Drought in the Western United States

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is an honor to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee with you.

Madam Speaker, the West is currently burning to the ground. We are seeing historic wildfires, meanwhile the House of Representatives, the people's House, is arguing over mask mandates and passing dead-on- arrival budgetary bills.

Ninety-three percent of the West is under severe drought, and it is past time we pass legislation that would provide effective solutions that our constituents are calling for on a daily basis.

That is exactly what I have been working toward. In March, I was proud to introduce the Western Water Security Act. This legislation protects Tribal groups, farmers, ranchers, agricultural districts, towns, small businesses, and other water users who rely on privately held water rights that have been put in jeopardy by the Federal Government. Instead of joining my bill to ensure these protections, Democrats are trying to curb cow flatulence; that is right, cow farts. That is their priority. The lack of leadership by House Democrats is totally unacceptable.

And here is what I mean by that.

Under President Trump, the historic multi-State Drought Contingency Plan was implemented which, among other benefits, prevented water cuts and rationing while protecting the water levels of Colorado's two largest reservoirs.

Under President Trump, the Federal Government implemented Title Transfer authority, getting Federal water facilities transferred to local, more capable water suppliers.

And under President Trump, Republicans fixed Obama's WOTUS regulations, providing water security to ranchers and farmers across America.

In contrast, under the Biden regime, we have seen bureaucrat laziness 101. An interagency working group was formed. Yeah, whoop-de-do. How is that working for anyone? What have they done? No one knows. Since April, my colleagues and I have questioned the Biden regime's appointees and received no concrete answers or responses that were promised.

And there are more appointees that are waiting for confirmation, like the potential head of the Bureau of Land Management. The woman who will be the director of the Bureau of Land Management is a known ecoterrorist.

This is all terrible. And this is all under the Biden regime. This regime is failing the American people, and the cost is far too high.

I urge my colleagues to join my Western Water Security Act and let us begin to protect private property rights, and our water rights, while ensuring an abundant supply of clean water for future generations.

Madam Speaker, we need to drain the swamp, not our reservoirs. I thank Ranking Member Westerman for yielding me this time and for leading on this important issue.

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