{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2337", "Western Caucus Members Score Monumental Victory for Commonsense Water Solutions", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, the House of Representatives passed the conference report for S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) by a vote of 360 to 61. This legislation aims to advance water infrastructure throughout the country and includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016.\n\nCongressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) and caucus members Rep. David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-24) issued the following statements in response:\n\n\u201cToday, communities all across the West scored a major victory in the fight for commonsense water solutions. Critical provisions in this important legislation will increase water storage, facilitate outstanding tribal water settlements and advance water delivery for millions of Americans while still ensuring responsible environmental protections,\u201d said Chairman Gosar. \u201cI am proud that Western Caucus Members were instrumental in crafting this bill and I am grateful for leadership on both sides of the aisle that helped us reach this rational solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we head into the winter rainy season, including these temporary provisions in S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, to strengthen California water infrastructure and increase water deliveries is both dire and extremely judicious,\u201d said Rep. Valadao. \u201cThese provisions will not solve California\u2019s water crisis, but they will provide interim relief, which my constituents desperately need. I am encouraged by today\u2019s passage of the bill and look forward to working with the new Republican Administration and my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to reach a complete agreement.\u201d\n\n\u201cWRDA is an important step forward in protecting California against devastating future droughts and protecting Lake Tahoe against catastrophic wildfires,\u201d added Rep. Tom McClintock.\n\nThe text of the WIIN Act can be found HERE.\n\nThis legislation is primarily the biannual water resources infrastructure authorization package, however the conference report includes important natural resource and western water provisions.\n\nTITLE II\u2013WATER AND WASTE ACT OF 2016\n\nSubtitle A \u2013 Safe Drinking Water\n\n\u2022 Authorizes contaminated water cleanup for Flint, MI and other communities. Authorizes $170 million to be appropriated in the continuing resolution.\n\nSubtitle C \u2013 Control of Coal Combustion Residuals\n\n\u2022 Sec. 2301, authorizes state-based programs for control of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) with EPA approval.\n\nTITLE III\u2014NATURAL RESOURCES\n\nSubtitle A\u2014Indian Dam Safety\n\n\u2022 Includes language from Chairman Barrasso\u2019s Dam Repairs and Improvements for Tribes Act.\n\nSubtitle B\u2014Military Land Withdrawals\n\n\u2022 Includes language from Chairman Barrasso\u2019s IRRIGATE Act, which provides tribes the ability to improve, replace, and maintain tribal irrigation projects.\n\nSubtitle C\u2014Weber Basin Prepayments\n\n\u2022 Includes language from Chairman Bishop\u2019s standalone bill for the repayment of certain repayment obligations under contracts between the United States and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy.\n\nSubtitle D\u2014Pechanga Water Rights Settlement\n\n\u2022 Includes language from Chairman Calvert\u2019s standalone bill settling a long-standing dispute with the Pechanga tribe.\n\nSubtitle F \u2013 Miscellaneous Provisions\n\n\u2022 Includes several district-specific changes to Bureau of Reclamation activities, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, tribal, and other water-related issues.\n\nSubtitle G \u2013 Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement\n\n\u2022 Includes language from both Rep. Zinke (H.R. 5633) and Senator Tester\u2019s (S. 1125) Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act. This settles a longstanding water dispute between the Blackfeet Tribe and the United States, allowing for tribal management of water facilities and storage.\n\nSubtitle H \u2013 Water Desalination\n\n\u2022 Amends the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to consolidate and focus federal desalination research. This is part of the smaller western water compromise agreement.\n\nSubtitle J \u2013 California and Western Water\n\n\u2022 This language clears the way for increased pumping of water from California's Bay Delta region to agricultural regions and other areas hit by drought. It also allows water users to accelerate repayments of water projects and authorizes increased water storage throughout the West.\n\nTITLE IV\u2014OTHER MATTERS\n\n\u2022 Sec. 5004. Gold King Mine Spill Recovery - Language allows for claims to be made from damages paid for by the EPA, as well as authorizing a water quality program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:09:43Z"]], "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://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2337"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1675842106342316, "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"}