[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY EMERGENCY WATER DELIVERY ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3964) to 
     address certain water-related concerns in the Sacramento-San 
     Joaquin Valley, and for other purposes:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3964, a bill 
that undermines long-standing local, state, and Federal agreements on 
the California water supply and creates a dangerous precedent for 
similar Congressional overreach in other states.
  As the Governor of California said, this bill ``falsely suggests the 
promise of water relief when that is simply not possible given the 
scarcity of water supplies.'' Instead, it picks winners and losers, 
prioritizing some interests above others and disrupting years of 
collaboration to balance water needs.
  The President has directed his Administration to work with California 
and local jurisdictions to provide information, flexibility in federal 
law, and emergency grant assistance to respond to the drought. Congress 
should not act unilaterally to preempt the efforts the State has 
already undertaken to respond to this disaster.

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