Industry leaders say infrastructure bill will bring needed investments

Long-term government help to deliver more water to California growers is on its way.

After months of debate,  the House of Representatives passed Senate’s infrastructure bill by a vote of 228-206 on Nov. 8.
The “Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act” was passed by the Senate in August and now will be signed into law by President Biden on Nov. 15.

California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said in a statement that the legislation provides $550 billion in new spending on physical infrastructure over the next five years. That includes investing $110 billion in U.S. roads and bridges, $65 billion for broadband, $17.3 billion for ports and inland waterways and more than $8 billion to repair and invest in water storage and conveyance projects for the drought-impacted West.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that California would receive more than $45 billion in long-term funding, Johansson said. “This will benefit California’s farmers and ranchers, who are counting on improvements to millions of miles of roadways and waterways to get food to America’s dinner tables and upgraded ports to ship products to international markets,” Johansson said in the statement.
Western Growers also applauded lawmakers for the infrastructure investments.

“Western fresh produce growers and indeed farmers throughout the West have reason to celebrate passage of this bipartisan infrastructure bill,” Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said in a statement. “The inclusion of $8 billion dedicated to addressing critical water supply needs will provide significant benefits for family farmers and rural communities across the West experiencing climate change impacts, historic drought, regulatory pressures and wildfire. The funding for additional water, forestry and ecosystem restoration programs is vital to safeguarding our domestic agricultural production and long-term food security.”

Puglia said Western Growers appreciates the work of lawmakers who understand the need for substantial investments in Western water supply priorities, including repairing aging dams and canals, building new surface and groundwater storage and conveyance facilities, and funding water conservation and recycling projects.

“Following President Biden’s signature, we urge the Administration to quickly drive implementation of these provisions,” Puglia said. “Time, like water, is in short supply. We cannot let red tape and activist litigation stall or block the many long overdue projects necessary to repair and enhance our aging water infrastructure and develop reliable new sources of water supply.”