[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. LaMalfa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, for many in California, including my own 
family and my neighbors, it is an exciting time this year. This is 
harvest time. Busy, but again, a very enjoyable time we all look 
forward to as farmers and ranchers. You see more combines, shakers, and 
sweepers running from sunrise to sunset working to fill the next 
truckload with this season's crops. And you see the men and women 
responsible for producing nearly half of all U.S.-grown vegetables, 
nuts, and fruits.
  But this year's harvest in the north State paints a much different 
picture, one with fallowing fields, wells that are going dry, and less 
and less truckloads of crops leaving those farms. As a farmer myself, 
we know it is the last truckload that leaves the field that is the one 
you make your living on.
  From the grapes in world-renowned wines to almonds and pistachios, 
exports are down and production is lower, causing a troubling ripple 
effect in the region and across our Nation's economy in the form of 
lost jobs and revenue and less choices for high-quality crops grown by 
Americans for our American consumers.
  The numbers for this year are without a doubt very troubling. On-farm 
gate prices are down, and farm yields per acre are down. According to a 
recent UC Davis study, just California alone is set to lose about $2.7 
billion due to the drought. Farm employment is down by over 10,000 jobs 
this year, as well as the 21,000 or so indirect jobs that will also be 
lost by those involved in the production and processing of farm crops.
  Labor income is estimated to fall by at least $716 million, being 
replaced by an already troubled and strapped unemployment. Direct crop 
revenue losses are going to be up to $900 million, straight out of 
grower's pockets. In addition, the rice harvest is expected to cover 
only 375,000 acres, down from a peak number of 560,000 acres. The 
almond supply is expected to decrease by 4 percent, potentially losing 
market share to foreign interests. California dairy production is down 
by at least 3 percent, costing an estimated $250 million, a number that 
has shown significant increases in other States as well this year. 
Alfalfa hay shipments are significantly lower than last year, and the 
livestock industry faces losses of an estimated $100 million in order 
to replace it.
  Mr. Speaker, these are real numbers that are only set to get worse. 
We cannot simply stand by and watch as farmers, ranchers, small town 
economies, and ag employees face more water rationing and fallowed 
fields.
  California and the West cannot afford another year of inaction from 
Congress. I rise today to urge my colleagues from both sides of the 
aisle in both House and Senate to come to the table and advance 
commonsense drought solutions, such as new water storage and 
infrastructure, to provide relief now and in the future such as Sites 
Reservoir up in northern California and desalination projects for our 
cities. Let's get them permitted, let's get them approved and in the 
pipeline. We can't wait any longer. We need these reforms, indeed, now 
and for the future. Our State is growing, the population is growing, 
and we grow the finest and best crops and export them not only to the 
rest of the country, but to much of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, not doing anything now or this year is a dereliction of 
our responsibility and betrays Americans who expect us to provide the 
products they consume and enjoy these fine ag products that, indeed, 
give America the reputation as being the breadbasket of the world.

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