SACRAMENTO — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 (H.R. 2898), according to ACWA.com.
The measure passed by a vote of 245-176, stated the article. Rep. Valadao (R-21) sponsored the bill. His website states federal agencies can now make decisions with better data to provide more water for communities in need.
"Additionally, the legislation will provide federal regulators with flexibility to capture water during wet years and will cut red tape holding back major water storage projects, which will aid the entire Western United States during dry years," noted the website.
"I am proud that my colleagues in the House understand the dire situation Californians are facing and in response, have passed this critical legislation." Rep. Valadao said in the article. "I look forward to working with the Senate until a solution is reached and can only pray that President Obama will reconsider his decision to veto this bill that will provide hundreds of thousands of Americans will [have] the water they so desperately need."
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-2), Ranking Member of the House Water and Power Subcommittee, offered a different view in the article. "This bill is a warmed-over redux of the same divisive, partisan legislation that has gotten us nowhere for years," Huffman said in a statement. "Let’s stop the political theater and get serious about solving problems and responding to the Western drought."
The vote was split largely along party lines, reported the article. Rep. Jim Costa (D-16) was the only California Democratic delegation member to vote for the bill.
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