Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC – The influential House Rules Committee, of which Congressman Cardoza is a member, accepted two of Congressman Dennis Cardoza’s amendments tonight aimed at increasing water flows for agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. This paves the way for passage on the House floor Wednesday as part of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

“I have maintained that the short-sighted solution of continuing to curtail pumping is only worsening a man-made drought and imperiling the lifeblood of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Congressman Cardoza. “I will continue working with my colleagues in a bi-partisan manner to press for constructive solutions that will ensure that water is flowing throughout the San Joaquin Valley, including an agency review of the Biological Opinions and the flawed science upon which they are based.”

The first amendment would make it easier for water to be transferred from one county to another. It was introduced by Congressman Cardoza with the support of Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation restricts such transfers, creating an impediment to efficient and practical water movement during times of need.

This amendment would allow water to be transferred to regions that are undersupplied.
The amendment also directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a recovery plan for the giant garter snake, an endangered species. A recovery plan will remove the bureaucratic red tape that prevents water transfers from Northern California from moving forward.

A second amendment seeks to increase funding for the California Bay-Delta Restoration Program. The amendment, introduced by Congressman Cardoza and Jim Costa, D-Fresno, would provide a $10 million down payment on important water projects such as the Intertie and Two Gates Project as California struggles to store, move, and transfer water in California to the people and farms most impacted by the shortage.

“These actions represent a significant step forward in overcoming the regulatory drought,” said Congressman Cardoza. “We will not rest until we have a cumulative and balanced approach to dealing with California’s water and ensuring that our Valley's farmers and growers receive the water they need to thrive and help feed our nation.”