Dear Friend,
UPDATE: HR 5781 by Rep. Valadao passed the House of Representatives today. We need you to call your Senators and Pacific Northwest Senators now.
It seems that we are going to have to rally one more time before the holidays.
News reports and sources tell us that Senator Feinstein will insert language that will exacerbate over pumping the Delta into a Senate Appropriations bill this week as part of “drought relief” measures. In addition, we do not know if language from HR 5781 that will weaken Endangered Species Act protections and that will also increase pumping from the Delta will be added in to appropriations bill or other must pass legislation.
What is at stake: the health of the San Francisco Bay Delta estuary, Delta and Pacific fisheries, Northern California Rivers.
Here is what we need you to do: Call Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer and let them know that you object to any language regarding increased water pumping from the Delta being added in any appropriations bills or must pass legislation as a way to compromise on HR 5781. Let them know that Federal legislation regarding Delta exports must be open for public comment. You can reach them at:
Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841
Senator Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553
We also need you to call the following Senators from the Pacific Northwest and tell them to please object to any appropriations bill or must pass legislation that promotes increased pumping from the San Francisco Bay Delta estuary.
Remind Senator Patty Murray [WA] that the The Pacific Fishery Management Council opposes increased pumping from the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary because of the negative impacts on jobs and the salmon industry and to please object to any appropriations bill that calls for increased pumping from the estuary. You can reach her at:
Senator Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621
Remind Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell of Alaska that Southern Alaskan commercial fisheries and Native American Tribes rely on healthy fisheries from the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. You can reach them at:
Senator Lisa Murkowski: (202) 224-6665
Senator Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441
To read more about what is at stake, please click here for the E&E Daily: http://www.eenews.net/eed