George Radanovich RSS Articles

Radanovich Applauds State Legislature for Passage of Water Bond

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement on the historic $11.14 billion water bond and legislative package passed by the California state legislature early yesterday morning.

“I commend the work of the legislature, particularly Senator Cogdill and Assemblyman Villines, as well as Governor Schwarzenegger for their tireless efforts on this historic and vital water bond. Our state’s economy is absolutely dependent on a certain and steady supply of water to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Agriculture is one of the state’s largest economic engines, an engine that runs on water and is currently sputtering due to an aging water infrastructure and overzealous environmental regulations.

“The water bond that the state legislature passed is an enormous step in the right direction when it comes to providing water certainty to San Joaquin Valley growers and farmers. While I would have liked to have seen explicit language for Temperance Flat Dam included in the three billion dollar surface storage provision, any new surface storage is a positive development.

“One of the most encouraging aspects of the measure is the long term ability to build a conveyance system around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that will help ease many of the pumping restrictions currently holding water from the Valley. I have been saying for years that the combination needed to dramatically improve California’s water delivery and infrastructure is Temperance Flat Dam, a peripheral canal around the Delta, and Sites Reservoir—it seems as if Sacramento has finally woken up and started moving in that direction.

“The last few years have been extremely difficult for families in the Valley. Environmental restrictions on water, coupled with low rainfall and a struggling state and national economy have created a perfect storm that has brought devastating unemployment levels to our communities. While this water bond provides hope for long term solutions to California’s broken water system, we must keep fighting for the short term fixes to get water back to our Valley.”

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Radanovich Teams up on Bill to Demand Comprehensive Re-consultation of all Delta Stressors

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich, joined Reps. Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) to introduced bipartisan legislation today that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers.

Specifically, the legislation calls for a “re-consultation” of the biological opinions on Salmon and Delta Smelt that have resulted in curtailments of water deliveries to the Valley. The biological opinions place unfair blame on Valley farmers and the pumps that deliver their water as the cause for declines in the Delta fish populations. The Congressmen’s legislation would require a review of all factors affecting the survival of endangered species in the Delta, rather than simply focusing on cutting back water deliveries to the Valley.

“For almost two years, we have seen environmentalists use questionable science and a tunnel-vision approach to understanding the Delta ecosystem in an effort to curtail San Joaquin Valley agriculture production — something this legislation seeks to fix.” said Congressman Radanovich. “The harsh realities of prioritizing the rights of fish above the rights of people have brought farmers to the brink of extinction during an already difficult economic environment. I’m proud to join my colleagues in an effort to try to correct some of the many fallacies promoted by the current biological opinions that are dramatically reducing Delta water deliveries to hard working Valley families.”

“I have consistently maintained that the pumps are not the problem. It is both unfair and illogical to blame our farmers for all of the environmental problems facing the Delta ecosystem,” said Congressman Cardoza. “The simple fact is that there are likely multiple factors contributing to these species’ decline, including pollution and invasive species of predatory fish. It is in the best interest of all of California that we determine what these causes are and establish a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues.”

Under the legislation, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation would be required to conduct an analysis of the Delta that would identify and analyze waste water discharges, toxic urban runoff, industrial discharge, major power plant water diversions and discharges, private water diversions and discharges, and invasive species.

The legislation further requires that each of the identified factors be quantified and ranked in order of its impact on the survival of the protected Delta fish.

“The decision to focus solely on the export of water to the San Joaquin Valley was a wrong and shortsighted decision, and it has devastated the livelihoods of thousands of my constituents,” Congressman Costa said. “For the last 18 months, I have repeatedly said that there is not one single cause for the decline in overall Delta health or the decline in the fisheries. It was a costly failure with no definable benefit toward improving species recovery. This legislation will ensure all environmental factors are taken into account when dealing with species recovery, and not simply put the blame on my farmers, farm workers and the farm communities in our Valley.”

“Time and time again our Valley farmers have been forced to bear the brunt of environmental policies and regulations,” said Congressman Cardoza. “The fact is they are responsible for feeding our nation and we have a responsibility to work with them, not against them. This legislation requires the federal government to finally take a realistic and complete look at the entire Delta ecosystem and provide a legitimate means of addressing these issues. Valley growers and farmers have suffered long enough.”

To read the complete text of the bill click here.

