Santa Nella, CA - Yesterday, Congressman Duarte led a hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries in his district with Chairman Bentz. The hearing, “Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California,” brought together stakeholders, water experts, and community leaders to discuss the Central Valley’s water supply issues. Congressmen David Valadao, Vince Fong, Doug LaMalfa and Tom McClintock joined Congressmen Duarte and Bentz for this event. Before the hearing, Congressmen Duarte, Bentz, and LaMalfa surveyed the state’s water systems and farmland.
Congressman Duarte's Statement:
Our Central Valley is the backbone of our nation's food supply, yet unreliable water allocations and overreaching regulations continue to hurt our farmers and our community.We can do better, and we must do better,”said Rep. Duarte. “During the field hearing, we focused on finding common-sense solutions to ensure water abundance and a stable future for our Valley. Today was critical step toward securing more water, lower grocery prices, and a stronger economy.”
Key Focus Areas:
The panel addressed how state and federal regulations limit water supplies to the Central Valley, negatively impacting farms, families, and communities.
The panel discussed possible solutions to achieve sustainable water supply with the WATER for California Act, the FISH Act, and the Folsom South Canal Extension.
Witnesses:
The hearing featured testimonies from key water experts and stakeholders, including:
Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District
Jason Phillips, CEO, Friant Water Authority
William Bourdeau, CEO, Bourdeau Farms
John Herrick, Counsel & Manager, South Delta Water Agency
Josh Weimer, Director of External Affairs, Turlock Irrigation District
Ronda Lucas, Attorney, Lucas Law
Next Steps:
Congressman Duarte emphasized his commitment to empowering local water systems, as well as farmers, mayors, and policymakers to develop solutions for the Central Valley agriculture and secure the future of our communities. He is working in Washington to advance his solutions to secure water to the valley to grow the local economy, reduce grocery prices, and improve our environment.
