[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             OPPOSITION TO THE BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN

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                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2014

  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to express my 
opposition to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, or BDCP. The BDCPs 
comment period closed at the end of July and California state officials 
reviewed comments from stakeholders throughout California as it 
determines the best route going forward. The result: the state has 
delayed implementation of the BDCP.
  Since being elected to Congress in 2006, I've expressed concerns with 
this proposal. Building two tunnels that make it easier to ship Delta 
water south does nothing to address California's larger water issues. 
We need to focus our investments on recycling, desalinization, 
conservation, and storage--both above and below ground. Becoming better 
managers of our water resources will help prepare our state for wet and 
dry years.
  As evident by the BDCPs delay, this flawed plan is based on 
unreasonable assumptions instead of sound science and has raised red 
flags from various federal agencies, including the Environmental 
Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That is why I 
offered an amendment to the FY15 Energy and Water Appropriations Act to 
ban the government from funding tunnels taking our water. We must focus 
our finite federal resources on initiatives that will result in 
increased water supply and storage capacity, not waste it on projects 
that take from one region of the state and send it to another.
  The BDCP is not a plan that reflects the interests of all 
Californians; I along with my Delta colleagues remain willing to work 
with all parties on a statewide solution that considers all 
stakeholders interests.

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