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Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

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…

Chairman Hastings: The People of San Joaquin Valley Can’t Wait Any Longer For Congress to Act

| Posted in Floor Statements

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings delivered the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act. “Mr. Chairman, the House today is considering H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act. Like California, my Central Washington district is heavily…

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,…

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.

Hastings Statement on Final Recommendation on the Columbia River Treaty

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on the U.S. Entity’s final recommendation to the U.S. State Department regarding modifications to the Columbia River Treaty: “While I continue to have concerns about aspects of the recommendation related to ecosystem issues, I’m pleased that the U.S. Entity made significant improvements in…

Water Rights Protection Act (H.R. 3189)

| Posted in Committee Votes

Reporting H.R. 3189 Out of Committee (Passed 19-14. View Roll Call Vote) This bipartisan bill would protect private property rights from recent federal overreach that threatens to take water supplies from recreation businesses, ranchers, cities and towns, and local conservation efforts. Tipton Amendment 036 (Approved by Voice Vote) This amendment would make technical corrections and…

Broad Agreement That New Water Storage Needed for Water Supply, Hydropower and Environmental Uses

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing on “A Roadmap for Increasing our Water and Hydropower Supplies: The Need for New or Expanded Multi-Purpose Surface Storage Facilities.” This hearing examined the growing need for and the multiple-use benefits of increased water storage and ways to expedite the construction of such…

Chairman Hastings Continues to Seek Answers on the National Blueways Program and Chu Memo

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today sent letters to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz regarding unfulfilled oversight requests from the House Natural Resources Committee on the National Blueways program and former Secretary Chu’s Memorandum to the Power Market Administrations. In addition to reiterating requests…

Hastings Letter to Secretary Jewell Regarding Unfulfilled Requests on the National Blueways Program

| Posted in Letters

Dear Secretary Jewell: This letter follows up on prior communications, including June 28, 2013 and July 29, 2013 letters requesting 15 categories of documents and information, about the Department of the Interior's ("Department") Secretarial Order 3321 ("Order"). This Order established the "National Blueways System," a "headwaters to mouth approach to river management." This information…