Costa Fights for Passage of Emergency Water Legislation

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Jim Costa (Fresno-D) spoke on the House Floor, stressing the importance of passing H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014. Below is an excerpt from his speech.

"Thank you for the opportunity to speak on H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act.

"H.R. 5781 is a bill that, for the next 18 months, will allow for increased flexibility in the movement of water when there is water to be moved. It does so responsibly by preserving the Secretaries' discretion to reduce pumping to prevent additional harm to endangered species.

"[Under current law,] urban water users in the Bay Area and Southern California will get water, the fish will get water, but my folks on the east and west side of the San Joaquin Valley will get zero water without some operational flexibility. This continues the devastating impact on farmworkers, their families, farmers and the farming communities of the Valley.

"This is not some esoteric discussion about precedent, people's lives and livelihoods are at stake. Any way that the effects of the drought are looked at, it is a crisis. This crisis demands action.

"I urge the support of my colleagues for this legislation that will help Central California get by during the effects of this devastating drought."

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