House Moves One Step Closer to California Water Solution
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Kevin McCarthy released the following statement on passage of the House Appropriations Committee fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which includes legislative provisions pushed by McCarthy, Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert, Appropriations Committee Member Rep. David Valadao, and the California Republican delegation to deliver water to the Central Valley and southern Californian communities while protecting water rights:
“The House is one step closer to passing yet another solution to our state’s water crisis. I want to thank Chairman Hal Rogers, Chairman Ken Calvert, and Representative David Valadao for their commitment to sensible and pro-growth California water policy.
“For years now, our communities have faced devastating drought conditions that have been made worse by bad regulatory policy that lets more water out to the ocean than to communities whose livelihoods depend on it. Even as El Nino storms have provided more rain and snow this year, regulators have idly let over 75 percent of that water flush out into the ocean instead of capturing it for our communities. This means that Federal bureaucrats directed about the same amount of water south during very dry times last year as the much wetter times this year.
“Despite bipartisan and bicameral support, the Obama administration has ignored the pleas for regulatory relief when Mother Nature answers the prayers of millions of Californians with rainfall. The appropriations process gives the Legislative Branch a renewed opportunity to put the voice of our communities on the doorstep of the White House. Today’s committee action now readies this bill, which I plan to schedule in the coming weeks, for approval by the full House and send it to the Senate.”
Source: Congressman Kevin McCarthy
