[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SEEKING URGENT RESPONSE TO CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT

  (Mr. VALADAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to request an urgent 
response to California's drought.
  Since returning to Congress, I have introduced two pieces of critical 
water legislation. I have stood here before my colleagues asking the 
House majority to address the drought. I have requested hearings be 
held and sent letters. Yet, the majority has done nothing to help those 
suffering from this crisis.
  Communities in my district, like Avenal, Coalinga, and Huron, totally 
rely on 100 percent of their water from the delta. That is about 37,000 
of my constituents relying solely on the delta for water.
  My bill, the NEED Water Act, would allow communities like these and 
communities growing our food the ability to purchase and transfer water 
more easily.
  As if water wasn't scarce enough, now communities in my district, 
like Teviston, are completely out of water. They are forced to rely on 
bottled water delivery programs to receive water because their wells 
have failed. It is only a matter of time before there are more towns in 
my district in the same situation as Teviston.
  I implore my colleagues across the aisle to work with me to combat 
this crisis. This is an emergency, and it is unacceptable to stand back 
and watch these communities suffer and completely run out of water 
while the real solutions available can bring immediate relief.

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