Jared Huffman: “California and the rest of the West are facing a historic drought right now. Nearly 80 percent of California was under…”

“California and the rest of the West are facing a historic drought right now. Nearly 80 percent of California was under extreme drought conditions in June, and 36 percent of our State is in ``exceptional'' drought in that category, the highest category, in fact, on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Emergency water conservation plans are being adopted across the State, including many mandatory measures. Cities and counties are dealing with uncertain water supplies, farmers and ranchers are facing incredibly difficult decisions, and tribes and those who depend on healthy fisheries for their livelihood are facing shortages like they have never seen. Congress can't make it rain. What we can do is invest in drought- resistant water supplies through smart, sustainable investments in conservation and water reuse, and that is what this amendment is all about. My amendment directs $52 million to the Bureau of Reclamation for title XVI water conservation and reuse projects. Through this program, Reclamation works across the West to support municipalities, farmers, fish and wildlife, and recreation through water-saving conservation, reuse, and recycling infrastructure projects. Although the Energy and Water bill before us today does fund the program, this drought is showing us that we have to do a lot more. California's State water board is stepping up.…”