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Assemblymember Yamada urges federal officials “Nothing about us without us”

Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 2:45 pm

From Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada’s office:

“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) attended a public meeting today hosted by the Department of the Interior to discuss California water challenges. The meeting accomplished 3 key pieces of reform:
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by six federal agencies reestablishing federal leadership on Bay-Delta issues.
• The Interior and Commerce Departments requested that the National Academy of Sciences conduct further scientific analysis of the Bay-Delta ecosystem.
• Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called on Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass to hold a special legislative session on California’s water crisis.

“Today’s announcement of the California Bay-Delta Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Army underscores the Obama Administration’s high-level focus on the Delta. My hope is that those most affected by changes to the Delta—many of whom are my constituents—will no longer be excluded from the discussions and negotiations on water policy and finance. In particular, I look forward to providing meaningful input during the near-term development of the Federal Work Plan led by this high-level federal team,” said Assemblymember Yamada.

The meeting today brought together federal, state and local representatives to discuss the water crisis in California. The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Chair Nancy Sutley of the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ), Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Congressmembers Mike Thompson and Doris Matsui, along with other state representatives and top Obama officials.

“I requested a special session on the state’s water crisis earlier this month while the Legislature was rushing to pass the six bill water package, including a water bond, by the end of Legislative Session. This package would have greatly impacted the Delta communities without including their representatives in the discussions. I was gratified to hear that the Obama Administration agrees that a special session is needed,” Yamada also said.

For further information on the meeting and to find associated documents, please visit www.doi.gov.

In addition, the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee will be holding an informational hearing on 2009 Delta/Water Legislation on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 4202 of the State Capitol.”

September 30, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack, Legislation - State & Federal

Comments

One Response to “Assemblymember Yamada urges federal officials “Nothing about us without us””

  1. Linda Morse-Robertson on September 30th, 2009 9:30 pm

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for getting the Feds to realize that we, the people, in the Delta, have had NO REPRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!!

    Here’s hoping that it will change the current direction to one of honor, not the deceit we have expreienced to date. Here’s hoping the back door deals STOP and that the water brokers that are trying to rape our system can no longer do so. Well done, BRAVO!

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