[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4257-H4258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEVASTING DROUGHT AFFECTING UTAH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jackson Lee). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to discuss

[[Page H4258]]

the devastating drought affecting Utah this year.
  Ninety percent of the West is experiencing extreme drought 
conditions. This includes every county in the great State of Utah--
already one of the driest States in the Union.
  Drought impacts lives and livelihoods. One of the Juab County farmers 
in my district runs a farm that has been in his family for three 
generations. This year, his farm has yielded zero output because of the 
drought. Unfortunately, his story is not unique.
  Aquifers are not recharging, springs are dry, wells are pumping 
harder than ever before, and farmers are facing increased power costs. 
This means fewer crops and fewer dollars in the pockets of our rural 
farmers. On top of that, Utah's drought conditions make devastating 
wildfires more likely and harder to fight.
  Each one of us has an important role to play in conserving resources 
and adapting for the near future and beyond. Utahn livelihoods and 
generational family farms are at stake, and I stand ready to assist 
local leaders and our State's Federal delegation to ensure the safety 
and prosperity of every Utahn.
  I call upon the Biden administration to step up their efforts on the 
interagency working group that is supposed to be addressing these 
severe conditions.

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