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Costa Statement on California’s Bipartisan Emergency Drought Package

March 20, 2015

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement after California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Republican Leaders Senator Bob Huff and Assemblymember Kristin Olsen announced legislation that would assist communities struggling to cope with the historic drought. The $1 billion package would expedite bond funding and help ensure that Californians have access to water.

"Today's announcement of a $1 billion emergency drought package by Governor Brown and the California Legislature was a welcomed piece of news in the San Joaquin Valley, which is ground zero for the harm caused by the current drought. This legislation will provide desperately needed funds for local drought relief efforts, assist in creating local and reliable water supplies for Californians, and improve our state's water infrastructure. All of these are important patches for our fundamentally broken water system. However, this is like putting a band aid on a gaping head wound. What the Valley needs is water.

"We cannot make it rain, but we can continue to work on legislation that will address the challenges we are facing and urge our colleagues to support our efforts. As such, I am calling on the President to follow in Governor Brown's footsteps and assist California as it continues to face an increasingly catastrophic drought."

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