Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – An amendment authored by Congressman McClintock and a bi-partisan amendment co-authored with Congressman Jared Huffman have been adopted by the House of Representatives to H.R. 2685 - FY16 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today adopted an amendment by Congressman Tom McClintock to forbid federal agencies from buying up scarce water during California's catastrophic drought in order to release it into rivers to meet environmental requirements. The amendment was subsequently adopted today as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 226 – 9, and final passage of the Appropriations Act on a vote of 230 –7.

Congressman McClintock is very troubled by pulse flows proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation from the New Melones Reservoir for environmental purposes. As the reservoir is only one-quarter full – a dangerously low level for the start of the dry season, these flows threaten to deprive residents of Calaveras County of their drinking water supply. Congressman McClintock discussed the situation with Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan Lopez by telephone and sent a letter to follow-up.