Governor Announces Drought Legislation
Bi-Partisan Announcement Bodes Well for Aid Package
Governor Jerry Brown convened a news conference Thursday to announce emergency legislation to help Californians deal with the effects of the four-year drought that is gripping the state and impacting everything from agriculture and energy production to the potential for devastating wildfires.
“This unprecedented drought continues with no signs yet of letting up,” said Governor Brown. “The programs funded by the actions announced today will provide direct relief to workers and communities most impacted by these historic dry conditions.”
The Governor was joined in the news conference by Senate President Pro-Tempore Kevin de Leon, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and their Republican counterparts, Minority Leaders Senator Bob Huff and Assemblymember Kristin Olsen. Both Senator Huff and Assemblymember Olsen said they want to see the specific language in the legislation, but expressed support for the concept.
The legislation includes more than $1 billion for local drought relief and infrastructure projects to make the state’s water infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events. The package accelerates $128 million in expenditures from the Governor’s budget to provide direct assistance to workers and communities impacted by drought and to implement the Water Action Plan. It also includes $272 million in Proposition 1 Water Bond funding for safe drinking water and water recycling and accelerates $660 million from the Proposition 1E for flood protection in urban and rural areas. Lastly, the package creates a first-of –its-kind office to help disproportionately impacted communities respond to their water challenges and access state resources.
For more details, please see the Governor’s news release here.