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Congressman Nunes today commented on the failure of Democrat leaders to support passage of an amendment that would suspend a recent Obama Administration ruling ordering the diversion of as much as 500,000 acre feet of water from dry San Joaquin Valley communities.

“Environmentalists are tripping over themselves to preserve every species that crawls, squirms, swims or flies but they are content to let humans die. And now they have a government that agrees with them. This Congress and our President have chosen fish over people in my state,” said Rep. Devin Nunes.

It has been 628 days since Congressman Nunes first asked Democrat Congressional leaders to respond to the water crisis facing California. Despite the clear evidence of suffering, un-paralleled unemployment rates and the looming destruction of San Joaquin Valley communities, no assistance has been offered. Indeed, in a recent trip to California the Secretary of Interior specifically avoided visiting the impacted region.

“It’s time to ask the Speaker ‘how many studies do you need? How many starving families and devastated communities will it take to get your attention?’ We need Congress to do its job. This government is failing to uphold its Constitutional oath to the people and I will not stop fighting until the voices of my constituents are heard,” said Rep. Nunes.

The Nunes amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill would deprive the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) the necessary funding to implement a recent biological opinion that will deprive dry San Joaquin Valley communities’ access to dwindling water supplies.

According to NMFS, valley water use is contributing to declines in delta smelt, salmon, sturgeon and killer whales. However, the agency failed to comply with public comment rules and did not conduct and Environmental Impact Study as required by the Endangered Species Act. Valley water users are suing the federal government to overturn the decision in court.