A coalition of more than 100 farm-related organizations in the American West is urging the U.S. Senate to merge a number of drought bills into a "single, effective compromise bill."
The coalition, which includes the California Farm Bureau Federation, is seeking more flexibility in environmental regulations, more funding for water storage projects and streamlined permitting processes.
The path to get something passed by the end of the year won't be easy.
The coalition noted in a letter to the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that major drought legislation offered by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, and a separate drought bill presented by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., take "sometimes starkly different approaches."
The coalition said the differences "should not be irreconcilable."
The Valadao bill, calling for more water storage, is more in line with coalition goals than the Feinstein measure, which puts more emphasis on conservation.
Source: www.hanfordsentinel.com