Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/612

 118 STAT. 582 PUBLIC LAW 108–215—APR. 5, 2004 in the 4 United States border States to desalinate ocean sea water and brackish surface and groundwater, and dispose of or manage the brines resulting from desalination. SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS RELATING TO UNITED STATES SUP PORT FOR NADBANK PROJECTS FOR WHICH FINANCE WATER CONSERVATION FOR IRRIGATORS AND AGRICUL TURAL PRODUCERS IN THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: (1) Irrigators and agricultural producers are suffering enor mous hardships in the southwest United States. The border States of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are suf fering from one of the worst droughts in history. In Arizona, this is the second driest period in recorded history and the worst since 1904. (2) In spite of decades of water conservation in the south west United States, irrigated agriculture uses more than 60 percent of surface and ground water. (3) The most inadequate water supplies in the United States are in the Southwest, including the lower Colorado River basin and the Great Plains River basins south of the Platte River. In these areas, 70 percent of the water taken from the stream is not returned. (4) The amount of water being pumped out of groundwater sources in many areas is greater than the amount being replen ished, thus depleting the groundwater supply. (5) On August 20, 2002, the Board of the North American Development Bank agreed to the creation in the bank of a Water Conservation Investment Fund. (6) The Water Conservation Investment Fund of the North American Development Bank stated that up to $80,000,000 would be available for grant financing of water conservation projects, which grant funds would be divided equally between the United States and Mexico. (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) water conservation projects are eligible for funding from the North American Development Bank under the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States Concerning the Establishment of a Border Environment Cooperation Commis sion and a North American Development Bank; (2) the Board of the North American Development Bank should support qualified water conservation projects that can assist irrigators and agricultural producers; and (3) the Board of the North American Development Bank should take into consideration the needs of all of the border states before approving funding for water projects, and strive to fund water conservation projects in each of the border states. SEC. 6. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING FINANCING OF PROJECTS. (a) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of the Congress that the Board of the North American Development Bank should support the financing of projects, on both sides of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, that address coastal issues

