Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3964, the Sacramento – San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, with a vote of 229- 191. Seven Democrats voted for the measure, including Congressman Jim Costa, and two Republicans voted against it. Click here for the final vote results.
Here is what legislators had to say about passage of the legislation (listed in alphabetical order):
From Speaker John Boehner (OH):
“Last Congress the House passed legislation to address the devastating impact of severe drought conditions on the agriculture areas of central California. Unfortunately, the concerns of hard-working families and farmers were completely ignored by the Democratic-controlled Senate. The situation for many in the Central Valley is dire, as a lack of rain is intensified by a federally-mandated drought reinforced by endless environmental lawsuits. The Central Valley supplies America with an abundance of fruit and vegetable crops, but it is now turning into a man-made dust bowl. Legislation passed today restores some water deliveries, ensures a reliable water supply, and saves taxpayer money by ending unnecessary and dubious government projects. I urge the Senate to listen to the concerns of Central Valley farmers and business leaders and pass this critical legislation.”
From Congressman Jim Costa:
“As California is in the midst of the worst drought on record and reservoirs are at record lows, the people in my district deserve an effort that deals with the current realities and can offer help now,” said Costa. “And as much as I think a number of reforms in this bill are long overdue and some of the policy decisions have increased the damage of the current drought conditions, we all have to recognize that we’re in triage mode and need to focus on the art of possible. It is time for cooler heads to prevail.”
In the coming days, Rep. Costa plans to introduce legislation with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer that would yield immediate water for Valley farmers and communities.
“We need to focus on the crisis at hand then return to our discussion about a long-term solution. My bill with Sens. Feinstein and Boxer will help offer a lifeline to get through this year, and I hope in the spirit of compromise that my Republican colleagues will support this just as I offered my support to their bill today.”
Read the full statement here: Costa Supports Republican Water Bill; Calls for Bipartisan Effort
From Congressman John Garamendi:
““Today feels like groundhog day. Once again, the House of Representatives is wasting time on a bill that validates water theft. It rips up California water contracts and state law. If enacted, this extreme bill would cause an ecological disaster for the San Francisco Bay and an economic crisis for California.
“This drought is caused by nature – something so painfully obvious, it can be seen from space. Despite the availability of federal assistance, the entire Central Valley – Sacramento and San Joaquin – is suffering. We must find ways to add to our water supply instead of taking water from one group to another for political gain.
“To provide a more sustainable path forward, I have introduced a Water Plan for All of California that would create new water through water storage, conservation, and recycling. Using this blueprint, I have and will continue to work with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, so that all residents of the Golden State can have the water they need.”
Read full statement here: Congressman Garamendi Opposes California Water Theft Legislation
From Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Doc Hastings (WA):
“I want to stress that this crisis does not just impact California, but has rippling effects across the entire Nation. California’s San Joaquin Valley is a salad bowl for the world and provides a significant share of the fruits and vegetables for our country. Food grows where water flows. When there is no water, our food supply suffers, resulting in higher food prices across the country and increased reliance on foreign food sources.
This bill is a chance to right the regulatory wrongs of the past, to end future man-made droughts, and protect the jobs and economic livelihoods of farm families and workers.
The people of the San Joaquin Valley cannot wait any longer for Congress to act. As the title of this bill suggests, it is truly an emergency for many and time is running out. I sincerely hope – that unlike the last Congress – our Senate colleagues take up this bill or propose a meaningful alternative to it. Those communities facing massive unemployment deserve nothing less.
This bill is supported by the entire Republican California delegation and I commend my colleagues from California for their hard work in getting this bill to the floor today.”
Read the full statement here: Chairman Hastings: The People of San Joaquin Valley Can’t Wait Any Longer For Congress to Act
From Congressman Jared Huffman:
““Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about a three-inch fish in this debate. And to hear my colleagues in the Republican party tell it, this is a story about a three-inch fish that is taking water away in this drought that should be allocated to people. Well, the truth is, Mr. Speaker, that you’d have to have the brain of a three-inch fish to believe that narrative. There is no such thing happening in this critical drought year. What is happening, however, is that some people are cynically trying to capitalize on the worst drought in California history in order to steal water from some parts of the state and from other water users and give it to a few.
In fact, if this bill were accurately named, it would be called “The Massive Federal Preemption, Overreach and Water Theft Act for the Elections of 2014.”
The last time California had a severe multi-year drought, something very different happened. Democrats and Republicans, people from the northern part of the state, the southern part, inland, came together around a historical bipartisan set of water reforms. I was fortunate to help author some of that and to chair the water committee in the state legislature. National newspapers like The New York Times called it the most important thing California had done for water in 60 years.
This bill repeals it. Full stop. Full stop. To offer this as a solution would be laughable if it weren’t such a serious offense to real solutions in California water. The Bay Delta Conservation plan, which my friend referenced, is over if this bill passes because the premise of that plan are coequal goals for the environment and water supply reliability. When you preempt that and repeal it there is no basis for that plan to move forward at all. You better include, in fact, some funding for the federal courts if this bill passes because instead of a solution you’re going to be unleashing a wave of litigation unlike anything the state of California has ever seen. It’s going to hurt the San Joaquin Valley and it’s going to hurt every other part of the state that needs constructive solutions, not a new water war.”
From Congresswoman Doris Matsui:
“This evening I voted against H.R. 3964, legislation that is a water grab, plain and simple. To say that it would help the drought is grossly misleading, and frankly, irresponsible.
