Agriculture

This bill is critical for California. WRDA authorizes both flood protection projects that save lives and property and needed improvements for our ports and waterways. Rebuilding our crumbling water infrastructure is crucial for American businesses, creating jobs in construction and agriculture while strengthening our ability to export American products around the world.

During the district work period this week, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) engaged in a whirlwind tour across the 3rd Congressional District.

The bill, H.R. 3315, exempts agricultural structures like barns, sheds and silos from FEMA requirements that effectively prohibit construction in areas designated as floodplains. These regulations, which apply to new construction and rehabilitation of existing buildings, require structures to be raised above any potential flood lines –a requirement that is too costly and impractical for large structures like equipment sheds and rice dryers.

University of California at Davis will lead the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve poultry. They are one of ten research centers selected to develop a method for producing more food in an environmentally sensitive manner.

“Unless changes are made to the flood insurance program, a lot of my constituents will soon be hit hard in their pocketbook. This effect was not intended by the original reform, but it requires an immediate fix. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act provides some breathing room to prevent some of the worst unintended consequences. This bipartisan legislation is needed and I urge its swift adoption.”

This bill is extremely important for my constituents and our nation. The levee projects provide life-saving protection for residents throughout California’s flood prone Central Valley. The construction projects will rebuild our crumbling water infrastructure and create jobs. By revitalizing our ports, waterways, and natural habitats, this bill supports business development, including the agriculture businesses in my district that export their products around the world.

Congressman Garamendi denounces piecemeal budgeting and calls on Speaker Boehner and the tea party faction in Congress to let us vote to reopen the government.

Garamendi called for an immediate delay to impending flood insurance rate hikes caused by new flood risk maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).