|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 11,
2011
Local Residents Stress Need for Congressional Action to
Address California's Man-Made Drought
FRESNO, CA –
Today,
the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power
held a field hearing in Fresno, CA on “Creating Jobs by
Overcoming Man-Made Drought: Time for Congress to Listen and
Act.” At the hearing, Members heard first-hand from
local individuals and groups who have been directly impacted
by the deliberate diversions of over 300 billion gallons of
water from San Joaquin Valley farmers in order to protect a
three-inch fish.
This man-made
drought has cost thousands of jobs, causing 40 percent
unemployment in some communities, and has fallowed more than
150,000 acres of fertile farmland.
“There is no
time to waste on reversing the plight of the San Joaquin
Valley. The deliberate diversions by the federal government
of over 200 billion gallons of water away from the
breadbasket of America cost tens of thousands of farm
workers their jobs, inflicted up to 40 percent unemployment
rates in the region, fallowed more than 150,000 acres of the
most fertile farmland in our nation, and forced up the price
of groceries across the country. The facts we gather from
this hearing will be instrumental as we begin the process to
rescind government policies at the root of the San Joaquin
Valley’s misery.”
– said Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman Tom
McClintock (CA-04).
Even though
California has experienced near record precipitation this
year, some farmers will still only receive 75 percent of
their water supply. Witnesses and Members at the hearing
warned that long-term solutions and increased water storage
are needed in order to avoid devastating job losses in the
future when there aren’t record amounts of precipitation.
“If it can
happen here, it can happen anywhere. The San Joaquin Valley
situation of the last two years should be a warning to us
all that we cannot stand by for history to repeat itself.
While Mother Nature has helped temporarily rescue this
region with historic precipitation, a regulatory drought
could re-appear if the rain and snow predictably disappear.”
–
said Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04).
Witnesses at the
hearing also stressed the social and economic impacts caused
by a lack of water. Dayatra Latin from the Community Food
Bank described the “endless” lines of people seeking food
assistance in 2009 when communities faced record high
unemployment.
“Reservoirs are
in flood operations in California and still our state faces
a man-made drought where fellow Valley farmers are not
receiving all of the water they deserve. It was evident at
the Water and Power Subcommittee hearing today that the
environmental policies put in place by the Administration
are destroying the Valley and new legislation is needed to
rectify the situation.” – said Rep. Jeff Denham
(CA-19).
While the Obama
Administration and the Pelosi Congress have done little to
help the plight of San Joaquin Valley farmers, Republican
Members of the Subcommittee vowed to take action to address
the regulations that have caused this man-made drought.
“Today we had
the opportunity to hear from people who have been victims of
the man-made drought in the San Joaquin Valley. The days of
senseless cruelty inflicted by valley Dustbowl Democrats and
California’s two Senators is over. The House and Senate must
act now. The time for studying and talking is over.
Republicans in the House will take bold actions soon to
restore water and prosperity to the valley. Senators Boxer
and Feinstein must do the same.”
– said Rep. Devin Nunes (CA-21).
###
http://naturalresources.house.gov |