“This legislation throws out the Endangered Species Act, and would allow more water to be pumped from the Delta, despite the fact that there is quite simply no more water to pump. It would threaten northern California’s senior water rights and give up California’s right to control its own water future. This is unacceptable.
“As the daughter of a Central Valley farmer who grew up on a farm, I deeply understand the value of, and the controversy over, water. There is no silver bullet to solving California’s water issues. The issue has been debated for many decades because it is such a critical, and complex, issue for the state.
“Unfortunately, the bill passed today further divides our state at a time when we need to be working together to provide relief for California.”
Source: Congresswoman Matsui Statement on Passage of H.R. 3964, the So-Called “Emergency Drought” Legislation
From Congressman Kevin McCarthy:
“Today, the House acted on a solution to the man-made water crisis in California that has Californians suffering during the worst drought to hit our state in over a century,” Rep. McCarthy said. “It is unacceptable that vital water supplies are being forced out to the ocean instead of going to our cities. The issue demands immediate attention and today’s vote represents House Republicans’ commitment to putting California families over fish. I thank my good friend Congressman Valadao for his leadership on this issue, as well as Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings for his important attention to this pressing matter. I urge Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein to use their seniority and influence to demand that Majority Leader Harry Reid schedule California water legislation for a vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible. Our communities understand that action, not empty rhetoric, can get water flowing to the Valley again.”
Source: House of Representatives Passes California Water Bill
From Congressman Jerry McNerney:
“California is facing a severe drought; we need commonsense solutions that work to address our state’s long-term water infrastructure. The families, farmers, and small businesses in our region depend on a healthy Delta, and I will continue to fight for our community.”
Rep. McNerney offered an amendment to H.R. 3964, to protect the quality of water essential to the economic sustainability of the Delta region farmers and ranchers. The amendment would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture determine that water quality for the Delta region agriculture would not be negatively affected.
“The farmers and growers of San Joaquin County’s nearly $3 billion agriculture industry rely on high quality water for their products,” said Rep. McNerney. “As currently written, H.R. 3964 will increase shipments of water out of the Delta, further threatening the water quality for farmers and devastating the local economy.
“Shipping additional water out of the Delta will turn this vital natural resource into a salty, stagnant marsh at the cost of thousands of local jobs,” said Rep. McNerney. “We need to work on a bipartisan basis to address California’s water needs. This is not about just one portion of California. The entire state is being hard hit by water shortages, and it will take all parties working together to establish a long-term solution.”
Source: McNerney Fights To Protect The Delta
Joint statement issued Democratic Reps. Grace Napolitano (CA-32), George Miller (CA-11), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Ami Bera (CA-07), John Garamendi (CA-03), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-35), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Adam Schiff (CA-28), and Juan Vargas (CA-51):
“All of California is in drought, but instead of working together on a long-term, bipartisan solution, our Republican colleagues have brought a bill to the floor today without any markup or hearing, which bypasses any public input. If enacted into law, this water grab would hurt California’s economy, damage our environment, and set a dangerous precedent of Congress imposing mandates on the water supplies of the states. This bill benefits a small group of Californians and creates no new water in the region. We have received letters from our home state’s Governor, Natural Resources Secretary, and Attorney General in strong opposition to H.R. 3964. The Western States Water Council opposed last Congress’ version of this bill (H.R. 1837) for its preemption of states’ rights, and the Obama Administration opposes the bill because it fails to alleviate the effects of California’s current drought and threatens water agreements in the west. 80 California sportsmen’s groups, commercial fishing industry groups, national conservation organizations, and Indian tribes also oppose this bill. This bill has no chance of enactment, and it would create more litigation over water if it were to pass, but even as a failed bill it hinders collaborative efforts being made throughout the State. It is time for real solutions; H.R. 3964 is not it.”
From Congressman Devin Nunes:
“The House of Representatives has stated its position loud and clear – the status quo in California is unacceptable,” said Rep. Nunes. “In light of the debilitating water crisis, regulations must be reformed that dump critical water supplies in the ocean and that prevent us from storing water to use during droughts. We don’t need more studies or bureaucratic task forces. We need a comprehensive solution to this problem, and this bill provides it.”
Source: House of Representatives Passes California Water Bill
From Congressman Mike Thompson:
“I understand the concerns of the Central Valley farmers. Ag is big in my district too and this drought is hurting my constituents as well. Because of these dry conditions, grapevines will experience an early bud this year. And without water to protect the early bud from the frost, we have no crops. Out of business. But it’s a drought that’s causing the problem. Proponents of this bill say those who oppose it care more about fish than people. These comments cheapen the debate, they insult the intelligence of Californians, and are not based on facts. As a UC Berkeley professor of agriculture and resource economics stated in the paper today, Michael Hanemann, he said you could kill every fish in the Delta and you still would have a real problem. Simply put, this bill is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to use this drought as an excuse to pump water from other users – and to do so with zero regard for the people who depend on that water for their livelihoods. It would be more productive for this body to join in a rain dance on the floor today than to pass this bill. Our people, our constituents deserve better than this politically-driven bill. They deserve solutions.”
Read the full statement here: Thompson: “It would be more productive for this body to join in a rain dance on the floor today than to pass this bill
From Congressman David Valadao:
“While Californians are dealing with the brunt of the water shortage, this issue affects the entire country,” Rep. Valadao said. “I am proud the House of Representatives was able to come together to pass this common-sense legislation to provide a long-term solution for families and farmers suffering from this water crisis. It is now up to the Senators from California to ensure their Chamber acts upon our proposal quickly.”
Source: House of Representatives Passes California Water Bill
Maven’s Notebook
The world of California water 
perpetually in motion
