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Rep. Devin Nunes today made the following statement on the House Floor during consideration of H.R. 1145 – the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act:

“Madame Speaker,

To put it bluntly, the people of the San Joaquin Valley are experiencing an economic disaster the scope of which is unprecedented. In fact, it has surpassed the worse levels of the Great Depression. Indeed, over the past two years, I have pleaded with federal and state officials, and my colleagues in Congress to act to avoid this disaster.

In January of 2008, I testified before the Water and Power Subcommittee and demanded that Congress overturn a court imposed drought in California.

In February and again in June of 2008, I asked Governor Schwarzenegger and Interior Secretary Kempthorne to declare states of emergency and focus state and federal resources to develop new water supplies to avoid an economic disaster.

In July of 2008, I again returned to the Water and Power Subcommittee to testify about the unfolding disaster and pleaded that the committee take action to increase the water supply.

Despite my pleas, this Congress, our President and even the Governor of my home state, have done nothing.

Unemployment in the San Joaquin Valley now averages close to 20%, with some communities nearing 50%. An economic catastrophe is not looming. For the people of the San Joaquin Valley – it is here and it is the direct result of government action – namely the use of precious water resources in an attempt to value fish over families.

There is a solution to the poverty and economic havoc confronting the San Joaquin Valley – but it doesn’t come from a new study of an old problem. Relief won’t come from a long-winded stump speech, a chant at a water rally or an impassioned speech on this floor. No, my friends, relief comes from action – legislative action by this body.

I have introduced a “no cost” bill that would provide immediate relief to suffering Californians.

My colleagues might recall that I requested a provision be included in the massive economic stimulus packages this Congress enacted earlier this year. My requests were ignored.

Just last week, Secretary of the Interior Salazar, announced $260 million in stimulus projects to address the water crisis in California, but none of these projects will mitigate the effects of the disaster in the San Joaquin Valley.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle should be outraged. They expressed outrage for the last administration’s alleged failure to deal with the consequences of Katrina, but they have said nothing about the current administration’s failure to undertake a single act to address this ongoing disaster.

The folks in the San Joaquin Valley have had to resort to finding assistance from food banks.

Just recently, after waiting two hours in line – Kristian Reyes, age 3 on the left and his brother Kelvin Reyes, age 5 – were turned away from a food bank.

Let me make it extremely clear – we are not looking for a billion dollar bailout – we aren’t even asking for one single dollar. All we need is this Congress to move emergency legislation which would allow the delta pumps to return to historic export levels.

Unfortunately, the underlying bill does nothing to resolve this crisis. Therefore, we have to resort to offering an Motion to Recommit that directs the President to account for the economic impacts of cutting off water to families and dedicating this precious resource to a three inch minnow called a Delta smelt.

This is absolutely ridiculous. It is a national disgrace that the breadbasket of the world cannot feed the people that live and work there.

As I have said in the past, a government that is unable to provide its citizens access to reliable water supplies has failed – we need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

It is time to stop valuing fish over families. Pass the Motion to Recommit and send a message to the people of the San Joaquin Valley that at a minimum, you are willing to own up to the problem.”