Dr. Ruiz Leads Bipartisan Amendment Seeking to Help Restore Salton Sea and Improve Public Health

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert) introduced an amendment to H.R. 4923, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, to direct $1 million for Bureau of Reclamation public health projects like the Red Hill Bay project for the Salton Sea. The amendment passed the House with bipartisan support and if signed into law, it would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to dedicate additional resources to solve the public health problems caused by the Salton Sea.

“Deteriorating conditions have made the Salton Sea a serious public health threat to the Coachella Valley,” said Dr. Ruiz. “As an emergency medicine doctor, I have seen first-hand the effects of the resulting poor air and water quality on our children and seniors. This amendment would allow more resources to be dedicated to mitigate public health threats like the Salton Sea through critical endeavors like the Red Hill Bay project. This would be a critical step towards a shovel to ground project to restore the dying Sea.”

The Bureau of Reclamation Water and Related Resources supports the development, construction, management, and restoration of water and related natural resources. Dr. Ruiz’s amendment passed the House with bipartisan support.

Click here to view Dr. Ruiz’s floor speech advocating for the amendment.

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