July 5, 2019

The Honorable Josh Harder Member, U.S. House of Representatives 131 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: H.R. 2473 – Securing Access for the Central Valley and Enhancing (SAVE) Water Resources Act – SUPPORT

Dear Representative Harder:

On behalf of the Rural County Representatives of (RCRC), we support your H.R. 2473, the Secure Access for the Central Valley and Enhancing (SAVE) Water Resources Act. RCRC is an association of thirty-six rural California counties, and the RCRC Board of Directors is comprised of elected supervisors from each of those member counties. Several of RCRC’s member counties are situated in the San Joaquin Valley where water access is a daily concern.

In 2012, former California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Human Right to Water Act, recognizing that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water.” In 2019, during a State of the State Address, Governor Gavin Newsom identified water as a massive challenge for California and declared the state’s shortage of drinkable water a “disgrace.” Water is a critical issue for California and especially in rural counties. We need to fix what is broken about the current water system and prepare for the effects of climate change on our water supply.

H.R. 2473 would increase water storage in California, promote innovation, and invest in rural water infrastructure. This varied approach has already garnered support from Members of Congress and stakeholders across the state. If signed into law, H.R. 2473 would provide more drinking water for families and more water for California farmers. Increased investment through the creation of a Water Infrastructure Fund, Reauthorization of the Rural Water Supply Act, and the Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, represent a bundle of forward-thinking public policy solutions that bring California water policy into the 21st Century.

1215 K Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, CA 95814 | www.rcrcnet.org | 916.447.4806 | Fax: 916.448.3154

ALPINE AMADOR BUTTE CALAVERAS COLUSA DEL NORTE EL DORADO GLENN HUMBOLDT IMPERIAL INYO LAKE LASSEN MADERA MARIPOSA MENDOCINO MERCED MODOC MONO NAPA NEVADA PLACER PLUMAS SAN BENITO SAN LUIS OBISPO SHASTA SIERRA SISKIYOU SONOMA SUTTER TEHAMA TRINITY TULARE TUOLUMNE YOLO YUBA

The Honorable Josh Harder H.R. 2473 July 5, 2019 Page 2

Water can be a contentious issue in California, even with individual counties. The SAVE Water Resources Act takes an unbiased, bipartisan approach to repairing California’s broken water system. On behalf of rural California counties, thank you for making California water your top legislative priority.

If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (916) 447-4806 or RCRC’s legislative advocate in Washington D.C., Sheryl Cohen at [email protected] or (202) 327-8100.

Sincerely,

MARY-ANN WARMERDAM Senior Legislative Advocate

cc: The Honorable , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable T.J. Cox, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable Jerry McNerney, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

1215 K Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, CA 95814 | www.rcrcnet.org | 916.447.4806 | Fax: 916.448.3154

ALPINE AMADOR BUTTE CALAVERAS COLUSA DEL NORTE EL DORADO GLENN HUMBOLDT IMPERIAL INYO LAKE LASSEN MADERA MARIPOSA MENDOCINO MERCED MODOC MONO NAPA NEVADA PLACER PLUMAS SAN BENITO SAN LUIS OBISPO SHASTA SIERRA SISKIYOU SONOMA SUTTER TEHAMA TRINITY TULARE TUOLUMNE YOLO YUBA