COOK Votes to
Increase Available Water Supply
WASHINGTON D.C. __ July 16, 2015, Representative
Paul Cook (R- Apple Valley) voted for HR
2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act. This bill is
designed to mitigate California’s drought by immediately increasing the
available water supply and streamlining the federal approval processes to build
and improve aging infrastructure. Cook was an original cosponsor of this bill.
This bill immediately increases the amount of available water by updating the
pumping regulations of the California Delta, the main source of water
collection for the canals and aqueducts that flow to Central and Southern
California. The pumping will be increased during the days of high rainfall to
capitalize on available water and will maintain a level of pumping that is both
safe for the fish of the Delta and the maintenance of the farms of Central and
Southern California. This bill commissions regular studies of the delta water
composition to ensure it is safe for the native wildlife that call the delta
home.
Currently, the Central Valley Project
(CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) are in desperate need of modernization
and expansion, but they are regulated by multiple federal agencies. The CVP and SWP were originally intended to
support 22 million people.
California is home to 38 million people and
this is expected to double by 2050. This bill puts the Bureau of Reclamation in
charge of facilitating project approvals, timelines, and feasibility studies to
identify where additional storage sites can be built and where improvements to
the existing infrastructure are necessary.
Paul Cook said, “California is facing the worst drought in a century. It’s
inexcusable that the Bureau of Reclamation continues to drag its feet on new
water storage projects to help capture rain and snow melt and relieve the
drought. After years of inaction, it’s past time to complete these vital
projects to increase our water storage capacity. In drought-stricken
California, humans are the endangered species. California agriculture is vital
for keeping our nation’s food supply secure, producing over half of America’s
fruits, vegetables, and nuts. We must pass this bill to protect California,
bring water to our communities, and maintain California’s role as a vital
source of American food production.”
Congressman Paul Cook is a member of the House Natural Resources, Armed
Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees, Cook served as an infantry officer
and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his
time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Heart.