REP. GRAY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND CALIFORNIA WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Adam Gray (CA-13) introduced his End the California Water Crisis Package today, a suite of bills that would authorize additional California water storage projects, ease permitting restrictions, and create enforceable timelines for environmental review processes. The bills aim to expand California's water storage capacity by providing funding and technical support to both develop and maintain water infrastructure projects.

"A reliable water supply is essential for Valley families and our economy," said Rep. Gray. "My End the California Water Crisis Package aims to strengthen and grow California's water infrastructure so we can maintain dependable water supplies, reduce flood risks, and responsibly manage water flow to preserve our environment while unleashing agricultural production. The Valley is the nation's leading agricultural region, and these projects will help ensure we remain competitive and resilient as we face historic drought levels."

"California needs a modern water system that can meet today's challenges," said Rep. Costa. "These bills take meaningful steps to strengthen California's water future. By improving coordination, cutting through red tape, and investing in real projects on the ground, we can use all of our water tools in our toolbox to deliver more reliable water for families, farms, and communities across our state. This is about practical solutions that will make a difference for the Valley and all of California."

"Westlands Water District supports Congressman Gray's End the California Water Crisis legislative package because it moves us toward real solutions at a pivotal time for California water," said Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District. "This pragmatic approach will cut through years of red tape and accelerate projects that will make a difference now. By moving urgently needed conveyance, groundwater recharge, and surface water storage projects from concept to construction, this package will help create a more reliable, modern water supply for the communities, farms, and under resourced communities across the San Joaquin Valley.​ Solving California's water crisis takes all of us working together to reform a system that hasn't worked for people, food production, or the environment for far too long."

"This legislative package is exactly the type of pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach California needs," said Chris White, Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority. "Streamlining federal permitting and advancing long-overdue water infrastructure projects will help us capture, store, and move water when it's available-and improve reliability for agriculture, our local communities, and the environment. The Exchange Contractors appreciate Congressman Gray's leadership and his commitment to cutting red tape, modernizing federal coordination, and delivering the infrastructure investments our region needs to prepare for the future."

"The farms, communities, and ecosystems south of California's Bay-Delta have been ground zero for the impacts of unreliable water supplies for decades," said Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. "There is a clear solution - we must develop and deliver water supply projects faster and more affordably. This package of bills does just that - allocating federal funds and improving project delivery for a list of projects that will improve water supply reliability for one of the most important food producing regions in the world. We urge Congress to take swift action on these bills and applaud Congressman Gray for his leadership in tackling this issue head on."

"As we face ongoing water challenges in California's Central Valley, Congressman Gray's water legislative package represents a significant opportunity to enhance interagency coordination and cut through the permitting obstacles that hinder vital water projects," said Jason Phillips, CEO, Friant Water Authority. "By codifying the provisions of Executive Order 14181, our communities and farms can improve their access to the water resources they desperately need and along with the authorization of critical projects for improved water storage and management, the Central Valley would be poised to make meaningful progress in addressing our water needs and securing a sustainable future for our families and farms."

If enacted, the End the California Water Crisis Package would significantly improve water storage, clear the way for additional projects, and consequently encourage further economic and agricultural development across the region.

The End the California Water Crisis Package includes three bills to stabilize water access in the Central Valley:

• The Central Valley Water Solution Actwould authorize 21 projects south of the Delta to increase regional water storage capacity.
• The Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Actwould codify certain provisions of Executive Order 14181 to create interagency oversight cooperation and lower permitting barriers for California water projects.
• The Build Now Actwould create a one-year enforceable timeline for certain environmental reviews for any water project that would enhance Central Valley water storage expansion and place the burden of permitting delays on the federal government, rather than applicants.

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