Reps. Costa and Valadao Support Drainage Settlement to Protect Agricultural Land

Press Release

Today, Reps. Jim Costa (CA-16) and David Valadao (CA-21) testified at the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans legislative hearing on H.R. 4366, the San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution, introduced by Rep. Valadao and H.R. 5217, the San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act, introduced by Rep. Costa. The legislation would authorize a settlement agreement concerning the management of drainage water within the San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project (CVP) in California. An agreement was reached in September 2015 between the United States and the Westlands Water District (Westlands), and a separate agreement was reached between the United States and the northerly San Luis Unit water and irrigation districts: Pacheco, San Luis, and Panoche Water Districts. This legislation will not affect water allocations for other CVP water contractors.

"California's San Joaquin Valley is home to some of the most productive agricultural land in the world, and Congressman Valadao and I are proud to represent the farmers who produce the crops that feed our nation and world," said Rep. Costa. "The San Luis Drainage Resolution Act helps ensure the land in the San Luis Unit and Westlands Water District of the Central Valley Project has the opportunity to continue their long-standing history of productivity, while eliminating the $3.8 billion dollar burden that U.S. tax payers are currently obligated to pay. These agreements, reached between the Obama Administration and the water districts within the San Luis Unit and Westlands Water District, need to be authorized by Congress in order to move forward. I urge my colleagues to support the San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act because its passage would result in the resolution of all drainage obligations for the United States and would move the responsibilities of drainage obligations to local control, similar to other jurisdictions across the state."

Congressman Valadao stated, "I cannot stress enough the importance of this legislation so that we may finally end this decades old dispute. By passing my legislation, H.R. 4366, the San Luis Drainage Resolution Act, we are able to protect the economic stability of the most productive agriculture region in the world by preserving agriculture production and as a result, safeguarding thousands of desperately needed jobs in the region." He continued, "Additionally, passage of this legislation will shield American taxpayers from potentially billions of dollars in future drainage and litigation costs by relieving the United States of its multi-billion dollar statutory and court-ordered drainage obligation. This common-sense agreement will settle this long-standing dispute, proving beneficial for all those involved.

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