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After Gov Waives Environmental Restrictions for NFL Stadium, Radanovich Seeks Parity for Farmers

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today, after learning that Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill to exempt a new NFL stadium from California environmental regulations, sent the following letter to the Governor requesting that he ask President Obama to convene the God Squad and exempt the Delta Pumps from the Endangered Species Act. A copy of the signed letter is attached.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As you are well aware, the San Joaquin Valley is currently suffering from a man-made drought, brought on by overzealous environmental regulations that place the rights of fish above the rights of people. Agriculture production makes the Valley one of California’s largest economic contributors—literally feeding our economy as we feed the rest of the nation with our bountiful produce. However, due to Endangered Species Act restrictions on the Delta Pumps, the economic engine that is California agriculture is about to come to a grinding halt. This does not have to be the case.

As my colleagues and I have asked you to do many times, you, as governor of California can request the convening of the God Squad—a cadre of federal officials who have the authority to waive the Endangered Species Act if the restrictions are found to cause excessive destruction to jobs and the economy. The protection of the Delta Smelt—the three inch minnow that is responsible for the Delta Pumps being shut down during planting season and thereby killing California agriculture—certainly meets this qualification. The silence of your response has been deafening.

Today you signed a bill exempting the construction of a new National Football League (NFL) stadium in Los Angeles from California environmental regulations. While I support your efforts to override environmental regulations when it is necessary to do so, I do not understand why you have been unwilling to ask the President to do the same for our farmers. I am concerned that this sends the message that environmental protections are less important than football but more important than 40,000 jobless farmers and farm workers, towns with unemployment rates of 40 percent, rising crime rates and mile long food lines that would be ironic if they weren’t so depressing.

In your own words regarding the signing of this bill:

“This is the best kind of action state government can create: action that cuts red tape, generates jobs, is environmentally friendly and brings a continued economic boost to California.”

I agree with you, cutting environmental red tape will generate jobs and boost our economy in the case of the NFL stadium. That same red tape is preventing our farmers from planting crops this year, which will result in the loss of $2 billion of income—apparently enough to buy at least two football stadiums.

Mr. Governor, if waiving environmental regulations is good enough for the NFL fans of Los Angeles, why is it not good enough for the hard working farmers of the San Joaquin Valley?

Again, on behalf of my constituents whose livelihoods depend on water, and who want nothing more than to farm their land and feed our country, I urgently request that you ask President Obama to convene the God Squad for the purposes of examining the Endangered Species Acts restrictions as it applies to the Delta Smelt. We are eagerly awaiting your response.

Sincerely,
/s/
GEORGE RADANOVICH
Member of Congress

Valley water amendments fail

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

San Joaquin Valley lawmakers failed Wednesday in efforts to turn a San Francisco Bay Area water recycling bill toward the Valley's advantage.

Following heated debate and some political gamesmanship, a key House committee blocked Valley representatives from trying to add irrigation delivery provisions to the Bay Area bill.

The unadorned bill comes to the House floor today.

"If we're going to have a bill that affects the Bay Area, we ought to have a bill that helps the rest of the state, too," said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia.

Nunes and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, brought five separate amendments designed to increase irrigation deliveries or, at the least, send a political signal about the Valley's water shortages.

The proposals included suspending the Endangered Species Act and speeding construction of certain water-delivery projects.

The House Rules Committee blocked the proposed water-delivery amendments by a series of largely party-line 6-5 votes. Rep. Dennis Cardoza of Merced was the only Democrat to support bringing the amendments to the floor for a vote of the entire House.

The Rules Committee had previously blocked most other San Joaquin Valley water-delivery proposals, primarily written by Nunes.

Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, testified that the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act was an uncontroversial measure that enjoyed widespread state support and deserved routine approval without being burdened by unrelated Valley water provisions.

The legislation authorizes federal funding for water recycling work in Contra Costa County and the cities of Petaluma, Redwood City and Palo Alto.

On Sept. 30, Miller's bill came up for a vote under rules designed for noncontroversial measures. Led by Nunes, House Republicans blocked it from securing the two-thirds vote necessary.

Democrats Deny Radanovich Amendments to Bring Water to San Joaquin Valley

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today offered two amendments to H.R. 2442, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009, which altered the bill to ensure that it would have brought vital water to the San Joaquin Valley. H.R. 2442, authored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA), spends $38 million on water projects for the San Francisco Bay area while the San Joaquin Valley is left dry.

“H.R. 2442 is nothing more than another water giveaway to bay area environmentalists,” said Radanovich. “My two amendments would have guaranteed water flows to the San Joaquin Valley for our agriculture production that feeds the entire nation; but yet again, radical environmentalist out to destroy California agriculture prevented my amendments from even being allowed a vote on the House floor.”

