Garamendi: Attempting to Sneak California Water Grab into Farm Bill is Grossly Irresponsible
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, it was announced that House Republican Leadership tried to insert a provision into the Farm Bill to divert Northern California water toward San Joaquin Valley farms.
Congressman John Garamendi (Fairfield, CA), a Member of the Agriculture Committee, 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.
Garamendi, who is a pear farmer and a cattle rancher, has proposed a "Water Plan for All of California" to increase the supply of water for the entire state through water storage, recycling, conservation, using the best science, strengthening Delta levees, and respecting water rights. It is linked here.