Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after House Republicans introduced the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act:

“Today’s bill is another irresponsible proposal that puts politics ahead of the needs of California, and candidly, it’s very disappointing. The bill is nothing more than a recycled version of legislation from 2011, and it is profoundly dangerous for California.

“The bill undermines state law related to Bay Delta restoration and endangered species. It overrides the court-approved San Joaquin River Settlement Agreement, which all parties involved still agree with. And it ends any possibility of a balanced solution to restore the Bay Delta.

“Just last week I told Congressmen McCarthy, Valadao and Nunes I was interested in working with them to develop a serious proposal that would address the problem and could pass Congress. I agreed with their idea for a joint Senate-House committee to address supply issues and offered to bring new ideas to the table. But instead of working productively for solutions, Valley Republicans tossed aside their own new ideas and returned to the broken ideas they have championed for nearly three years.

“This bill is disingenuous, it is irresponsible and it is dangerous. I truly hope Valley farmers speak out against this ugly example of politics as usual and demand that Valley Republicans quit the games and fulfill their responsibilities as legislators.”

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