Rep. Jared Huffman Unveils Drought Response Legislation, Calls for Public Input

Press Release

Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), who serves as the ranking Democrat on the Water, Power, and Oceans Subcommittee, today unveiled comprehensive legislation to respond to the worst drought in California state history and called for public input on the draft bill before its formal introduction. Huffman asked Californians throughout the state to visit Huffman.house.gov/drought to read the draft legislation and give their feedback.

The legislation includes a range of short- and long-term solutions to stretch water supplies and build new clean water infrastructure, creating jobs without undermining environmental protections, preempting state laws, or redirecting impacts from one drought-stricken area to another.

Huffman's bill is supported by a growing list of state and national organizations, including: The Association of California Water Agencies, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, the California Water Environment Association, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Western Recycled Water Coalition, the WateReuse Association, the Planning & Conservation League, Restore the Delta, Environment California, Northcoast Environmental Center, the Endangered Species Coalition, the San Francisco Crab Boat Owners Association.

Huffman said:

"After years of partisan theater and overreaching that pits some water interests against others in a zero-sum game, it's time for Congress to get serious and stop treating California's worst-ever drought as a political football.

"The bill I am offering is a comprehensive response that helps every drought-impacted state and region without picking winners and losers, without undermining environmental laws, and without preempting state water rights. It includes critically-needed short-term actions and longer-term solutions to help us through future droughts. It produces much greater water supply benefits, and faster, than other congressional proposals.

"And it does all of this in an open, transparent process: we've reached out to get ideas and feedback from all sorts of stakeholders, experts, and colleagues of both parties, and now we're making the draft bill available for anyone to review and comment on before it is introduced.

"This is what a serious approach to western drought and water issues should look like."

Huffman's bill has already attracted numerous original cosponsors, including Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA).

Huffman's draft drought response legislation reflects four basic principles:

Do no harm--ours is a complex system, and we should not redirect impacts or micromanage it from Washington.
No water wars--end attempts to gut environmental laws and take water from other regions. Solutions must respect environmental and water quality laws, and benefit every region impacted by this drought.
Think long-term--we should respond not just to the immediate crisis but build drought resiliency for the future.
Process matters--successful water initiatives require transparency, inclusiveness, and deliberation. Back room deals and secret water grabs invariably create more problems than they solve.

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