As we arenow almost two months into the 118th Congress, I wanted to share an update on my work in Washington and around California's 13th Congressional District.
As Committee work is beginning and bills are starting to pass through the House on their way to becoming law, we have seen several important issues being discussed. Mostnotably for us in the Central Valley, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is considering a Congressional Review Act (CRA) of the Biden Administration's recently issued Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.
This rule, a new definitionof what is classified as having federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, is left intentionally vague and gives the federal government more power. This change will lead to years of costly litigation for farmers and ranchers to keep the federal government out of their dry creek beds and mud puddles.It's simple - the federal government doesn’t need to regulate puddles, ditches, seasonal creeks, or culverts. Our agricultural community has a proud tradition of responsible stewardship and conservation of our land and water; theyknowhow to best manage their land without the interference of federal bureaucrats.
By issuing and passing a CRA, Congress seeks to acknowledge disapproval of the Administration's action and take it under review to prevent it from becoming an official rule enforceable on the Federal Register. A CRA passedon the WOTUS rulewould help prevent this new definition from being the determining factor in Clean Water Act considerations and litigations and would save farmers and developers from years of costly lawsuits and paperwork.
In House Natural Resources Committee, we will soon be considering a comprehensive energy package that would seek to reform and unlock energy development projects across the country and help bring a future in domestically sourced energy back to the United States. From oil and gas, renewable resources, andcritical minerals to environmental assessment reform, this package seeks to rethink how energy resource and development is thought about in the United States and how we can become an energy-independent country.
These are just a few of the things that Congress is currently doing to better the lives of citizens across the country and in California's Central Valley. As always, if there is anything that my office can do to help, please donot hesitate to reach out to us!
Sincerely,
John Duarte
Member of Congress
In The District
I spent the last two weeks while Congress was out of Session back in the district meeting stakeholders and constituent groups and talking about their important work. See some of my meetings below:
Last week, Itoured the new Lathrop PD with Chief Raymond Bechler. Lathrop is proud to have a new facility, and we toured the armory, holding cells, workout room, and vehicle yard. We also greeted many Lathrop PD employees, from evidence handlers to community service officers and sergeants.
I rode theAmtrak San Joaquinfrom Modesto to Stockton and back. Wealso toured the massive Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) rail maintenance facility and shop in Stockton, where trains are brought in nightly for inspection and service. While there, Iand the present stakeholders, including Herzog, ACE, the Railway Commission, and others, discussed workforce development programs and planned expansion opportunities.
In Washington D.C.
As I said above, we are beginning to see Committee activity ramp up, and bills start to go through the process of becoming law. These are my committee assignments for the 118th Congress:
HouseTransportation and Infrastructure Committee
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit (Vice-Chair)
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
Subcommittee on Water Resources
House Natural Resources Committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
House Committee on Agriculture
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
