U.S. HOUSE PASSES CAL WATER

The U.S. House has passed a bill to help the Valley’s water. The bill by Republican David Valadao that would let more water flow from northern California into the San Joaquin Valley. House Bill 5055 allows pumping at higher elevations, revises the plan for saving the Delta smelt fish and speeds up five storage projects. The vote was mostly along party lines with some Democrats objecting because the legislation is being included as part of an unrelated energy bill. The Senate will take up similar bill Thursday..