Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on both committees of jurisdiction here, Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources. The language that they allowed to be put into this energy bill from my water bill is something that truly makes a difference for the constituents of the Central Valley.

We have been suffering over these last few years, and what it has done is devastated our communities. We have unemployment numbers reaching as high as 30 and 40 percent. We see numbers even in some smaller communities as high as 50 percent. To see these things happen in our communities is a total tragedy, and it doesn't have to happen. All we need is some commonsense legislation.

We have tried reaching out. We have passed legislation out of the House a few different times. We have negotiated and tried to get somewhere, but we weren't able to do it.

So finding another way to get this onto our Senators' desks so that they can actually take some action and get it to the President's desk is of the utmost importance.

I appreciate all the leadership and all the help from both committees to help this move forward.

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Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I always enjoy listening to my friends on the other side of the aisle say that this is theft, that we are stealing water.

This graph has been used a few times. This is the amount of water going through the delta in 2015, and this is when it was exported; in 2016, the amount of water going out into the ocean. This is not stealing from one person's well in their community to another community. This is water that is going out into the ocean that they are advocating that we go and spend more taxpayer money and desalinate so that we can bring it right back.

When it comes to protecting the delta, which we all want to do, I would actually recommend that the communities around the delta stop dumping their sewage in it. With over 300 million gallons of sewage being dumped in the delta on a daily basis, you would think that would have a bigger impact on the delta species and everything else that is going on there than a little bit of water being pumped.

There were periods this past winter alone where there was 150,000 cubic feet of water per second going through that delta. We are asking for 5,000, and at those high periods maybe 7,500. Think about that. 150,000 cubic feet per second, and we are asking for 7,500, as if we are going to pump a delta dry and have a huge impact. I would still argue that dumping your sewage in the delta would have a bigger impact on those species than anything else.

If you are truly concerned with protecting those species, you would think you would take some of the legislation that we have in there that has to do with the invasive species, the predator species, the striped bass that is actually consuming baby salmon and is also consuming the delta smelt.

We know that it is happening. I have seen studies that point to as much as 98 percent of delta smelt being consumed by this striped bass.

Why don't we take a look at the legislation that is in this bill now and actually adopt it and have a real impact and save these species for our future generations. It is time top stop playing games and hurting other communities.

We are looking to capture a little bit of water that goes to the delta. Obviously, a lot was wasted this year. We are not trying to steal from anybody else. It is a fair and very equitable ask. It has little impact on the delta.

If there are those who really want to protect the delta, let's look at every part of it, including the sewage, including the invasive species. I think there is a lot of room to compromise, and I would appreciate the opportunity.

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