February 29, 2012 -
Today, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon voted in favor of H.R. 1837, The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. In 2009, federal regulations to protect the Delta smelt fish led to the deliberate diversion of over 300 billion gallons of water away from San Joaquin Valley farmers. This government action cost thousands of farm workers their jobs, inflicted up to 40 percent unemployment in certain communities, and fallowed hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile farmland. The San Joaquin region is facing a regional average of 17% unemployment and with current precipitation at near-record lows, this regulation threatens to push unemployment even higher.
The bill is a comprehensive solution that would restore water deliveries that have been cut-off due to federal regulations and environmental lawsuits, ensure a reliable water supply for people and fish, secure water rights, and save taxpayer money by ending unnecessary and dubious government projects.
“This is a prime example of how all too often, federal regulation is enacted without consideration of real life consequences,” said Congressman McKeon. “California’s San Joaquin Valley provides the majority of fruits and vegetables for the entire nation, and has been unduly burdened with harmful federal regulation. This bill gets Washington out of the way of the farmers who are struggling to put food on our tables.”
Highlights of the bill:
- The bill would protect up to 30,000 jobs, generate up to $300 million in expedited federal revenue, and save American taxpayers and ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Restores water deliveries to communities by codifying the historic, bipartisan State/Federal agreement known as the “Bay-Delta Accord.”
- Reforms punitive federal laws, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act in order to provide fairness to ratepayers, promote transparency and accountability, and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Allows water users to pay off federal debt early.
- Protects and secures private property and senior water rights.
H.R. 1837 passed by a vote of 245 to 173.
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