Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chair, in rising to support my colleague, Mr. Denham, on this amendment, I note that the California State Water Board is contemplating their next water grab, and how disconnected from reality these regulators are. In the latest plan, they want to take 40 percent of the flows from San Joaquin. Concurrently, they have a pending proposal to also increase the volume of flows from the Sacramento River, in my region, that washes out to the ocean, all under the guise, the failing guise of protecting fish. They are contemplating 45 to 65 percent of unimpeded flow. We already know that when it comes to protectin people or fish, Sacramento always decides to choose the latter. This plan defies even basic common sense or fairness. Instead, it relies on questionable science to impose arbitrary restrictions, with no solutions to address the loss of habitat for native species, or even the predators in the delta, which we already know to be a major threat to the fish population. Up to 90 percent of the affected species are devoured by these predator fish. It offers no recourse for the devastating impact it will have on jobs and local economies. I would like to remind the regulators, California voters overwhelmingly supported the effort to direct $2.7 billion for water storage projects, recognizing the need to invest in infrastructure such as Sites Reservoir.…”