Washington, D.C.-On January 20, 2010, John Linder (R-GA) joined his fellow Co-Chairs on the Water Caucus to kick-off a new educational briefing series on water issues for 2010.  Yesterday’s well-attended water policy event featured Australia’s own National Water Commission Chairman and CEO Ken Matthews, and a number of individuals from the Australian Embassy.    

Linder remarked, “Washington is good at focusing on only one issue at a time, and right now it’s not water.  I founded the Water Caucus with my colleagues in 2007 with the goal of putting this issue on the Administration’s table.  We have a lot of interest, and we are building support every day through our work on the Caucus.  Everyone knows we have a variety of water-related problems across the United States.  The awareness is there, but we lack a clear way forward.  There are a number of countries throughout the world that are doing a great job in terms of policy and planning.  Australia, faced with world record droughts and an ever increasing population, is considered one of the global leaders in managing this limited resource.  We can learn a lot from them.  Its government has reduced the red tape often faced by local communities desiring to take action to meet their water challenges.  Moreover, its country-wide education campaign has instilled a quantifiable value on water resources at every level of the public and private sector.  Its citizens know well the ‘worth of water when the well runs dry.’”   

This briefing allowed Members and staff to learn about the history and current issues facing Australia’s water resources management system, and how it is dealing with the crisis.  Linder noted that Australia is more than ten years ahead of the United States in terms of conservation efforts, public awareness, public-private sector collaboration, integration of Federal and local policies, technological innovation, ecological safeguards, and water pricing.   

Linder said, “We need to figure out how to tackle drought, both economically and politically.  We have to increase our methods of efficiency and reduce waste.  The engineering expertise exists to ensure future Americans’ access to fresh water.  However, we lack the comprehensive strategyto manage the planning and interagency coordination necessary to implement this expertise.  Following Australia’s example is a win-win for us all.  We must no longer be reactive when faced with water emergencies.  We must act now to face future emergencies proactively.  Providing all Americans with fresh water is not a partisan issue.  It is a matter of life and death for the future of the United States.”       

Linder expressed his enthusiasm that the continuing series of Congressional lectures being hosted by the Water Caucus is cementing the foundation for serious talks about water supply and management.    The next briefing has been scheduled for February 24, 2010.  At that time, the Caucus plans to screen a brand new documentary on global water issues from famed environmental Director/Producer Jim Thebaut of the Running Dry project.  John Linder is featured in this important upcoming documentary titled Running Dry: Beyond the Brink.     (http://www.runningdry.org/world.html).