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Statement of Congressman Jim Costa

May 18, 2007

We want to commend Senator Jeff Denham and the Valleydelegation for their work to ensure our fair share of funding in this year'sinfrastructure bond. The flooding thisweek in Central Valley could not be a more vivid demonstration that the San Joaquin Valley must get its fair share of anystate infrastructure bond which goes forward to voters.

A new surface water storage facility on the Upper SanJoaquin Rivermay, in fact, have helped prevent the flooding this week.

But improved water storage for the Central Valley is justone issue that the administration and the legislature must deal with indeveloping California'sinfrastructure to serve the state's future needs.

The Central Valley willgrow by over 37 percent between now and 2020; this is a faster growth rate thanthe state as whole in the same period of time. To serve its future needs, the Central Valleymust see improvements to Highway 99, additional water storage facilities andthe construction of a High Speed Rail System. While these issues, along with Regional Water Plans, may be seen assimply Valley issues, they are a microcosm of the issues that demand action bythe administration and the legislature to rebuild California's infrastructure so the stateserves its citizens into the 21st Century and beyond.

This week it was flooding in the CentralValley. Everyday Highway 99draws closer to dangerous gridlock, further highlighting the need for HighSpeed Rail, in addition to funding for improving Highway 99.

Now is the time for the Governor and the legislature to acton these important issues.

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