Dr. Ruiz Strengthens Federal-State Partnership at the Salton Sea

Washington, DC – This week, the House of Representatives passed two important bills that contain provisions written by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. that will strengthen the federal, state, and local partnership to mitigate the impending public health crisis at the Salton Sea.

On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 7575, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which included Dr. Ruiz's provision to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to investigate the construction of a northern perimeter lake at the Salton Sea. This section boosts federal support for the State of California's Salton Sea Management Program, which includes plans to construct the northern perimeter lake as the next mitigation project at the Sea. The Corps is the lead permitting agency for the State of California Salton Sea Management Program.

Today, the House passed appropriations bill H.R. 7617. Dr. Ruiz drafted critical language to expand funding opportunities for the Salton Sea as well as to direct the Army Corps to expeditiously carry out the necessary study authorized in WRDA. The legislation also includes continued support for the State of California's Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Interior to invest $30 million in Salton Sea projects.

"This is a great outcome for our district and my mission to bring additional federal resources to mitigate the public health crisis at the Salton Sea," said Dr. Ruiz. "This legislation will deepen the partnership between the federal government and the State of California, support the all-hands-on-deck approach that is necessary to protect the public's health, and help us break ground on projects at the Salton Sea."

"We deeply appreciate Congressman Ruiz's steadfast efforts to mobilize federal action at the Salton Sea," said Phil Rosentrater, General Manager of the Salton Sea Authority. "The provisions of the bill secured by Congressman Ruiz direct both the Army Corps and the Bureau of Reclamation to increase federal engagement and investment in public health protections and environmental resources at the Salton Sea. The State of California has made major funding commitments to the Salton Sea and Congressman Ruiz's efforts in this legislation will help mobilize our federal partners to match those resources and expedite this critical work."

Dr. Ruiz's remarks on the House floor can be found here.

Background

H.R. 7617 - Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021 passed the House Friday.

In H.R. 7617, Dr. Ruiz's language strengthens the federal-state partnership in the following ways:

• Directs the Army Corps and Bureau of Reclamation to partner with federal, state, and local agencies and coordinate use of all existing authorities to support Salton Sea restoration efforts including the State of California's Salton Sea Management Program.
• Pushes Reclamation to provide additional funding to Salton Sea restoration projects.
• Directs Reclamation to consider projects that improve habitat and water quality, as well as provide public health benefits to economically disadvantaged communities – like projects at the Salton Sea – for additional funding.
• Encourages the Army Corps to expeditiously move forward to carry out the necessary study of the Northern perimeter lake project.

In March, Dr. Ruiz hosted a landmark meeting when he toured the Salton Sea with Energy and Water Appropriations Committee Chair Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). During the visit, Dr. Ruiz and Chair Kaptur held a roundtable discussion with officials from the State of California, the Salton Sea Authority, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Audubon Society. The visit also included a tour of the Red Hill Bay project site, the receding shoreline at Bombay Beach, and the ongoing work at the North Shore Yacht Club.

Since FY16, the Bureau of Reclamation has directed approximately $10 million to projects at the Sea.