Political Quotes

“Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, which I introduced today. Representative Jim Costa has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The bill authorizes one-third cost-share totaling $653 million for restoring the capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal, the Delta-Mendota Canal, and the California Aqueduct. Coordinated legislation in the State legislature introduced by State Senator Melissa Hurtado has led to a downpayment on a State cost-share for restoring the canals' capacity. Local water districts would be responsible for the remainder of the cost not covered by the State or Federal governments. In addition, the bill authorizes an additional $180 million to restore salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. The funding is for fish passage structures, levees, and other improvements that will allow the threatened Central Valley Spring-run Chinook salmon to swim freely upstream from the ocean to the Friant Dam. My bill would help California water users and California's Nation- leading agriculture industry comply with a recent State requirement to end the overpumping of groundwater. The stakes are huge: If we don't bring groundwater into balance, then the San Joaquin Valley will lose access to about 2 million acre-feet of water per year. Unless local water agencies and the State and Federal governments act, a recent U.C.…”