April E-News

Save Our Water

In the midst of the worst drought on record the Bureau of Reclamation has released nearly 10 billion gallons of water for environmental "pulse flows" from the New Melones Dam.  

Congressman McClintock discussed the issue on the House floor this month, noting that the amount of water released is enough to meet the annual residential needs of a population of 300,000 people:

Save Our Water
House Chambers, Washington, D.C.
April 22, 2015

California is now in its fourth year of the worst drought on record.  Hydrologists estimate it is the worst drought in 1,200 years.  The Sierra Snowpack today is just six percent of normal.  Many of our reservoirs are nearly empty.  One of our largest, the New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River, is at just 22 percent of its capacity – with the rainy season now officially over.

Water rationing is now in effect in many communities.  Many Californians face $500 fines if they take too long in the shower or spill a gallon of water on their sidewalks. And yet in the last several weeks, the Bureau of Reclamation has released about 10 BILLION gallons of what precious little water remains behind the New Melones Dam in order to nudge a handful of steelhead trout toward the ocean.

That’s enough water to meet the annual residential needs of a human population of 300,000.  How many fish are affected?

Biologists estimate that it will affect the offspring of about 29 steelhead trout in the Stanislaus River – a few hundred smolts almost all of which will be eaten by predators long before they reach the ocean.  And that assumes they won’t swim toward the ocean on their own – as they have been doing without our helpful assistance since time immemorial.

"Save Our Water" Click to Watch

Click to read full House floor statement or click above to watch.

Support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)

International trade agreements are the means by which nations establish the terms of their trade. This often requires intricate negotiations with trading partners, and our trading partners must be confident that the United States is bargaining in good faith and that what is decided at the bargaining table will not be revoked or redefined at a congressional table.

The Congressman this month discussed Trade Promotion Authority on the House floor, noting how it simply continues a time-proven process through which Congress exercises its authority to regulate commerce at the beginning of negotiations:

Trade Promotion Authority
House Chambers, Washington, D.C.
April 30, 2015

It’s said that when the plan for the ancient city of Alexandria was presented to the great Alexander, his master builder pointed with pride to an ingenious way to honor the city’s namesake.  All of the city’s water supply would be channeled to a great central fountain featuring a giant statue of Alexander, and then flow from it to the surrounding city.

When Alexander seemed unimpressed, his architect explained the symbolism: Water – the life’s blood of the city – would flow from Alexander to Alexandria.

Alexander replied, “Water is NOT the life’s blood of a city.  COMMERCE is the life’s blood of a city.” The statue of Alexander was placed instead at the entrance to the great Port of Alexandria.  As it is with city states it is with nation states.  Every nation that engages in trade prospers from it.  Every nation that fails to trade, fails to prosper.

Support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)

Click to read full House statement or click above to watch.

Budget Conference Report 

The House approved the Budget Conference Report on April 30th. Congressman McClintock delivered remarks in support of the measure on the House floor:

Budget Conference Report
House Chambers, Washington, D.C.
April 30, 2015

With this vote, our nation is about to take its first step away from financial ruin and toward fiscal solvency and prosperity.    

Our nation’s debt has literally doubled in eight years, now exceeding the size of our entire economy.  

That debt requires us to make interest payments of $230 billion this year – nearly $2,000 from an average family’s taxes -- just to rent the money we’ve already spent.  On our current path, that burden will triple within the decade, eclipsing our entire defense budget.  Medicare and Social Security will collapse just a few years after that.

Budget Conference Report

Click to read full House statement or click above to watch.

Federal Lands Subcommittee
Wildfire and Land Acquisition Hearing

Congressman McClintock is chair of the Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.  In April committee oversight hearings were conducted on the issues of wildfire prevention and federal land acquisitions.

During the wildfire hearing Congressman McClintock began his opening statement by noting a reduction in timber harvested on forest lands over the past thirty years and a concomitant increase in acreage destroyed by fire.  Click to read full opening statement or watch committee hearing.

At the federal land acquisition hearing the Congressman discussed the desire of government agencies to acquire more land amidst an already large and growing backlog of deferred maintenance on present land holdings currently approaching $20 billion.  Click to read full opening statement or watch committee hearing.

District Events

On April 7th Congressman McClintock held a town hall meeting at McBean Pavilion in Lincoln.  The Congressman's next town hall meeting will be held in Roseville on May 5th at 6:00 pm at the Sikh Community Hall, 1090 Main Street, Roseville.  Hope to see you there!

Lincoln Town Hall Meeting

On April 8th the Congressman spoke and answered questions at William Jessup University’s public policy forum in Rocklin.

Public Policy Forum, William Jessup University

On April 9th Congressman McClintock participated in the “Not in my City” event at Thunder Valley in Lincoln. The event, led by Courage Worldwide, is dedicating to stopping sex trafficking.

On April 11th the Congressman thanked some 200 volunteers for their efforts in maintaining the entrance to Folsom Lake State Park.

Tom Jennings of the Knights of Columbus receiving  a commendation from Congressman McClintock at Folsom Lake State Park.  Commendations were presented to both the St. Rose Catholic Church Knights of Columbus and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On April 18th the Congressman spoke to members of the Pacific Justice Institute in Newcastle.

On April 24th Congressman McClintock met with members of the Back Country Horsemen of America at their national board meeting in Sacramento. The Congressman outlined the work of the Federal Lands Subcommittee and listened to concerns from equestrians about access to trails in the Emigrant Wilderness. 

On April 25th the Congressman spoke to members of the Roseville/Rocklin Friends of the NRA at the Sunset Event Center in Rocklin.  The Congressman discussed 2nd Amendment issues.

On April 27th Congressman McClintock toured the Aerojet Rocketdyne facility in Rancho Cordova. The company is a major employer in the area and is involved in missile defense and space exploration.

Upcoming Town Hall Meeting

Congressman McClintock will host the following town hall meeting in Roseville:

Roseville Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
6:00 pm
Sikh Community Hall
1090 Main Street