Rep. LaMalfa Introduces Resolution to Repeal Longfin Smelt Listing in the ESA
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution, along with several of his California colleagues, to repeal the Biden Administration’s listing of the longfin smelt as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. If enacted into law, this resolution would halt the proposed designation of critical habitat for this fish species, as well as ensure California’s water remains available for those who need it most, families and farmers.
“This listing is just another example of out-of-touch environmental policies making it harder to store and deliver water in California. We are already dealing with a maze of arcane and oftentimes conflicting environmental regulations that make it nearly impossible to manage our water supply effectively for Californians up and down the state. This is in addition to permanent, mandatory water rationing imposed on households by California regulators. This listing adds another layer of bureaucracy, sending up to 200,000 acre-feet of water to the ocean each year, likely from Shasta Lake or Lake Oroville, instead of storing it for future use or making it available to Californians. This resolution repeals this unnecessary listing and ensures we can focus on solutions that support our farmers, strengthen our economy, and secure a reliable water supply for our future,” said LaMalfa.
This designation, driven by litigation from an environmental group, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the Biden Administration threatens California’s water supply by imposing new restrictions on the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). This listing resulted in subsequent burdensome requirements imposed on the CVP that will divert even more water to the Pacific Ocean instead of supplying farms and families across the state. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can review and potentially block such regulations within a specific timeframe, and it drops the usual 60-vote requirement in the Senate for these resolutions.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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