Issue Position: Water

Issue Position

Water is the backbone of our economy in California. California's severe water crisis is hurting people, businesses and the environment and immediate solutions to deal with the short and long term water needs of California must be finalized as soon as possible. This crisis has forced growers to leave land uncultivated and hundreds of farmworkers without jobs. As California faced its third year of drought, farmers in San Benito County contacted my office, devastated by the lack of water in the San Luis Reservoir. Farmers and farm workers from the Central Valley made the same plea. In response to this critical issue, I became one of the chief negotiators for Speaker Bass on the recent water package. I authored a water bond bill and was a co-author of the water bond that successfully passed the legislature that not only funds important water infrastructure, but will provide much-needed jobs in California. I authored several key water bills to safeguard both the environment and the economy. These include: The Safe Drinking Water and Water Supply Reliability Act of 2010 which protects supplies of safe, clean drinking water to our homes, farms and businesses; The Groundwater Reliability Taskforce Act, which protects and enhances the State's critically important groundwater resources; and AB 300, which promotes greater water-use efficiencies in new homes.

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