The House of Representatives voted Thursday to repeal an endangered listing of the longfin smelt, a move that is expected to increase water supplies for California farmers.
Two Central Valley Democrats supported the bill that was passed by the Republican majority.
The backstory: Last year, former President Joe Biden’s administration listed the longfin smelt as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
- At the time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the main cause of the longfin smelt’s declining population was habitat loss due to reductions and alterations in freshwater flow into the San Francisco Bay estuary.
Driving the news: Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R–Richvale) took the lead on the effort to repeal the endangered listing and was joined by Rep. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Rep. Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove) and Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford), among others.
- The endangered listing directly led to reduced pumping at the Jones Pumping Plant, located near Tracy.
- The California Water Alliance reported that pumping was reduced by 1,500 cubic feet per second from Jan.19 to Jan. 26, in one example, resulting in a loss of nearly seven billion gallons of water.
The big picture: The House passed the resolution on a 216-195 vote.
- Only one Republican voted against it – Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – while only three Democrats across the nation supported it.
- Two of those Democrats were Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) and Rep. Adam Gray (D–Merced), both of whom represent a wide swath of farmland in the Central Valley.
- Notably, the only other Democrat to side with Republicans in support was Rep. Jared Golden (D–ME).
- The resolution was passed under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to review rules adopted by agencies under certain circumstances and circumvents the typical 60-vote requirement in the Senate to pass.
What we’re watching: The joint resolution now heads to the Senate for consideration. If the Senate approves it, the repeal would go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
What they’re saying: Valadao issued a statement after the vote saying the Biden administration’s decision to list the smelt as endangered is another example of putting fish over people that is not grounded in science.
- “Our families and farmers are already struggling with burdensome regulations that restrict water deliveries and threaten the future of agriculture in the Central Valley, and this rule would have ensured even more of our water is sent out to sea,” Valadao said. “By passing this resolution, the House is taking an important step forward in rolling back draconian water restrictions that directly affect our farmers, families, and rural communities, and I’m happy to see common sense won.”
