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California Drought

ICYMI: What It Will Take to Prevent Deadly Wildfires

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke CNN Within minutes of the deadly Camp Fire's ignition, several acres were ablaze as fire spotters stood by helplessly. While Capt. Matt McKenzie of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded quickly, firetrucks were unable to reach the blaze and helicopters and air tankers were grounded due to the timing and weather,…

Bishop Statement on Western Water Presidential Memo

| Posted in Press Release

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) issued the following statement after the release of a presidential memorandum seeking to enhance western water access and resources. “For many years, westerners have expressed their need for certainty and access to water and affordable, renewable hydropower. Today President Trump answered those requests by delivering…

House Passes Water Bill to Promote Abundant Water Supply to California and the West

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 23 (Rep. David Valadao, R-CA), the “Gaining Responsibility on Water Act” or “GROW Act.” The bill addresses underlying federal policy, regulatory and administrative failures that have contributed to the mismanagement of water supplies across the West.   “Dogmatic paradigms and failed federal policies that promote water indigence must end,” Chairman Rob…

Bishop Statement on Senate Passage of WIIN Act

| Posted in Press Release

Early this morning, the Senate passed S. 612 (Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX), the “Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act” (WIIN), by a vote of 78-21. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “I'm pleased the Senate swiftly passed historic federal water policy legislation that will deliver much-needed relief to drought-stricken communities across the West. This…

WRDA Agreement Delivers for Drought-Stricken West

| Posted in Press Release

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement on the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, a comprehensive water resources agreement set for consideration this week on the House:   “This deal is a no-brainer. This is a big step forward for people who live in the West and are suffering from drought. We…

Members Caution White House on Monument Designations Exacerbating Drought, Wildfire Threats

| Posted in Press Release

Today,  House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), Subcommittee on Federal Lands Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Greg Walden (R-OR) sent a letter to the White House about the consideration of national monument designations in California and Oregon that will exacerbate water shortages and increase threats of catastrophic…

Four Governors: Federal Overreach Causing Major Problems in the West

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing with four Western governors on “Respecting State Authority in Regards to Resource Management and Energy Development.” Governors Matt Mead (R-WY), Steve Bullock (D-MT), Dennis Daugaard (R-SD), and Gary Herbert (R-UT) all expressed major concerns about a swath of federal policies that disenfranchise the states from…

Resurrecting 'Eureka' in California

| Posted in Op-Eds and Speeches

OP-ED: Resurrecting 'Eureka' in California National Review Chairman Rob Bishop “Eureka!” (“I have found it.”) Coined for the discovery of gold that brought adventurers and entrepreneurs flocking to the elusive western border of our continent, California’s state motto has held true for generations: It’s a uniquely American sentiment,…

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Deliver Relief to People Suffering From Western Drought

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 with bipartisan support by a vote of 245-176.  Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement upon final passage.     “In the midst of the drought crisis in California and the West, H.R. 2898 will liberate Americans from the prison of outdated water…

H.R. 2898: The Bill Where Everybody Wins

| Posted in Blog

The current regulatory framework for water in the West is wrought with twists, turns, obstacles, and wasted resources. Follow the path and find how H.R. 2898, The Western Water and American Food Security Act, provides relief from challenges caused by inconsistent laws, court decisions, and regulations at the state and federal levels. To learn more about the bill, click here.…