House Rules Committee Accepts Two Costa Amendments to the Energy and Water Appropriations Billl

If Passed By FullHouse, Amendments Will Fund Critical California Water Projects And EaseRegulations To Transfer Water Around The State

WASHINGTON,D.C. – Thisevening, the House Rules Committee accepted two amendments authored byCongressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced)which will provide $10 million in funding toward the Intertie and Two-Gatesprojects, direct the Secretary of the Interior to diversify sources of waterfor refuges to free up more water for agricultural water users, ease theability for the state to do inter-county transfers, and expedite a plan to dealwith the Giant Garter Snake, which has been an impediment to critical watertransfers. Costa testified before the Rules Committee on the importanceof these two amendments to Valley farmers, farm workers, and the economy. The full House will debate and consider both amendments do the Energy and WaterAppropriations bill this Thursday.

"Thefirst amendment provides needed funds to help jumpstart two important waterprojects in California: Intertie and Two-Gates, among other projects," Costasaid. "Our second amendment is a two-pronged approach. It eases ourstate's ability to transfer water from county to county. Secondly, itdirects the Secretary of the Interior to speed along and implement a plan forthe Giant Garter Snake. The lack of plan for the garter snake from theDepartment of Interior has hamstrung needed water transfers within the statefor decades, thus hurting our Valley's farmers and farm workers."

"Weneed to find effective ways to solve our water problems in our state," Costacontinued. "First and foremost, that begins with the art of thepossible. These amendments are additional progress and part of acontinued effort for our Valley. Finally, I want to thank CongressmanCardoza for his work in helping these amendments pass the Rules Committee."

Thefirst amendment reduces the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner's Policy andAdministration account by $10 million and transfers it to the CALFED account tohelp speed along the Intertie and Two-Gates projects, in addition todiversifying refuge water supplies, which are currently taken from suppliesthat would otherwise go to agricultural water users within the Central Valley Project. Costa's second amendment will allow transfers of water between certain CentralValley Project contractors within the South Delta Divisions of the CentralValley Project. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior toexpeditiously revise, finalize and implement the Draft Recovery plan for theGiant Garter Snake.