Rendon Applauds Transparency in Historic Groundwater Legislation

Sacramento, CA – After Governor Brown signed the bills establishing groundwater management  across California, Assemblymember Anthony Rendon hailed the work of the legislators and the Governor who led the public debate that made this landmark legislation possible.

Rendon emphasized the importance of transparency: “The Governor and the Legislature working together, in an open and transparent process, is what makes important but controversial legislation succeed.  Public debate works.   The Legislature has worked on groundwater management bills for the last decade, and the Brown Administration proposed it back in the 70’s.  But, this year, the Governor, Senator Pavley, and Assemblymember Dickinson collaborated to bring everyone – including opponents – to the table for public debate and discussion.  They organized 14 public meetings and supported many other public discussions, through the California Water Foundation and the Association of California Water Agencies.  That transparency made the difference.”

Assemblymember Rendon Statement on Passage of New State Water Bond

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) released the following statement after passage of a new water bond to be considered by the voters in November.

“The passage this evening of the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 reflects the culmination of more than a year of work by the Assembly on crafting a water bond for the people of California that involved a groundbreaking open and transparent process.

Water Conservation Tips

SACRAMENTO – In this week’s Democratic radio address, Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife, shares some water saving tips.

This week’s English radio address is 1:08.

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Assemblymember Rendon Announces Amendments to Expand Water Storage

Increased Funding Will Create Jobs and Protect State from Future Droughts

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, announced today that he is proposing amendments to Assembly Bill (AB) 1331—the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Act of 2014—to increase funding for above and below ground water storage from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. The Assemblymember was joined by Central California lawmakers and industry trade groups who support the proposal.

“After holding hearings across the state, it’s clear that Californians want more storage in order to meet the growing water needs of our state,” said Assemblymember Rendon.  “This increase in water storage funding will help protect California from future droughts and provide tens of thousands of new jobs at the same time.”

Assemblymember Anthony Rendon: Assembly Working on California Water Crisis

SACRAMENTO – In this week’s Democratic Radio Address, Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) discusses California’s drought crisis and the Assembly water bond, which will include funding storage projects that will help protect California in the event of a future drought. Assemblymember Rendon has put forth Assembly Bill 1331, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Act of 2014, putting the Assembly’s water bond on the November 2014 ballot.

This week’s radio address is 2:27.
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Transcript:

Announcer:
“This is the Democratic weekly address from the Assembly Democratic Caucus.”

Assemblymember Anthony Rendon:
“This is Assemblymember Anthony Rendon.

California’s water system serves over 30 million people and irrigates 6 million acres of farmland.

2013 became the driest year on record in California. Almost 99% of California is considered abnormally dry or worse…almost two-thirds of the state is in extreme drought. Our Sierra snow packs that deliver a third of our fresh water are only one-tenth to one-fifth of normal.

Even without a drought, experts believe that we will be short 2 trillion gallons of water per year by 2020.

Many parts of our water infrastructure are well beyond design life and need upgrading or replacement. Federal water quality standards are not being met on over half of California's 3 million acres of lakes, bays, wetlands and estuaries. 30,000 miles of the state’s shoreline, streams and rivers do not meet federal water quality goals. 

Right now there are many places in California where residents rely on bottled water because their water is not safe to drink.  

The water crisis also threatens California’s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry that relies on 80% of the state’s water supply. 

The aquifers in the Central Valley that serve millions of acres of farms are dangerously close to collapsing as a result of overuse and contamination.

Our efforts to protect our water, our residents, and our economy must include passing a responsible water bond.

That is why the state Assembly has spent the last year developing a new water bond. 
We’ve convened 8 public hearings throughout the state to hear from Californians about what they need in their communities. 

From these hearings, we’ve written a water bond based on a clear set of principles and a framework to responsibly guide our spending priorities, increase accountability, and equally address the needs of communities across the state.

As a result, we have a cleaner and more affordable water bond that is finely tailored to meet the needs of every region in the state.

This bond includes funding for improving drinking water quality, protecting rivers and watersheds, improving the reliability of clean water delivery, protecting the state’s Delta water system, and funding storage projects that will protect us from future droughts.

Assembly Bill 1331 is awaiting action in the State Senate. California needs this critical and fair water bond before the voters in November.

I’m Assemblymember Anthony Rendon.

Thank you for listening.”

Website of Assemblymember Anthony Rendon: http://asmdc.org/members/a63/

CONTACT: Bill Wong (916) 319-2063

Assembly Member Rendon Statement On Governor’s State of the State

Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s State of the State speech.

“Thanks to the Governor and the work of the Legislature our state is on the road to a strong recovery.  However, failure to address California’s drought and ongoing water crisis threatens to undermine our hard-fought progress.  We need to pass a water bond this year to fund the investments in water infrastructure that the Governor mentioned to alleviate the impact of the current drought, prepare better for the next drought, and spur shovel-ready job growth while protecting our state’s vital agribusiness and food production sector.  The Assembly has convened the most transparent process in crafting a fiscally responsible and earmark-free water bond proposal that deserves to be considered by the state’s voters this year.”

For more information on the Assembly Water Bond process and proposal, visit http://awpw.assembly.ca.gov/waterbond

Assembly Member Rendon Statement On Governor’s Budget

Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s budget proposal.

“I’m pleased to see the Governor acknowledging the immediate need to address the state’s clean water supply problem. However, the needs of our state our much bigger than what is allocated in the budget. The voters have not passed a water bond since 2006 and much of the funding is about to run out. Unless we act this year, the voters will be presented with and likely to reject the flawed pork-laden late-night water bond deal that was passed by the Legislature in 2009. The Assembly has proposed a streamlined water bond proposal without earmarks that has gone through the most extensive public hearing process in history.

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