Cramer: House Passes H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015

Press Release

Today, Congressman Kevin Cramer, with a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives, voted to pass H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015. H.R. 2898 attempts to alleviate water supply and agricultural issues in western states that have, in part, resulted from both the mismanagement of critical water resources and severe drought. The bill revises the regulatory framework that governs the movement and storage of water; encourages the development and more efficient use of private and public water storage and delivery systems; reforms the Federal rulemaking processes relating to water storage and delivery; and includes other provisions to alleviate water shortages facing Western states.

"California and the Western United States face drought conditions exasperated by failed government regulations and policies. This bill establishes clear rules based on science for the management of our water resources. In addition to increasing the water supply for drought stricken California, the bill improves water storage throughout the west, streamlines the permitting process for water projects on federal lands, and protects state water rights from federal overreach," said Cramer.

Included in today's bill are provisions from H.R. 2749, the Dams Accountability, Maintenance, and Safety Act, introduced by Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) and Congressman Cramer to allow the Bureau of Reclamation to develop additional project benefits -- such as increasing storage capacity -- when studying and carrying out dam safety projects.

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