Oversight Field Hearing on:

• "California Water Crisis and Its Impact: The Need for Immediate and Long Term Solutions"

Member Statements:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

The Honorable Devin Nunes
Member of Congress 

Witnesses and Testimony:

PANEL I

Mr, Mark Watte
Tulare, California

Ms. Sylvia Chavez
Mayor
City of Huron
Huron, California

Mr. Larry Starrh
Co-Owner
Starrh and Starrh Farms
Shafter, California

Mr. George Delgado
Delgado Farming
Firebaugh, California

Mr. Tom Coleman
President
Madera County Farm Bureau
Madera, California

Mr. David Murillo
Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Sacramento, California

The Honorable Felicia Marcus*
Chairwoman
State Water Resources Control Board
State of California
Sacramento, California

Ms. Janelle Beland
Undersecretary
California Natural Resources Agency
Sacramento, Caliornia

Mr. Steve Knell, P.E.
General Manager
Oakdale Irrigation District
Oakdale, California

Mr. Kole Upton
Chowchilla, California

* Ms. Marcus was invited by the Committee but declined to attend.

Background:

The San Joaquin Valley is once again suffering from drought conditions exacerbated by unworkable federal regulations that put the needs of a 3-inch fish over people. The House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 3964) to help resolve this situation. That bill, along with another bill (S. 2016), is now pending in the U.S. Senate. Although Senate action has not been announced on either bill, a number of House Members recently stated that they stand ready to negotiate with the Senate to bring relief to the San Joaquin Valley. In the interim, this field hearing is designed to focus on the need to resolve differences in order to bring immediate and long-term water supplies to the San Joaquin Valley and other parts of California.

Related Documents:

• Full Committee Hearing Notice - March 7, 2014
• Full Committee Hearing Witness List - March 18, 2014