WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21), Congresswoman Connie Conway (CA-22), and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) led the entire California Republican delegation and Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland expressing grave concerns with the Department of the Interior’s reconsultation process on the 2019 Biological Opinions for water deliveries from the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

The California Republican delegation has received no substantive response to multiple requests asking the Department of the Interior to explain why it began reconsultation, a process expected to cost more than $15 million of taxpayer money.

Amid a recent spate of potential ethics violations by Department officials, Members of Congress requested documents to determine whether outside groups and individuals have exerted undue political influence on the Department in an attempt to cancel the Biological Opinions. 

“For over a year, I have requested answers from the Interior related to their decision to reinitiate consultation of the 2019 Biological Opinions,” said Congressman Valadao. “The unnecessary review of these scientifically-sound Biological Opinions has caused significant uncertainty for Valley farmers about the future of their water supply, and a reversal of these opinions would be detrimental to our local economies. A simple explanation on the reasoning behind this decision is the very least Central Valley residents deserve.”

“I am deeply concerned by the reconsultation," said Congresswoman Conway. “The entire process seems geared toward reaching a predetermined outcome, which is to sabotage policies that would direct more water to San Joaquin Valley communities that are suffering from a years-long water crisis. Congress has the right and the duty to examine the Interior Department’s records, and the Department’s resistance to transparency does not inspire confidence in its actions.” 

“Like many communities across the West, California continues to face grave water challenges and severe drought conditions. We must ensure the federal government is basing water delivery decisions on sound science – not political influence – which is why I am proud to stand with Western Caucus Representatives Kevin McCarthy, David Valadao, Connie Conway, and California delegation colleagues in their oversight of the Interior Department,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. “Getting to the bottom of Interior’s inconsistent actions will ensure the Central Valley Project and California State Project can move forward in their critical work delivering water to the farms, families, and communities throughout the region.”

In the letter, the lawmakers highlighted that a similar request for information was made by Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee under the Trump administration during the development of the 2019 Biological Opinions:

“Respecting Congress’ oversight role, the Department provided Members with a copy of the draft biological opinions and more than 14,500 pages of relevant information including records of discussions, meetings, emails, and other communications,” the lawmakers wrote.

The full text of the letter can be found here. 

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