Lawmakers applaud inclusion of drought provisions in water resources agreement

U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Rob Bishop (R-UT) applauded West Coast drought provisions that were included in the water resources agreement reached on Monday.

The provisions were included in a conference report for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), which includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The House and Senate are expected to vote on the legislation this week.

“This legislation will improve ports, waterways, flood protection and other water resources infrastructure across the country,” Walters said. “Notably, the WIIN Act will help alleviate the California drought by providing much-needed water to the state’s communities and businesses. The drought provisions will help boost our economy while providing resources for water projects such as storage, desalination, conservation, efficiency and recycling.”

California families and business have sought solutions to the state’s drought conditions for many years, Calvert added.

“Now, as a result of bipartisan negotiations, we stand ready to move on important water legislation,” Calvert said. “The provisions included in this legislation are not a silver bullet to all of our state’s water woes, but they represent a meaningful step towards a water infrastructure that Californians can rely on.”

Bishop, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, called inclusion of the drought provisions in the water resources agreement a “no-brainer.”

“This is a big step forward for people who live in the west and are suffering from drought,” Bishop said. “We have finally agreed to the premise that we should store more water before it flows into the ocean.”