On Tuesday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City) announced his intention to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives that would address California’s prolonged drought.

The bill, which mirrors legislation introduced by Senator Feinstein, would authorize $1.3 billion for long-term water solutions and short-term drought relief, all without violating California’s landmark environmental laws.

“The California drought legislation that has passed the House of Representatives so far would cause irreparable damage to the ecology of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, all without creating the long-term storage and infrastructure California needs to ensure the reliability of our water supply,” said Garamendi.

“I am introducing this legislation because the House has not done its job to find a solution that treats all stakeholders fairly while respecting our environmental laws. Sen. Feinstein’s legislation does exactly that. It is the result of a lengthy process of discussions, negotiations and compromise, and California cannot afford to wait,” Garamendi said.

He added, “I do not believe it is enough to simply hope that Congress won’t make the problem worse. California needs help, and we need to restart the conversation in Washington about finding a solution that works for everyone.”

Sen. Feinstein and Congressman Garamendi had been part of a bicameral group of legislators working to negotiate a bipartisan solution to California’s water infrastructure issues.

Garamendi is currently recruiting additional co-sponsors for the legislation.