Huffman Offers Amendment to Provide Relief from Record California Drought, Reduce Funding for Nuclear Power Research

Press Release

Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) offered an amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4923) to provide relief from the historic drought facing California and many other western states. Huffman's amendment would provide an additional $52 million for water-saving conservation, reuse and recycling infrastructure projects, offset by a reduction to the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy account, which provides funding for research into non-military nuclear power plants. The amendment was defeated.

"The California drought is the most extreme drought that many of us have seen in our lifetime, and we either believe it's a national crisis and a national priority or we don't," Congressman Huffman said. "Congress cannot make it rain, but what we can do is invest in drought-resistant water supplies through smart, sustainable investments in conservation and water reuse."

Specifically, Huffman's amendment would direct $52 million to the Bureau of Reclamation for Title XVI water-saving conservation, reuse and recycling infrastructure projects, which support municipalities, farmers, fish and wildlife, and recreation. This amendment reflects one program funded by Congressman Huffman's drought bill, which he introduced in March. In June, nearly 80% of California was under extreme drought conditions, and 36% of the state was in an "exceptional" drought, the highest category on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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