Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Huffman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the amendment in the Energy Policy Modernization Act that was reflected in Congressman Valadao's legislation, H.R. 2898, of which I am a cosponsor. It is an important effort to try to fix California's broken water system.

We cannot continue to kick this can down the road as we have for the last several years. Unfortunately, that is what has continued to happen. Farms, farm communities, and farmworkers are desperate to have Washington recognize that we cannot continue the status quo.

Our Nation's food supply is an issue of national security, and we are dependent upon it. We don't think about it that way, but it is a fact. The drought impacts in California and the West are not going to get better. With climate change, they are going to continue to get worse. Passing this bill is part of a continuing effort to try to get something done. The Federal Government cannot continue to ignore the drought and the devastating impacts not only in the San Joaquin Valley, but statewide and Western States-wide.

Parts of the valley are parched and without water, and we must continue to raise this issue every way we can. That is why we are doing this. Getting this legislation passed is part of an effort to fix California's broken water system.

There was talk about issuing an allocation, and we were hoping for an El Nino. Guess what. It didn't happen. We got a 5 percent water allocation on the West side. Last year it was zero. The year before it was zero. Zero is zero. It means no water.

So let's try to work together. Let's put aside our talking points and the political posturing for not only California farmers, farmworkers, and farm communities, but American families who count on having nutritious, healthy, and affordable food on their dinner table every night.

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