David Valadao: “My amendment would add the text of my bill, the bipartisan Headwaters Protection Act, to the Fix Our Forests Act. This…”

“My amendment would add the text of my bill, the bipartisan Headwaters Protection Act, to the Fix Our Forests Act. This commonsense language is led by my colleague from California (Mr. Costa) and myself, and it has bipartisan support. It was included in the House Committee on Agriculture's farm bill. This amendment expands public and private partnerships in forestry and watershed management projects under the Water Source Protection Program. These projects can improve access to clean drinking water, provide for greater downstream water availability, and prevent future wildfires. My amendment makes changes to improve the program, including expanding the number of entities that are eligible to participate in the program to include local, regional, and public entities that have water management and delivery expertise; allowing non-Federal partners to input their knowledge and expertise in the design and implementation of forestry and watershed management projects; and allowing for the use of existing watershed condition frameworks to reduce bureaucracy and deploy projects faster. Overall, this amendment would support efforts in the San Joaquin Valley like the Olam project, a series of wildlife prevention and restoration projects in the Pine Flat watershed between public and private partners. This amendment would build off of the good work done in the Fix Our Forests Act, and I urge its adoption. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”