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House approves appropriation bill with Nunes amendment to remove funding for Salmon BiOp: Amendment supported by Cardoza and Costa, Opposed by Miller, CSPA and other environmental and fishing organizations

This legislation, if passed, will rip the heart out of the the restoration of salmon stocks as envisioned by the NMFS Salmon BiOp. It speaks to the greed of a few wealthy corporate farmers, who are attempting to steal by legislation, what they have no access to as junior water rights users. They are doing this at the expense of thousands of commercial and recreational anglers and the probable destruction of the world's greatest and largest Chinook Salmon fishery. Not only do they plan to destroy the fishery but the destruction of the delta itself is targeted in their greed. Their plans for ever increasing diversions, and a peripheral canal will kill the delta farms that produce California's food crops in favor of the cotton, hay, and rice grown in the desert and shipped overseas for private profit only possible through subsidies and the destruction of delta farms, fisheries, businesses and recreational opportunities. Ed.

June 17, 2009 -- Congressman Devin Nunes, (R) California's 21st Congressional District, has introduced an amendment to House Resolution 2847 that would remove the funding necessary to implement the recently released NMFS BiOp of June 4, which in part would reduce pumping at the SWP and CVP facilities to protect the delta's chinook salmon stocks, and other endangered species.

Congressman George Miller (D) California's 7th District, is attempting to block the amendment. A number of environmental and fisheries non-government agencies also oppose the amendment and have written Miller with their support.

Congress member Dennis Cardoza (D) California's 18th District representing Merced County and portions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera , and Fresno Counties and Congress member Jim Costa (D) California's 20th District representing all of Kings County,  and parts of Fresno and Kern Counties sent a letter to other legislators urging their support of the amendment.

The bill passed the house on a voice vote today, June 17th but may be called for  a roll call vote tomorrow. If the bill passes as written, the only hope of removing the amendment would be in the senate.

In a last ditch effort to turn things around, CSPA is faxing the members of the California Congressional delegation overnight, asking for their support to pressure Nunes to withdraw his amendment or have the amendment voted down prior to the bill's passage.

Nunes Amendment

Cardoza/Costa Letter of Support

Coalition letter opposing Nunes Amendment

CSPA fax to the California Congressional delegation