Denham seeks guarantees Calif. water amendment passes in final spending bill

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and a 13-member California congressional contingent want to ensure that his U.S. House-approved, home-state water amendment remains part of a larger spending bill being debated in Congress.

“My amendment halts the disastrous Bay-Delta Plan that would see 40 percent of our water flushed out into the ocean,” said Rep. Denham. “Congress must act to protect the [Central] Valley.”

The congressman and his colleagues reiterated that stance in a Sept. 7 letter sent to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) expressing “strong support” to include the provision – which would prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from implementing California’s proposed Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan – in upcoming federal appropriations legislation.

Among those joining Rep. Denham in signing the bipartisan letter were U.S. Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Mimi Walters (R-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Jim Costa (D-CA).

“Since the state’s plan greatly affects operations at the United States Bureau of Reclamation owned New Melones Reservoir and the federally authorized Central Valley Project, it should not move forward without federal approval,” the lawmakers wrote.

House Amendment 928, which Rep. Denham offered on July 18 to the Interior, Environment, Financial Services and General Government, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2019, H.R. 6147, would prevent federal funds from being used to implement the state’s Bay-Delta plan.

The state’s proposed water plan would deplete the New Melones reservoir, which provides water for the Central Valley Project and generates hydropower, according to a summary from Rep. Denham’s office.

The House on July 18 rejected the plan by approving Denham’s amendment.

“Allowing this radical state proposal to move forward will undermine federal water authority, subvert the will of Congress, do irreparable damage to Central Valley communities and jeopardize a significant portion of our nation’s agricultural productivity,” the members wrote in their letter.

“Therefore, we strongly urge this provision be prioritized for inclusion in the next appropriations bill that comes before the House of Representatives and is provided to the President for signature,” concluded the members.

Speaker Ryan appointed House conferees on Sept. 6 to resolve differences on H.R. 6147 with the Senate, which that day agreed to conference and also appointed conferees.