This week, the House passed H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act by a margin of 243 to182. This needed bill will improve the ability of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to promptly implement recovery treatments in response to catastrophic wildfire on federal lands, including the removal of dead and damaged trees and the implementation of reforestation treatments.

The House also passed H.Con. Res. 376, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 through 2011.

Also passing by a vote of 293 to 128 was the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07.

Auburn Dam Progress

This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved funding to further progress toward the eventual completion of the Auburn Dam. The FY07 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act contains over $187 million for water conservation, flood control, and watershed restoration projects throughout Northern California. Included in the measure is $3 million to fund a feasibility study for a multipurpose dam on the American River at Auburn and $1 million to assess the feasibility of relocating Highway 49 where it crosses the American River between Auburn and Cool, California. This bill shows a tremendous commitment by Congress to help Northern California meet its water management challenges. I am especially gratified that the committee supports my efforts to push forward solutions to both our region’s short-term and long-term flood protection needs. While making immediate improvements to Folsom Dam and the levee system, now is the time that we get serious about completing the Auburn Dam.

The original dam plan called for traffic on Highway 49 to cross over the top of the dam upon completion. Due to modern security concerns, a new bridge over the American River would now be required for the relocation of the highway when the dam is built. In addition to being an essential component of the overall Auburn Dam project, the relocation of this stretch of Highway 49 would resolve transportation concerns which have been commonly expressed in the surrounding communities for years.

Also this week, the American River Authority (ARA), a joint powers authority consisting of several Northern California counties and water agencies, initiated an exploration into taking on the role of local funding sponsor for the dam. Created in 1982 to promote the project, the ARA could play a very important function in making the dam a reality.

Sad Reality

As drivers are well aware, gas prices have reached $3 per gallon around the country. While some worthwhile proposals have been advanced to respond to the situation, this is fundamentally an issue of supply and demand. There are 80 billion barrels of oil in the Outer Continental Shelf. Unfortunately for U.S. consumers, 85 percent of it is not available for extraction due to a federal moratorium. At least it’s not available to the United States. However, Fidel Castro is planning to tap into those same reserves just 45 miles from the coast of Florida for Cuba to utilize. What’s more, he is planning to allow China to tap into those same reserves. In short, we are forfeiting a rich source of petroleum in our own backyard, supposedly out of environmental concern, while the oil is going to be extracted anyway by communist nations with less stringent environmental regulations.

Fact of the Week

The federal government ran a monthly budget surplus of $118.85 billion in April, as tax receipts came in stronger than the same period last year – yet another sign that the American economy is strong. By signing the two-year extension of the dividend and capital gains tax cuts this week, President Bush has helped ensure that the economic growth and subsequent increase in tax revenue will continue. The challenge will be continuing last year’s progress in reining in federal spending.