McNerney Fights To Protect The Delta

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) voted against H.R. 3964, a bill that would have devastating effects on the Delta region.  

 

“California is facing a severe drought; we need commonsense solutions that work to address our state’s long-term water infrastructure.  The families, farmers, and small businesses in our region depend on a healthy Delta, and I will continue to fight for our community.”

 

Rep. McNerney offered an amendment to H.R. 3964, to protect the quality of water essential to the economic sustainability of the Delta region farmers and ranchers.  The amendment would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture determine that water quality for the Delta region agriculture would not be negatively affected.  

 

“The farmers and growers of San Joaquin County’s nearly $3 billion agriculture industry rely on high quality water for their products,” said Rep. McNerney.  “As currently written, H.R. 3964 will increase shipments of water out of the Delta, further threatening the water quality for farmers and devastating the local economy.”

 

California’s current drought state of emergency threatens the 81,000 farmers and ranchers throughout the state.  H.R. 3964 will take water from the Delta and distribute it to a small portion of the state, while not creating any new water in the Delta region. 

 

“Shipping additional water out of the Delta will turn this vital natural resource into a salty, stagnant marsh at the cost of thousands of local jobs,” said Rep. McNerney.  “We need to work on a bipartisan basis to address California’s water needs.  This is not about just one portion of California.  The entire state is being hard hit by water shortages, and it will take all parties working together to establish a long-term solution.”