Passage of water legislation in the House of Representatives today provides an important building block for improving the California water system, according to the president of the California Farm Bureau Federation.
CFBF President Paul Wenger thanked California representatives who carried the Western Water and American Food Security Act by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, and encouraged the Senate to act soon.
“We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Valadao, the bill’s original cosponsors and the House leadership to bring the legislation to this point. Passage of the House bill represents an important step to addressing long-standing problems that limit the flexibility of the California water system.” Wenger said. “We also recognize that more steps will be needed to attain that goal.”
Wenger noted that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has taken a longstanding interest in improving the water system.
“We look forward to seeing a proposal from the Senate in the near future, and to having Sen. Feinstein work with House members from California to craft a bill that can win widespread support,” he said.
Drought now affects each Californian personally, Wenger said, as farmers and city residents alike cope with water shortages.
“We know Congress can’t make it rain, but we also know that Congress can help our state do better at managing and storing the rain and snow that does fall,” he said. “We hope passage of the House bill moves us closer to creating a water system that better serves its people and its environment.”
The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 57,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.