Bill Text: CA SJR25 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Water: agriculture.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 10-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-06-26 - Referred to Com. on W.,P. & W. [SJR25 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SJR25-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SJR 25	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Vidak
   (Coauthors: Senators Berryhill, Cannella, Fuller, Gaines, and
Nielsen)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bigelow, Conway, Logue, Olsen, and
Salas)

                        MAY 6, 2014

   Relative to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 25, as introduced, Vidak. Water: agriculture.
   This measure would call on the President of the United States to
use his executive authority to find innovative ways to provide more
water for agriculture in California.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, According to the Department of Food and Agriculture,
California's 80,500 farms and ranches produced over $44.7 billion in
agricultural products in 2012; and
   WHEREAS, California agriculture relies on an adequate water supply
system for irrigation; and
   WHEREAS, California is currently experiencing drought conditions
that have not been experienced in the state since 1976 and 1977; and
   WHEREAS, As a result of the current drought conditions, no water
has been allocated from the Central Valley Project to agricultural
users, and only 5 percent of water from the State Water Project has
been allocated to agricultural users; and
   WHEREAS, The agricultural industry estimates that without any
additional water provided for agriculture, the current drought will
result in the fallowing or removal of trees on 800,000 acres of
agricultural land, an economic loss of $7.48 billion for the state,
as well as the loss of tens of thousands of farmworker jobs; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the President of
the United States to use his executive authority to find innovative
ways to provide more water for agriculture in California; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of
the Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the
Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate
distribution.