Agriculture

“I still believe that there is nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what is right with America, and I will do all I can to work with the President and my colleagues to build the middle class,” he said.

“After two years of negotiations over a Farm Bill, trying to sneak a water grab into the bill at the last minute was grossly irresponsible . It could have scuttled the legislation.” Specifically, the proposal would have turned on Delta pumps this year and next year setting the stage to suck the Delta dry. This provision arrived at the 11th hour of negotiations over the Farm Bill, which is expected for a vote this week. Luckily for Northern California farmers, fishers, and small businesses, this last minute attempt was unsuccessful.

Yolo County resident Mary Kimball is the Executive Director of the Center for Land-Based Learning, which works across Northern California to promote the integration of agriculture, nature and society, as well as to motivate the community to respect the natural environment that produces our food.

Congress Members Garamendi (CA-3), George Miller (CA-11), Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris Matsui (CA-6), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Ami Bera (CA-7) today thanked Governor Jerry Brown for declaring a drought emergency in California. Given the dire nature of the state’s water resources, the Members urge the Governor to prioritize adding to the water supply – including water recycling, conservation, and storage – instead of pushing for a $25 billion water infrastructure project, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), which threatens the Bay Delta ecosystem, farmers, fisheries, local communities, and other stakeholders that depend on a healthy Bay Delta.

Garamendi praised UC Davis for expanding support for first-generation, low-income students as they embark on their college career. He also commended six outstanding Yolo County students and academics who have been awarded Fulbright Program scholarships to study abroad.

“Though flawed, this government appropriations bill increases critical investments in education, infrastructure, and defense, expanding opportunities for my constituents to secure a new job or keep the one they have. However, Congress needs to act on a comprehensive jobs plan."

At the second meeting of his Agricultural Advisory Group (AAG), Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), today heard from about 40 local farmers about the issues that impact their businesses.

Garamendi, spoke at a panel discussion on college affordability and President Obama’s initiative to create a uniform rating system that measures universities on the basis of access, completion, affordability, innovation, and transparency.