Congressman Garamendi Offers California Water Amendment to Address Drought & Establish a Responsible Water Plan

Presents Alternative to Destructive House Republican Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – With the House of Representatives set to vote tomorrow on H.R. 3964, an extreme bill that would completely overturn California water law and cause massive economic upheaval, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) will present an amendment to immediately address California’s drought emergency and California’s long-standing water challenges. The House Rules Committee is considering amendments to H.R. 3964 today starting at 2 PM ET/ 11 AM PT. You can watch their hearing live by clicking this link.

Garamendi, a former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, said, “The drought has imposed real hardship on our state and sharpened focus on water management. Instead of reigniting a pointless water war over the distribution of this precious resource, it is time to work together for commonsense policies that add to our water supply. My amendment advances water storage, conservation, and recycling, so that farmers, fishermen, and small businesses across the entire state have the water they need.”

The Garamendi amendment directs the Secretary of the Interior to initiate projects that add to California’s water supply, including:

• More efficient use of the municipal, industrial and agricultural water through implementation of conservation practices using the best available science;
• Diversification of water supply through water recycling projects; and
• Increased municipal, industrial, environmental, and agricultural water through storage projects, specifically identifying the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County and recharging underground aquifers throughout the state.

Additional resources are linked immediately below:

• A summary of the amendment
• The amendment text
• A summary of the GOP California Water Bill, H.R. 3964
• Press release on H.R. 3964

Garamendi, who is a pear farmer and a cattle rancher, based this amendment on his “Water Plan for All of California,” which would increase the supply of water for the entire state through water storage, recycling, and conservation, using the best science, strengthening Delta levees, and respecting water rights. It is linked here.