CONGRESSMAN COSTA WELCOMES KERN COUNTRY WATER DISTRICT TO RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Washington, D.C. - OnApril 13, 2005 at 1pm, the Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold anoversight hearing on "The Role of New Surface and Groundwater Storage inProviding Reliable Water and Power Supplies and Reducing Drought's Impacts." John Stovall, former Legal Counsel to KernCountry Water District, will testify at the hearing.

"Mr.Stovall's expertise in dealing with these issues is a great asset to theCommittee and it is wonderful that he will be able to share his knowledge ofwater storage issues," Costa stated.

Mr.Stovall is being called as a witness to discuss the current surface andgroundwater storage programs in the region, to provide his views on the benefitsand costs of expanded storage programs and to discuss the appropriate role ofthe federal government in these projects.

TheSubcommittee on Water and Power hearing is part of a continuing series ofoversight investigations to examine water storage issues and successes. These investigations ensure that Congressremains informed about water storage issues in the United States.

"In the Central Valley, water supply and water quality arecritical to our economic stability and the health of our children and families,"said Costa. With 24 years of experiencein the Californiastate legislature, Costa has extensive knowledge of local water issues and iscommitted to continuing to work on water issues as a Member of Congress.

TheSubcommittee on Water and Power has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining towater resources planning, research and development programs.

Congressman Costa is a member of the Resources Committee'sSubcommittee on Water and Power and the Subcommittee on Energy and MineralResources. In addition, CongressmanCosta serves on the Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Science.