Moving Forward Act provides funding for Central Valley water, Friant-Kern Canal

July 2020

A major step has been taken in providing funding for Central Valley water needs, including much needed repairs to the Friant-Kern Canal.

The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has approved H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. The legislative package would provide $1.5 trillion for the nation's infrastructure needs. Included in the bill is funding for Central Valley water needs and Friant-Kern Canal repairs.

The package is expected to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives next week. The package would then need to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Trump.

The package includes two bills introduced by Rep. T.J. Cox-D: H.R. 5347, the Disadvantaged Community Drinking Wanter Assistance Act, which would provide $100 million for clean water projects for small, low-income communities in the Western U.S. that are suffering from tainted drinking water. The bill increases the size of communities that could qualify for the funding such as Delano.

The package also includes H.R. 5316, the Move Water Now Act, which would provide $200 million to repair the Friant-Kern Canal and $200 million for river related restoration infrastructure.