THIS JUST IN … HR 23 passes House 230 – 190: Early reactions from Costa, Garamendi, McNerney, and Nunes.
This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed HR 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act, by a vote of 230 to 190, largely along party lines.
From Congressman Jim Costa: Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. R. 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017, by a vote of 230 to 190.
“However, improvements to this bill need to be made if it is going to provide the long-term solutions we so badly need in the San Joaquin Valley and other parts of California.
The first amendment authorizes a study for increasing the amount of mountain runoff water captured by Central Valley Project reservoirs, and the second authorizes a study to evaluate the natural groundwater system in California to identify areas with the greatest recharge potential.
I stand ready to work with my fellow members of Congress in the House and Senate to improve this bill so we can get a bipartisan solution signed into law.” Congressman Costa has been working on California water issues since his time in the California State Legislature, where he was first elected in 1978.
Why recycle a partisan bill that overrides California water law and allows for nearly unrestricted pumping that risks permanent damage to Delta communities and wildlife?” “Instead of bringing back zombie legislation over and over again, it’s time to focus on implementing the WIIN Act, which will create new water, build infrastructure, and improve California’s drought resilience.” From Congressman Devin Nunes: The House of Representatives today passed a comprehensive water bill, the GROW Act (H.R.
23), that would resolve the perpetual water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley.
Once again, I urge the Senate, and California’s senators in particular, to quickly pass this bill or propose their own solution that would end this government-inflicted disaster and eliminate the Valley’s 2.5 million acre-foot water shortfall.
“There are forward-thinking solutions to this problem that would benefit California as whole, and I invite my colleagues to work with me on this issue so that we can proactively invest in California’s long-term water stability.” Additionally, Congressman McNerney spoke on the House floor in opposition to the bill.