2019 bill plans for prosperity and abundance through the development of new water sources.\u201d\n\n\u201cExpanding water supply should be a bipartisan priority,\u201d House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee Chairman Gail Griffin said. \u201cWe need a long-term solution that protects the Colorado River system and works for everyone who depends on it. House and Senate Republicans support Congressman Biggs\u2019 legislation and will continue working on state policies that protect existing residents, increase supply, and support rural economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Biggs\u2019 bill rewards states that invest in their own water future, and Arizona is ready,\u201d said Representative Alex Kolodin. \u201cGovernor Hobbs has spent four years managing scarcity instead of building supply. Her Colorado River talks stalled without a deal that enforces the Compact or that requires the Upper Basin to share in cuts. And when the Legislature sent her bills to develop new supplies, including brackish groundwater legislation I helped advance, she vetoed them and dismissed the idea as \u2018wishful thinking.\u2019 Arizona is less prepared today as a result. Congressman Biggs is doing what the Governor should have done years ago: putting real money and real urgency behind new water, and doing it in a way that benefits every Basin state. That is a win-win approach, and it is the one Arizona needs. The affordability and long-term future of our state depend on it.\u201d\n\n\u201cPinal County already understands that conservation alone is not a long-term water strategy,\u201d Representative Chris Lopez said. \u201cOur farmers, irrigation districts, cities, and water leaders have worked hard to stretch the supplies we have while looking for new ones. We are and continue to be the leader in water conservation and investment among Colorado River Basin states, allowing us to grow our population and economy while using less water today. Congressman Biggs\u2019 legislation builds on that record by allowing us to conserve what we have, build the infrastructure we need, and bring new wet water into the system.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the endorsements from these officials, the Arizona Farm Bureau came forward with its appreciation of the legislation:\n\n\u201cArizona Farm Bureau supports efforts to strengthen Colorado River water security and advance the infrastructure investments necessary to protect the long-term water needs of Arizona and the entire Basin. We appreciate Congressman Andy Biggs\u2019 leadership in introducing the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act and his recognition that addressing the Colorado River\u2019s challenges requires meaningful action, long-term planning, and solutions that expand our water resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe status quo is not sustainable, and Arizona\u2019s agricultural producers cannot afford to be left carrying an ever-increasing share of the burden,\u201d said Arizona Farm Bureau President John Boelts.\n\n\u201cAgriculture is essential to Arizona\u2019s economy, food supply, rural communities, and national food security. Any effort to address the Colorado River\u2019s future must recognize agriculture\u2019s significant contributions, protect agricultural water access, and ensure producers have a meaningful seat at the table. Arizona farmers and ranchers have already demonstrated their willingness to be part of the solution but conservation alone cannot replace the need for investment in water augmentation, infrastructure, and reliable supplies. We urge policymakers to pursue durable, collaborative solutions that strengthen the Basin\u2019s water security while safeguarding the ability of Arizona agriculture to continue producing food and sustaining our rural communities for generations to come.\"\n\nRead Congressman Biggs's introductory press release here.\n\nRead the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-about-colorado-river-basin-water-security-and"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.724930014461279, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}