Washington, D.C. (December 9, 2014) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014 with a bipartisan vote of 229-182. The bill temporarily reduces government red tape in order to supply the maximum quantity of water to agriculture, municipal industrial and refuge service contractors and State Water Project contractors.

Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) along with Western Caucus Member and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statements in response to the announcement:

"This administration has put special interest demands ahead of Western citizens, which has exacerbated drought conditions causing crops to turn into fields of weeds, unemployment to skyrocket, and the price of food around the country to increase," said Chairman Pearce. "Declining American food production has caused increased imports from China and other countries that do not have adequate food safety requirements, which has led to serious health concerns. The bill passed today will help preserve the livelihoods of California farmers who put food on American tables without harming any species. By failing to address this issue now, we would not only be hurting California farmers and the thousands they employ, but every American family who relies on safe, healthy, and affordable groceries. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly act on this commonsense piece of legislation."

"Americans suffering in California under a historic drought need immediate relief and this critical legislation can provide that relief from some of the man-made causes," said Chairman Lummis. "There are houses, towns and even entire cities without water that stand to receive relief. And as we rush some water to the farmers as well, we can also provide relief to tens of thousands of livelihoods. The American farmer puts safe and affordable food on the tables for American families all across the country, but now government bureaucracy and red tape is weighing down these same farmers and these families suffering in California. We must do better."

"Real people are hurting because of the drought in California," said Western Caucus member and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23). "Farmers can't water their fields. In some towns in the Central Valley, unemployment is above 30 percent. Food prices are going up across the country, straining already stretched incomes. 'Food grows where water flows,' signs say throughout California, and the water isn't flowing. We have to stop these policies that automatically choose the well-being of fish above the well-being of families. I urge California's Senators to think of their constituents. Think of the families struggling to buy food at higher prices. Think of the farmers who can't water their fields. Vote for the people, and pass this bill."