More Than 90 Organizations Back Budget Trailer Bill to Modernize California’s Water Infrastructure, Support Jobs and Climate Resilience
From Californians for Water Security:
A diverse and powerful coalition of more than 90 labor unions, business leaders, water agencies, local chambers of commerce, and community organizations today announced their strong support for a budget trailer bill that would streamline processes to move the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) forward — a critical climate-resilience initiative to modernize California’s aging water infrastructure.
In a letter sent to Governor Newsom, legislative leadership, and members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees, the coalition urged lawmakers to back the proposal as a common-sense step to break through years of bureaucratic gridlock and costly delays, allowing informed decisions to be made about future construction investment.
Here is an excerpt of the letter:
This budget trailer bill is NOT about circumventing public engagement and review – this budget trailer bill is all about breaking through redundant, archaic processes that have resulted in endless delays, duplicative reviews, and millions upon millions of dollars of additive costs, while impeding the State’s ability to complete the DCP and other critical, needed infrastructure projects.
The DCP is a critical component of California’s plans to fortify the State Water Project (SWP) in preparation for the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. The SWP delivers water to more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland and is the engine that powers California’s economic success. However, this system is vulnerable to extreme weather and unpredictable precipitation patterns and, as a result, our state’s main water supply is at serious risk.
For decades, the DCP has been stalled by frivolous lawsuits and duplicative reviews. These are the universal problems facing major infrastructure throughout California, and foundational to why it is so difficult to do big things in our state and bring major infrastructure to completion.
The proposed trailer bill smooths administrative processes to help move the Delta Conveyance Project in a way that balances environmental protections while improving the efficiency of the review and approval process.
“For too long, attempts to modernize our water infrastructure have become mired in endless red tape and our processes have been exploited by unnecessary delay,” said Jennifer Barrera, President & CEO, California Chamber of Commerce. “The Governor’s proposal removes barriers to innovation and advancement for our state’s water system, while protecting the environment and meeting all regulatory and operational requirements.”
“This legislation is exactly the kind of forward-thinking leadership California needs to secure its water future,” said Jon Switalski, Executive Director of Rebuild SoCal Partnership. “For too long, critical infrastructure projects like the Delta Conveyance Project have been stalled by red tape and frivolous delay tactics. This bill takes decisive, measured steps to modernize the water infrastructure millions of Californians rely on every day.”
“As climate change casts a shadow of uncertainty, this question of affordability balanced with reliability looms squarely over the shoulders of disadvantaged communities who suffer a historic and disproportionate share of economic, health, and environmental burdens,” said Rick Callender, President, California Hawaii State Conference NAACP. “By moving the Delta Conveyance Project forward, California is making a commitment to protecting the State Water Project and the communities that rely on this system for their water. We applaud the Governor for moving this project forward.”
The DCP has been redesigned to be smaller and more environmentally responsive than past proposals, minimizing impacts to Delta communities while ensuring critical resilience against extreme drought, floods, and seismic threats.
The trailer bill would reduce duplicative reviews and streamline permitting without compromising environmental protections. It’s a practical fix to outdated procedures that have stalled major infrastructure across California.
About Californians for Water Security
CWS is a growing coalition of more than 12,000 California citizens and more than 80 organizations representing business leaders, labor, family farmers, local governments, water experts, infrastructure groups, taxpayer associations, and others who support the plan to fix California’s broken water distribution system. The coalition is waging an active advertising, grassroots lobbying, social media and public advocacy campaign to support this important project to fix our aging water distribution infrastructure and improve water reliability and security throughout the state.
For more information on Californians for Water Security, visit: www.watersecurityca.com
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