joaquin valley. instead, 636 days of inaction. 636 days of a manmade drought, a california dust bowl. last week, there was a close vote. apparently, took for the democrat -- too close for the democrat leadership. it would have stopped the obama administration from taking additional measures to starve the people of the san joaquin valley of water. we will not risk the possibility of defeat again. no mistakes this time. no vote will be allowed on the vote this week on my amendment to the interior bill. the hypocrisy of this situation is that the democrat majority champions working families. but in reality, it's just backing the radical environmental element in this country. for the san joaquin valley, the democrats in this house have chosen three-inch minnows over working families. what we are witnessing is the greatest assembly in the history of the world starving its citizens of water, who tortures the innocent just to stay in power. make no mistake, raw power is what we're witnessing, power that inj

joaquin valley. those in my district and my colleagues' district. i hope most of the members and -- if not all of you recognize we are in extreme drought conditions in san joaquin valley that is affected not only the richest agricultural region in california but the united states as well. a drought caused by mother nature, expanded by numerous judicial issues and legislative changes has very, very much deaf stated the economy of the valley i represent. water is the life blood of the agricultural communities in my district. supplying over $20 billion industry in the san joaquin valley that provides half the nation's fruits and vedgetebles. number two in citrus production, number one in production of wines. the list goes on and on. 300 commodities grown and produced. number one dairy producing state in the nation. sadly if this drought continues, we'll find not only the san joaquin valley but the entire state of california that is already economically depressed, further set back. today, unfortunately,

joaquin valley. only three months ago i again warned congress that an economic catastrophe was looming. the leadership of this congress did absolutely nothing. the result, 40,000 workers laid off, unemployment nearing 20%, with some valley communities nearing 50%. this is the direct result of this government's action to protect a three-inch mineau. the situation has now been compounded by a recent obama administration action that now blames cities and farms in california for the plight of the killer whale. this is absolutely absurd. what is wrong with this government? we are starving people to save the killer whale now. this highly controversial opinion was rushed into print by the obama administration without public comment or debate. this is a clear violation of the endangered species act and has since been challenged in court. nevertheless, the obama administration, just like the captain of the titanic, declared full steam ahead and mandated further reductions in california's water supply. this ha

joaquin valley but los angeles and san diego. could we amend this bill and get something changed here so it could go to obama's desk? mr. lewis: the gentleman is asking a very important question and i will try to be straightforward. this is a conference report which both the senate and the house have come together. but there isn't any question that the gentleman has raised his concerns about water in central california at a level that has gotten the entire country's attention. if there was anyway i could amend this package, the desperate need to get the pumps going and get water to our crops and farmlands in the central valley, i would do so. but i'm unable to help. mr. nunes: i would hope the gentleman would yield again. as we go through the appropriations process and i know you have been helping to get the point across, that we have long food lines, 20% unemployment, these are very serious issues and i would hope that your committee will be helpful. mr. lewis: as we go through our hearings, i might mention to and in just a few

joaquin valley. what more does he need to see? what is it going to take action to turn this water back on? how much more damage needs to occur before the obama administration needs to take action or will take action on the needs here? as a person who grew up without water, i'm very, very sensitive to this issue. and i know what a devastating thing it can be not to have water. i now would like to yield to my colleague from tennessee three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from tennessee is recognized for three minutes. . >> madam speaker, i urge a no vote on this rule. i went to the rules committee last night and asked them to make in order my amendment that would prohibit the e.p.a. if using funding to implement or enforce its notice of rule making finding six greenhouse gases constitute a threat to the public's health and welfare. the e.p.a. issued a rules making that found six greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, nitrous ox side and others pose a significant health risk to the public's h