U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) on Thursday introduced comprehensive drought relief legislation he co-authored with Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2) that will provide assistance to farmers and ranchers, businesses, and communities suffering from the record drought in California and other Western states.
The legislation provides emergency relief to affected agricultural producers and fishing communities, funds emergency drought relief projects, maintains environmental protections, and ensures that the United States will be better-prepared to respond to future droughts and natural disasters.
“This bill provides comprehensive relief to our entire state without putting the needs of some California water users above others,” said Thompson. “The bill is transparent, based on sound science, builds on the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and protects the interests of farmers, fishers, businesses and other water users in the northern, central and southern parts of our state.”
Original co-authors of the legislation include Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Peter DeFazio (OR-4), George Miller (CA-11), John Garamendi (CA-3), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Doris Matsui (CA-6), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Sam Farr (CA-20), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Ami Bera (CA-7), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), and Scott Peters (CA-52).
This comprehensive legislation stands in stark contrast with H.R. 3964, the partisan drought legislation by the House Majority in early February. H.R. 3964 would allow water to be pumped south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for as long as water is available.
If enacted, the bill would devastate Bay-Delta communities, harm drinking water, and jeopardize thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity, according to Thompson's office.
In contrast, Thompson and his co-authors asserted that comprehensive bill introduced on Thursday:
- Accelerates planning and execution of water supply projects while maintaining environmental protections like the National Environmental Policy Act compliance.
- Brings the Army Corps reservoir operations in line with modern science, saving water, and helping communities through extreme weather events. The Army Corps of Engineers operates many of its reservoirs on outdated and obsolete water control manuals, some of which are as much as 60 years old. The new bill includes an emergency provision for faster updates during times of drought.
- Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to help cover losses caused by the drought.
- Ensures that the damages from California’s drought are properly recognized under the Stafford Act, so that Californians receive accurate and adequate disaster relief.
- Cracks down on illegal water diversions for marijuana cultivation. Illegal water diversions not only reduce available water for legal uses, but create a significant environmental threat in Northern California and other rural parts of the state. Thompson and Huffman previously introduced a bill to crack down on such environmental damages.
- Authorizes water planning and management activities to reduce water use in the Klamath Basin in California and Oregon.
- Directs the President to update the National Response Plan and the National Disaster Recovery Framework to address plans for responding to catastrophic drought preparing for longer term, continued drought in California and the western United States.
- Requires the development of a California salmon drought plan to address impacts of drought on wild fisheries, those that support tribal fisheries and the commercial and recreational fishing industry.
- Urges the Secretary of Commerce to immediately declare a fisheries disaster and fast-tracks future processes to respond to disaster conditions, ensuring prompt assistance rather than years after a disaster.
- Requires that water agencies receiving assistance under the legislation are in full compliance with state laws regarding groundwater and agricultural water use.
- Includes sunset provisions ensuring that emergency provisions end once the drought declaration is revoked.
The bill includes $255 million in emergency appropriations, including:
- $50 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for projects in drought-affected states that reduce fire risk or assist water quality and capacity.
- $5 million for the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program within the Rural Utilities Service to assist with rural water supply projects.
- $30 million for grants under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
- $15 billion for grants under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
- $3 million for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist in suppression of illegal trespass marijuana grows that diminish available water supply.
- $152 million available to the Bureau of Reclamation for projects, including $52 million for water conservation and efficiency projects, and to develop alternative water supplies, through the WaterSMART and Title XVI programs.
Also included is $200 million in emergency disaster assistance including:
- $100 million in emergency assistance for farmers to fund water conservation measures that protect lands and sensitive watersheds.
- $25 million for Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants that fund community projects to reduce harmful effects of the drought.
- $25 million to the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program for water conservation projects and to protect and upgrade water systems. These grants of up to $1 million are to complete projects that boost the availability and quality of drinking water, including in California communities at risk of running out of safe drinking water;
- $25 million in grant funding for public and nonprofit institutions to provide emergency assistance to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers harmed by the drought.
- $25 million in grants fo r private forest landowners to carry out conservation measures in response to drought and wildlife risks.
The bill allocates $3 million in funding for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out its work to respond to extreme drought conditions, including relocation of the release location and timing of hatchery fish and barging of hatchery release fish, and $15 million for integrated regional water management projects that focus on water recycling and integrated water management on a watershed or regional scale.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.