Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, July 16, 2015, the United States House of Representatives considered legislation to modernize water policies in California and throughout the entire Western United States.

H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 introduced by Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) requires federal agencies to use current and reliable data when making regulatory decisions, which in turn will provide more water for communities in need. Additionally, the legislation will provide federal regulators with flexibility to capture water during wet years and will cut red tape holding back major water storage projects, which will aid the entire Western United States during dry years.

H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act was passed by the United States House of Representatives on Thursday, July 16, 2015 by a vote of 245 - 176.

Following the passage of the legislation, Congressman Valadao released the following statement:

“I am proud that my colleagues in the House understand the dire situation Californians are facing and in response, have passed this critical legislation.” Rep. Valadao continued, “I look forward to working with the Senate until a solution is reached and can only pray that President Obama will reconsider his decision to veto this bill that will provide hundreds of thousands of Americans will the water they so desperately need.”

Original cosponsors of Congressman Valadao’s legislation include Reps. Ken Calvert (CA-42), Paul Cook (CA-08), Jim Costa (CA-16), Jeff Denham (CA-10), Duncan Hunter (CA-50), Darrell E. Issa (CA-49), Stephen Knight (CA-25), Dough LaMalfa (CA-01), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Devin Nunes (CA-22), Dana Rohrabacher (CA-48), Edward R. Royce (CA-39), Mimi Walters (CA-45), Mark E. Amodei (NV-02), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Cresent Hardy (NV-04), David P. Joyce (OH-14), Cynthia M. Lummis (WY-AL), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Michael K. Simpson (ID-02), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Scott Tipton (CO-03), and Ryan K. Zinke (MT-AL).

The full text of H.R. 2898 can be found here and a summary of the legislation of the bill can be found here. 

Video of Congressman Valadao's remarks during debate of H.R. 2898 can be found below: 

Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21^st Congressional District of California, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

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