[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6081-H6082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DROUGHT AND WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the devastating 
wildfires that are sweeping throughout the Western States and, 
particularly, in much of California.
  Last week, we had over 22 wildfires at one time that were in various 
parts of California. Because of the incredible 4 consecutive dry years, 
what once was a seasonal issue now seems to be year round.
  Obviously, the drought conditions facing California played a big role 
in the ability to manage these wildfires, and the devastation that has 
occurred as a result of that has been great.
  These last 4 years have been among the driest 4 years we have had, 
climatologists say, in 1,200 years in California and in the Western 
States.
  Over 70 percent of California is facing what is considered to be 
extreme and exceptional drought conditions, which are among the highest 
categories that you can face under drought conditions.
  California is not new to managing wildfires. It is part of living in 
that State as well as in other Western States, but these dry conditions 
over the last 4 years have made it worse; therefore, we need to try to 
figure out different ways to address this.
  The Rough fire in Fresno County, which is part of the county I 
represent, has burned over 140,000 acres. Yesterday, finally, we got up 
to 67 percent contained.
  This fire has lasted over a month, and it has closed one of our great 
national parks, Kings Canyon National Park. Last week, when I was home, 
literally, ashes were raining on our communities. Governor Jerry Brown 
has announced a state of emergency for northern California.
  The Valley and Butte fires have been significant, affecting both 
Congressman McClintock's and Congressman Thompson's districts.
  Congressman Thompson has lost over 600 homes, and the fires are 
threatening thousands more. He has stayed

[[Page H6082]]

there to protect his district and assist with the fires. At this point, 
the Valley fire is only 30 percent contained. The Butte fire has taken 
233 homes.
  As a result of these devastating fires, sadly, two firefighters have 
lost their lives, three civilians have been killed, and four 
firefighters have been hospitalized due to receiving severe burns. 
Literally, we have thousands and thousands of men and women who are out 
there manning these fires.
  So the question is: What should we do about it as these numbers, 
sadly, continue to rise?
  We need to better manage our forests. We need to help alleviate and 
cut down on the fuel that is there through the brush that has made 
these fires spread incredibly fast in conditions that were never 
foretold. Wildfire suppression and better managing our forests is a key 
to doing this.
  The funding that we provide for natural disasters, like to FEMA for 
hurricanes and for earthquakes, ought to go toward putting out these 
fires.
  We have exceeded over $1 billion in the U.S. Forestry Department's 
budget, and we have completely overrun our ability to provide funding.
  Currently, money the U.S. Forest Service has allocated for forest 
cleanup in order to prevent fires is being used to put the fires out.
  We must put our political differences aside and pass legislation that 
will alleviate this crisis in Western States and in California.
  In addition to getting legislation passed that will provide funding 
for putting fires out, we need to put legislation together that would, 
in fact, in the future, manage our forests better.
  In July, I, along with Congressman Valadao, introduced legislation, 
the Western Water and American Food Security Act.
  This is part of a larger effort to deal with this issue. This 
legislation is the first step toward passing a bill that will provide 
additional tools for California to manage drought. This bill addresses 
a number of solutions to fix California's broken water system.
  They include improved operations that are governed by the latest 
science, which will allow us to move more water when water is available 
in the system; additional water storage capacity; increased water 
recycling and reuse; improved water efficiency; and a conveyance 
solution that minimizes the use of an ecosystem as infrastructure and 
that balances the water needs for all of California.
  This is but one of the tools that we need to address. We have 
legislation in the House, and we have legislation in the Senate. This 
fall, I hope we will be able to work together in a bipartisan fashion 
to pass this important legislation.
  Certainly, these wildfires tell the public--and the public tells us--
that we must do something about this. It must be a priority that we get 
something signed into law this year, before the rainy and snowy seasons 
begin. Lord knows, we hope it rains and snows this winter.
  People in California, people in our valley, which has been ground 
zero for the drought impacts, and people in the West want Congress to 
act.
  I urge my colleagues to take the appropriate action and pass much 
necessary legislation affecting the drought conditions in California 
and in the Western States.

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