SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) today urged Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to make Senate Bill 1 a two year bill. SB 1 aims to prevent federal rollbacks on clean water and clean air standards is intended to protect workers, public health and vulnerable communities.

“Today, I joined my colleague to extend further discussions on SB 1. As part of the legislative process, this provided both houses and communities with the opportunity present critical feedback,” said Sen. Hurtado. “However, during the legislative process, communities throughout California, and particularly, in the Central Valley, raised their voices for further collaboration and discussions on this issue. As we move forward, I encourage communities throughout the state to continue staying engaged to ensure that the bill is representative of all of California,” continued Sen. Hurtado.

“This year, I have been encouraged that discussions between various stakeholders in the Central Valley regarding the Sacramento – San Joaquin river flows have been productive.  These voluntary settlement agreements present an opportunity for new science to impact how water is managed between multiple worthy, beneficial users in Senate District 12 and beyond,” said Sen. Caballero. SB 1 locks the state into a single scientific approach, based on historical data and fails to rely on the best, most current science.  Instead of rushing to enact SB 1 and risk taking steps that will imperil the co-operation and progress that the VSAs have produced it would be better to hold SB 1 over into the next year and get stakeholders to agree on a pathway forward that does not carry the potential to economically devastate the Central Valley,” stated Sen. Caballero.

SB 1 has received widespread attention on a state and federal level in regards to the potential impacts on water supply reliability and agriculture production throughout California. The bill currently sits on the Assembly Floor awaiting for approval.

To review the letter, click here. 

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) represents the 14^th Senate district in California, which includes cities in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Senator Hurtado was born in Fresno, California and raised in the City of Sanger.

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