“After receiving news from California that the State Water Project allocation for 2010 would be the lowest in history, a mere 5%, Congressman Devin Nunes began circulating a discharge petition for his bill, The Turn on the Pumps Act. If enacted, the legislation would restore the flow of water in California by waiving the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provisions responsible for Delta pumping restrictions. A discharge petition requires 218 signatures and would allow the Nunes legislation to be debated on the House Floor.

“The appalling news that the State of California is forecasting a 5% water allocation should come as no surprise. I have been warning of this disaster for years and have sought Congressional action to prevent it. However, Congressional Democrats have refused to allow a debate on the subject and have instead insisted that we study the problem more. Because of this inaction and due to the urgent need for relief, today I began circulating a discharge petition for The Turn on the Pumps Act. If enacted, my bill would immediately restore the flow of water to dry California communities.

Congressman Nunes has fought for nearly two years to gain passage of a temporary ESA waiver that would restore the flow of water to San Joaquin Valley communities while California’s long-term water supply challenges are addressed. His proposal to help the people of the San Joaquin Valley, as well as Southern California residents, is virtually identical to legislation that passed Congress without controversy in 2003.

The action by Congress in 2003 was bipartisan and swift. Water supplies in New Mexico were threatened due to ESA rules related to the silvery minnow : a three inch bait fish. In order to protect the water supply of Albuquerque, as well as other communities dependent on the Rio Grande River, a temporary ESA waiver was enacted.

Current water shortages in California, including the announcement of a 5% allocation for 2010, are the direct result of ESA protections related to the Delta smelt : a three inch bait fish. Federal and state pumping from the Delta have been severely restricted thanks to the flawed implementation of the ESA. This has resulted in the transformation of our nation’s most fertile farmland into desert and driven unemployment to historic levels.

“Over the past several years, we have witnessed the hypocrisy of Congressional leaders, including the Speaker, California’s senators and other senior Democrats, who supported the 2003 New Mexico language but refuse to do the same for their own constituents. The discharge petition I am circulating will highlight our supporters and expose our opponents. It will clearly show who in the House favors fish over families,\” said Rep. Nunes.”