The first Radanovich amendment would have inserted a provision that prevented any of the new water project authorizations in H.R. 2442 from being implemented until the Secretary of the Interior certifies that the Two Gates project in the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta is complete.

The second amendment would have inserted Rep. Radanovich’s previously introduced legislation, H.R. 856, the California Drought Alleviation Act (CDAA), to the end of H.R. 2442. The CDAA would temporarily suspend the Endangered Species Act restrictions on the Delta Pumps during times of drought emergency until such conditions are alleviated.

Both amendments were defeated in the House Committee on Rules.

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Radanovich hears residents' take on health-care reform

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

With both houses of Congress moving forward on health-care reform legislation, Rep. George Radanovich held a town hall meeting Monday afternoon in this west-side community to hear from constituents on the controversial issue.

In many ways, it was a kinder, gentler version of a town hall meeting held in August by Radanovich's congressional colleague, Visalia's Devin Nunes.

A few of the 100 or so attendees had questions, but most only had opinions.

Some even had written talking points, and sometimes the comments varied far from health reform -- to issues such as war or the role of government in people's lives.

Radanovich, a Mariposa Republican, didn't cut off anybody. The only sign of rancor was an occasional groan or a short barb -- mostly from conservatives in the crowd reacting to a comment in support of a government-run health-care option. The only commonality between the political left and right concerned the time and place for the meeting -- a Kerman warehouse on a Monday afternoon.

Fresno resident Camille Russell asked Radanovich to schedule another meeting -- in Fresno, and in the evening -- so more people could attend.

"Got the message about the time of day," Radanovich said at the end. His staffers said a Fresno town hall is in the works.

Still, some asked: Why now?

"It is kind of odd, because the big town hall meetings happened during the [August congressional] recess, when they were supposed to be happening," said Thomas Holyoke, an assistant professor of political science at California State University, Fresno.

Nunes' sometimes-raucous town hall was in mid-August, when angst was peaking and Republicans seemed to seize control of the debate.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is George Radanovich seems to be a couple of months behind everybody else," Holyoke said.

Though Holyoke questioned Radanovich's timing, he said having a meeting now might be more appropriate, because the legislation now being debated in Congress is more developed than what was on the table in August. After the meeting, Radanovich echoed that.

"Nothing is really settled yet," he said in an interview. The legislation "is changing all the time."

It was clear from Radanovich's opening statement that he opposed the legislation -- though he did say reform is needed.

A majority of those present Monday agreed with him.

"I don't think we should have a right to health care," said Fresno resident Jim Verner, who said he lived in the United Kingdom, where government programs "destroyed a sense of responsibility" in that country.

But not all felt that way.

Fresno resident Hank Dwyer said a government-run system is the best -- and would keep small businesses alive because they wouldn't lose quality workers to larger companies that offer health benefits.

In the end, the comments offered to Radanovich are likely moot, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

"GOP House members have no influence on this bill," he said. "It's a 100% Democratic piece of legislation. The town halls were mainly Kabuki theater, and I'm not sure they did a lot of good, or swayed many members one way or the other. This will be a party vote in the end."

MEDIA ADVISORY: Rep. Radanovich Announces Healthcare Town Hall Meeting

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today announced that he will hold a healthcare town hall meeting for constituents of California’s 19th Congressional District in Kerman, CA.

Who: Congressman George Radanovich

What: Healthcare town hall meeting for constituents of California's 19th Congressional District.

Where: C-MEC Building
1401 S. Madera Ave.
Kerman, CA 93630

When: Monday, October 12, 2009
Doors open @ 3:00pm PST
Event @ 3:30-5:00pm PST

The purpose of the town hall meeting is to give Rep. Radanovich’s constituents an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts about the current healthcare reform debate taking place in Congress. Rep. Radanovich will provide a brief outline of the reform proposals, share his ideas for responsible healthcare reform and answer constituent questions.

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Next up, major delta legislation

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The House on Thursday gave final approval to a $33.5 billion energy and water bill, a snap compared to a future Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta package some lawmakers now envision.

The appropriations bill easily approved Thursday funds projects throughout the Central Valley, including delta levee studies and regional flood control. Its final passage was never in doubt, as it's one of a dozen bills needed to run the federal government in fiscal 2010.

The Senate is expected to take up the measure next week. If passed, it would be only the second of 12 annual spending bills to reach President Barack Obama's desk.

But even as lawmakers were approving the energy and water bill, which includes $40 million for restoration of the delta and San Francisco Bay, they were starting to anticipate a potential new bill focused strictly on the vulnerable Bay-Delta region. If it flies, the prospective delta legislation could literally reshape California.

