David Valadao: “I first want to start off with a big thank- you to Chairman Bishop for all his hard work these past 4 years--it has been…”

“I first want to start off with a big thank- you to Chairman Bishop for all his hard work these past 4 years--it has been with his leadership and his support that we have been able to get to this point--Chairman Shuster as well, and, obviously, from California, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been a big supporter. This piece of legislation is a small step in the right direction. In no way, shape, or form are we celebrating as if we have reached the finish line. What this does is it helps us give a little more flexibility so we can help those poor people in my communities, and others south of me and even just a little bit north of me, who need this help desperately. I have got people in my communities living in shantytowns, people who have lost their jobs, schools struggling, infrastructure struggling, law enforcement on the verge of bankruptcy. I have got police chiefs resigning now because there are just not enough resources in these communities, all because of bad legislation that was passed. We have had 20 years of restrictions on water. It has not helped one single species. The species are on the verge of extinction, and these policies have been place. Why not try something different? Why not try some common sense? This legislation delivers that. It does not affect the Endangered Species Act. It does not affect the biological opinions. All the protections are still there.…”