Western Growers Praises Introduction Of California Emergency Drought Relief Act
July 30, 2015 Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-CA) yesterday introduced the California Emergency Drought Relief Act, a bill with both short- and long-term provisions designed to help communities cope with the ongoing drought and combat future droughts.
In a statement released yesterday by Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif, he praises the senators for introducing the bill:
“We want to express our thanks to Senators Feinstein and Boxer for re-introducing much needed legislation aimed at alleviating the short- and long-term impacts of the historic drought in California. The bill that has been submitted today provides a basis to reconcile their bill with the recently passed House legislation. There is no time to waste as the impacts of the drought — exacerbated by an unbalanced regulatory scheme — are deepening in California and throughout the West. It’s time to advance reasonable legislation before more family farms and communities are forced into economic disaster.
Our attention must also turn to passage of a western water bill to address the needs of other states being affected by the drought. Any effort aimed at helping California must be combined with efforts to devise solutions to problems faced throughout the West as a result of long-term drought. For example, the Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its driest period in 50 years. While recent atypical summer rain storms have provided some relief, it is clear that members of the Senate must come together to address common concerns throughout the West. Western Growers urges the Senate to act quickly.”
Click here for information on the key provisions in the bill, which include assistance for drought-stricken communities, storage projects, water recycling, conservation and groundwater recharge, and additional funding programs.
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