Biggs, Titus Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Emergency Funding for Colorado River Basin

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) co-led a letter to U.S. House leadership, urging the inclusion of funds in the recently introduced emergency funding package to address the increasingly dire condition of the Colorado River Basin. The requested funding would support water infrastructure investments, upgrades, and long-term planning for this vital resource's future. Congressman Biggs partnered on the letter with Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01).

As reported, water levels on the Colorado River are declining due to prolonged drought and increasing aridity. This deteriorating situation is serious for the one in 10 Americans who rely on this source for drinking water, and for the millions across the nation who consume winter produce grown from its water. The Colorado River helps provide power for 2.5 million people and supports critical national security industries in the Western United States.

“For desert dwellers, nothing is more important than protecting and cultivating our water resources,”said Congressman Biggs.“That’s why I’m again working across the aisle with my colleagues to ensure Congress takes the natural threats to the Colorado River Basin seriously. The Colorado River situation is not just an issue for Arizona and the West; it’s an issue that affects the entire country because of the national industries that depend on this water source. I hope that House leadership and appropriators will heed our request and include the necessary funding to prevent this crisis from getting worse and needlessly harming vulnerable Americans.”

In the letter, the Members of Congress pointed to a similar situation in 2022, when federal funds supported drought mitigation efforts for Lakes Powell and Mead. They highlight that the water crisis in the West would be much worse without the commitment then to insert those funds.

Joining Biggs and Titus on the letter were U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury, Elijah Crane, Gabe Vasquez, Greg Stanton, J. Luis Correa, Yassamin Ansari, Jim Costa, Adelita Grijalva, Abraham Hamadeh, and Paul Gosar.

Read the letter here.

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