McCarthy Statement on Drought Declaration
Congressman McCarthy issued this statement on Governor Brown’s drought declaration:
“Today’s drought declaration by Governor Brown reaffirms what Californians throughout our state and especially in our local communities know firsthand. As we approach another drought year, I continue to call on federal and state officials to take immediate action to provide water supplies to our local families, farmers, and small businesses and develop an operational plan that maximizes water supplies to communities in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Restrictive environmental regulations reduce our supplies when water is available in wet years, but exacerbates the negative impacts during years of drought. At a time when we are in dire need of water, we must provide flexibility and allow water to flow around the state.”
Background:
On November 20, 2013, Congressman McCarthy authored a letter to the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) take immediate action within their agencies’ power to increase water supplies, (2) develop a 2014 operational plan for the CVP and SWP that maximizes water supplies to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California; and (3) asks for the Administration’s plan to ensure an affordable and reliable water supply over the next decade while long-term solutions to California’s man-made water crises continues. This letter was signed by 7 other Congressmen including Reps. Valadao, Nunes, Rohrabacher, Royce, Campbell, Calvert, and Gary Miller.
On December 9, 2013, Congressman McCarthy joined Rep. David Valadao and California Senator Jean Fuller in sending a letter to President Barack Obama and Governor Jerry Brown asking them to take immediate action to address the catastrophic effects of what is shaping up to be another dry water-year for California. This letter was signed by all the Members of the House Republican Conference’s California Delegation and 34 Members of the California State Senate and Assembly in urging President Obama and Governor Brown utilize their executive authority to alleviate the effects of drought.