Scalise pleased with passage of drought-relief legislation

Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) applauded the House passage of the Western Water and American Food Security Act on Monday.

“For far too long, the western United States has been plagued by drought,” Scalise said. “Heavy-handed, radical environmental regulations are choking off access to much-needed water supplies in the West, and it has had devastating consequences for millions of Americans.”

In its essence, H.R. 2898 would clean up, clarify and streamline a number of disjointed water management and regulatory restrictions that many believe have actually artificially worsened the effects of the drought.

Specifically, the bill mandates the implementation of more practical and transparent water management plans in federal projects, taking into account the best available scientific practices.

If the measure becomes law, more water would be pumped from reservoirs near the coast to users inland during California’s season of high rainfall. In addition, the legislation would streamline the burdensome permitting process for water storage projects, which will make it much easier and more practical for agencies to take steps to prepare for future droughts.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 245-176.

“This legislation takes important steps to make sure families, farmers and businesses get access to the water that they so desperately need and depend upon,” Scalise concluded.