[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CALIFORNIA'S STATEWIDE DROUGHT EMERGENCY

  (Mr. VALADAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, in the midst of a statewide drought 
emergency, California has experienced much-needed rain and snowfall 
during these winter months.
  While communities across my district are especially grateful for the 
rainfall we have encountered, I remain concerned that the State of 
California has already announced a zero percent allocation for water 
deliveries for this year.
  I also remain concerned that the Bureau of Reclamation could possibly 
announce a similar water allocation for 2022 within the next month.
  This is unacceptable.
  We must work together to figure out a way to fully utilize the water 
we have access to in a way that benefits our communities and 
agriculture production. Farmers are desperate for water to grow their 
crops. Rural towns continue to face water shortages.
  We need this rain, but we also need to do a better job of managing 
our resources. We have opportunities to move our water responsibly when 
the snowpack melts.
  As you can see here, more than 5 million acre-feet of water was sent 
out to the ocean over this past year. This water could have gone a long 
way for our communities and for farmers in the Central Valley.
  I have asked time and time again for support from the House majority 
to address this issue. The families of the Central Valley cannot 
continue to wait. I ask my colleagues yet again to join my efforts to 
improve water management in California.

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