Washington – Northern California Representatives Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mike Thompson (CA-05), John Garamendi (CA-03), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Ami Bera (CA-07) released the following statement strongly opposing House Republican leadership’s attempt to put harmful drought policy into a must-pass spending bill outside of regular order:
“We are disappointed that our Republican colleagues are attempting to bypass regular order with a damaging rider. The lack of openness and transparency, the dictated format of the negotiations and, now, this tactic to push ill-conceived provisions into a must-pass spending bill have made the outcome of the current drought negotiations unacceptable.”
“Not only would this rider have long-term, damaging effects on communities across the state, it would fail to build on the state and federal agencies’ ongoing work to respond to the drought. We must put the days of choosing one economic sector or region over another behind us.
“Given the severity of the drought and its impact on our economy, environment, and well-being of our constituents, it is reprehensible to tie the health of the Delta and its fragile ecosystem to must-pass spending legislation. This Republican rider would violate landmark environmental laws and neglects the interests of the Delta and its stakeholders.”
Yesterday, members of the California House delegation sent a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership outlining their opposition to moving forward with drought legislation as an attachment to a spending package to fund the government.
