Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-Stockton) voted against H.R. 3964, a bill that would have devastating effects on the Delta region.
“California is facing a severe drought; we need commonsense solutions that work to address our state’s long-term water infrastructure. The families, farmers, and small businesses in our region depend on a healthy Delta, and I will continue to fight for our community.”
Rep. McNerney offered an amendment to H.R. 3964, to protect the quality of water essential to the economic sustainability of the Delta region farmers and ranchers. The amendment would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture determine that water quality for the Delta region agriculture would not be negatively affected.
“The farmers and growers of San Joaquin County’s nearly $3 billion agriculture industry rely on high quality water for their products,” said Rep. McNerney. “As currently written, H.R. 3964 will increase shipments of water out of the Delta, further threatening the water quality for farmers and devastating the local economy.”
California’s current drought state of emergency threatens the 81,000 farmers and ranchers throughout the state. H.R. 3964 will take water from the Delta and distribute it to a small portion of the state, while not creating any new water in the Delta region.
“Shipping additional water out of the Delta will turn this vital natural resource into a salty, stagnant marsh at the cost of thousands of local jobs,” said Rep. McNerney. “We need to work on a bipartisan basis to address California’s water needs. This is not about just one portion of California. The entire state is being hard hit by water shortages, and it will take all parties working together to establish a long-term solution.”
Here is a look at the votes:
The Bill did pass the House 229 to 191 but will have a tough time passing through the Senate. If it passes the Senate, President Obama has threatened to veto the bill.
About HR 3964:
If passed
- Strip Endangered Species protections for iconic salmon and other endangered species, which are required under both California state law and federal law.
- Overturn the court approved San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act that, after twenty years of litigation, provided water for the San Joaquin River and salmon. All parties to the litigation and numerous water districts in the San Joaquin Valley supported the Settlement and the Act.
- Gut the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, which requires compliance with state law, encourages water conservation, makes modest reforms to reduce water subsidies, and contributes water for the recovery of endangered fish species.
- Override current protection for the Merced River under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and modify water contracts for certain contractors to provide significantly more water than they are entitled to under their current contracts.