I look forward to these hearings, and I have no doubt we will 

 demonstrate that there is no consensus in support of this sweeping 

 repeal of the Central Valley Improvement Act as represented in the 

 bill before us, H.R. 1906. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[The following statement was submitted for the record:] 



Statement of Hon. Richard W. Pombo, a U.S. Representative from Caufornia 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today on H.R. 1906, the 

 Central Valley Project Reform Act of 1995 (CVPRA). I appreciate you providing this 

 Subcommittee with the opportunity to review and discuss the CVP reform bul — of 

 which I am an original cosponsor — and look forward to the testimony of our wit- 

 nesses. 



As you know, Mr. Chairman, P.L. 102-575 — the Central Vallev Project Improve- 

 ment Act (CVPIA)— made a substantial number of changes to the implementation 

 of California's major Federal reclamation project, the CVP. Among its major provi- 

 sions, the CVPIA mandated that 800,000 acre feet of yield from the CVP be dedi- 

 cated exclusively for fish and wildlife purposes. It also established the CVP restora- 

 tion fund, mand.ated several specific construction activities designed to mitigate im- 

 pacts on fish and wildlife, ana required the Bureau of Reclamation to do a system- 

 wide Environmental Impact Statement. These changes were in an effort to achieve 

 the stated goal "to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat within the 

 Central VaHey of California while maintaining the productivity of other project pur- 

 poses." 



It has now been over two years since Congress passed the CVPIA. In that time 

 it has become abundantly clear that, as written, this law designed to "improve" the 

 CVP is itself in need of improving. H.R. 1906 — I firmly believe — is a sound legisla- 

 tive proposal designed to do just that — preserve the integrity of the CVPIA but 

 achieve its goals in a more realistic and workable manner. Again, Mr. Chairman, 

 I applaud your efforts in introducing this bill and will enthusiastically work to both 

 improve it and move it through the legislative process. 



1 understand that a number of environmental organizations, and their supporters 

 in Congress, are opposed to this measure. Undoubtedly, we will hear a great deal 

 from them today and in the future as we debate this bill. Mr. Chairman, there they 

 go again. I have heard from these otouds that this proposal is an effort to repeal 

 the critical features of the CVPIA. Nothing could be further from the truth. This 

 bill disrupts neither tiie 800,000 acre feet set-aside for wildhfe nor the efforts of the 

 CVPIA to double the number of anadromous fish in CaUfomia. Instead, it serves to 

 streamline and clarify these requirements. Simply stated, it will make the CVPIA 

 an all around more workable law. 



It has been said that this proposal will derail the fragile Bay/Delta agreement of 

 December 15, 1994. This is yet another falsehood. The fact of the*Tnatter is, this 

 proposal is intended to be consistent with the environmental requirements under 

 the Bay/Delta Accord. If adopted, this proposal will meet the environmental benefits 

 more qviickly and efficiently than the status quo. 



Given that the environmental extremists have already filed a lawsuit against this 

 historic agreement, maybe it is they who should ask themselves who is more likely 

 to jeoparmze the Bay/TDelta agreement. 



Mr. Chairman, those who claim that this legislation would eviscerate the CVPIA 

 are dead wrong. The only thing divisive about this measure is the false rhetoric that 

 is being tossed around in opposition to this well meaning proposal. 



Again, I am proud to be in support of H.R. 1906 and Took forward to today's testi- 

 mony. Thank you. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Thank you. We have some of our distinguished 

 members as witnesses, and first on the list is the Honorable Bill 

 Bradley, U.S. Senator. Senator Bradley. 



STATEMENT OF HON. BILL BRADLEY, A U.S. SENATOR FROM 



NEW JERSEY 



Senator BRADLEY. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I appre- 

 ciate the opportunity to come before the committee today and share 

 my thoughts on H.R. 1906. As one of the authors of the Central 

 Valley Improvement Act, I still retain a strong interest in all bills 

 and regulations that £^ect the implementation of this Act, and I 



