Farmers from drought-stricken states in the Western U.S. are calling on Congress to pass drought legislation this year. The California Farm Bureau says more than 100 Western water user organizations, commodity groups and state Farm Bureaus sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The letter urged for a bipartisan compromise that can be signed into law before President Obama leaves office. The groups asked the Committee to find a legislative solution to the immediate- and long-term impacts of the drought. The California Farm Bureau noted that while some western states are benefiting from El Niño, the drought has not ended. Among the recommendations included in the letter are the promotion of new technology in water and species management, real-time monitoring and data collection to more closely align water supply operations and environmental needs, and new funding and financing tools to encourage investments in water infrastructure capable of meeting current and future demands. Currently, several bills are under consideration in the Senate Committee.
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