"The delta estuary has enormous national significance," Democratic Sen. Diane
Feinstein reiterated Thursday, and "it is seriously at risk."

Feinstein first revealed her intentions for a comprehensive delta bill in a brief interview Wednesday with the San Francisco Chronicle.

California lawmakers including Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, have quietly been discussing what lessons might be gleaned from previous environmental restoration efforts such as those for the Everglades, Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes.

These informal discussions over the past several months will now have to accelerate to meet Feinstein's goal of introducing a delta bill by April.

"I think it can be a very helpful effort to provide the resources necessary," Costa said Thursday, stressing that "the precedent has been established" on some of the nation's other major environmental endeavors.

Boxer added Thursday that she supports "efforts to find comprehensive solutions to the water crisis that respect all stakeholders." And Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, said he was pleased that Feinstein was "putting her attention to this issue."

Still, a deal won't be easy.

Farmers and their allies insist the Endangered Species Act should be waived so that more irrigation water can be pumped. This is a deal killer for environmentalists. Radanovich, while generally praising Feinstein's efforts, stressed that a delta bill "still doesn't take care of the agricultural season next year," while Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, dismissed Feinstein's past authorship of California environmental laws.

"I've never seen her write one that works yet," Nunes said Thursday, denouncing Feinstein's supporters as "radicals."

At the same time, Nunes added that "I believe that she wants to fix the problems." He noted that the energy and water bill approved 308-114 by the House on Thursday included a provision he worked on with Feinstein, permitting the Army Corps of Engineers to buy 24 acres in Tulare County for improvements to Success Dam.

Radanovich: Valley Agriculture Needs Water, Not Committees and Studies

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement after participating in the Department of Interior’s California water forum.

“Without a doubt, the long term solutions to solve California’s water problems are a heavy lift and I appreciate Secretary Salazar and Senator Feinstein’s commitment to the issue. However, what is needed right now is an immediate, short term solution for San Joaquin Valley agriculture. Unfortunately, we are no closer to short term solutions than we were a year ago.

“It’s time to get our priorities straight and put people before fish. If the Department of Interior thinks government committees and lengthy studies are necessary, let’s focus on those efforts after we take care of our farmer’s economic future.

“In order to move California’s water supply, storage and infrastructure forward, the three major stakeholders—agriculture, urban and environmental—need to be moving together, equally gaining and sacrificing. Today, that is not the case—environmental and urban water users dominate the landscape, receiving 90 percent of their priorities, leaving California agriculture on the short end of the stick.

“Valley agriculture needs to see immediate results, particularly when it comes to the interim projects like Two Gates and the Canal Intertie that provide a bridge to long term water solutions to for California.

“While I applaud the efforts to achieve a guaranteed long term water supply for all California, the short term effort to produce an interim solution for agriculture gets an ‘F’.”

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Radanovich Supports Sen. DeMint Amendment to Defund Water Restrictions to San Joaquin Valley

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today wrote a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asking for her support for an amendment offered by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) to FY2010 Interior Appropriations Act restricting funds for one year from being used to cut off water to the San Joaquin Valley. A copy of the signed letter is attached.

September 22, 2009

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Feinstein:

I am writing to express my full support for Senator Jim DeMint’s amendment to H.R. 2996, which prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from using funds to restrict, reduce, or reallocate water as determined in the Fish and Wildlife Biological Opinion of December 15, 2008 and the National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion of June 4, 2009.

As you personally witnessed during your August visit to the San Joaquin Valley, the actions prescribed in the biological opinions are devastating rural communities in the Valley and destroying what was once a thriving agricultural region. This amendment is an immediate solution to the regulatory drought brought on by these biological opinions. Both biological opinions are heavily critiqued and litigated by water districts and agricultural organizations for not using the highest quality information, failing to meet federal guidelines, and issuing recommendations that are conflicting and not supported by data in the biological opinions.

As California’s regulatory drought gains national attention, enactment of this amendment will bring relief to the people and communities suffering from 40 percent unemployment levels, food lines, and hundreds of thousands of acres of fallowed land. Unfortunately interim projects, such as Two Gates, which could bring relief from the pending restrictions in the biological opinions, will not be complete until 2010. This leaves the San Joaquin Valley again at the mercy of the biological opinions for another year.

I strongly urge you to support this amendment to H.R. 2996 offered by Senator DeMint to prohibit funds from being used to restrict, reduce, or reallocate water away from the San Joaquin Valley. This amendment would allow a small reprieve to the economic and agricultural destruction that the San Joaquin Valley has been in the midst of for the past 12 months.

Sincerely,

George Radanovich
Member of Congress