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California Drought

Committee Passes Legislation to Alleviate Drought Impacts in California and the West

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 with a bipartisan vote of 23-12. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) commented upon the Committee vote:  “Californians and Westerners are victims of baneful man-made environmental laws which are intensifying their suffering from the drought. They need our help. H.R. 2898, the…

Committee Passes Legislation to Facilitate New and Expanded Water Storage Projects; Help Ease Western Drought Effects

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved with bipartisan support three bills to address the nation’s critical need for new and expanded surface water storage projects.  H.R. 3980, the Water Supply Permit Coordinating Act, H.R. 3981, the Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act, and H.R. 5412, the Bureau of Reclamation Surface Water…

Chairman Hastings' Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the National Water Resources Association

| Posted in Op-Eds and Speeches

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) delivered the following prepared remarks at the National Water Resources Association Annual Meeting, highlighting hydropower as a clean, renewable energy resource; California water issues; and the need to update and improve the Endangered Species Act: “Thank you for that kind introduction, Jim. It’s a pleasure once…

Obama Administration’s Budget Falls Short for Water Storage, Hydropower and Long-Term Drought Relief

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing examining the spending priorities outlined in the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Water program. The hearing highlighted the importance of charting a roadmap to…

FOX News: Farmers Rally to End Man-Made Drought

| Posted in Blog

Wednesday, March 19th the Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight field hearing in Fresno, CA on "California Water Crisis and Its Impacts: The Need for Immediate and Long-Term Solutions." 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.

The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the man-made drought caused by federal regulations and environmental lawsuits. On January 17, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for California due to the drought.

For more information on the hearing, click here.

Video Release: Senate Must Act on Emergency California Drought Legislation

| Posted in Press Release

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3964, the Sacramento - San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, with a bipartisan vote of 229-191. This legislation, sponsored by the entire Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by helping to restore some water supplies. Farmers and communities in California’s San Joaquin Valley…

House Passes Emergency California Drought Legislation

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3964, the Sacramento - San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, with a bipartisan vote of 229- 191. This legislation, sponsored by the entire Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by restoring some water supplies to provide job certainty to farmers and communities. “Today the House acted…

Current Drought Conditions Highlight Need for Water Storage Legislation to Provide Important Water Supplies

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a legislative hearing on three proposals aimed at jumpstarting surface water storage development through the western United States. “In my central Washington state district, the Yakima Valley is a poster child for needing new surface storage. Conservation plays an important part of meeting water needs in the Valley,…

California’s Central Valley: Producing America’s Fruits and Vegetables

| Posted in Resourceful Information

California’s Central Valley is the state’s agriculture hub, producing over 360 products. California is the sole producer of more than 13 fruits, vegetables and nuts including walnuts, olives, clingstone peaches and sweet rice. California is also the nation’s largest dairy producer with over 1/5th of the Nation’s dairy.  Years of man-made drought coupled with this year’s lack of…

ICYMI: Fox News Highlights Need for California Drought Legislation

| Posted in Blog

This week the House will consider H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, introduced by the Republican California delegation, addresses the emergency drought in California by restoring some water supplies San Joaquin Valley Farmers.

The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the man-made drought caused by federal regulations and environmental lawsuits. On January 17, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for California due to the drought.

For more information on H.R. 3964, click here.