Senate Republican Leader Grove Applauds Legislation Helping Central Valley Farmers

SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) praised the California State Senate for passing Senate Bill 559 which would provide $400 million for critical repairs to help restore the Friant-Kern Canal to its full capacity. SB 559 passed with bipartisan support.

The Friant-Kern Canal is the main water delivery feature on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley and is also used for groundwater recharge. According to the Friant Water Authority (FWA), the Friant-Kern Canal supplies water to more than 30 irrigation districts and cities, including 15,000 family farms. The Central Valley Project of the Friant-Water Canal delivers water to more than one million acres of farmland covering southern San Joaquin Valley, Chowchilla to the Tehachapi Mountains.

“Our farmers need reliable water infrastructure and SB 559 is a great start. This bill will help our Central Valley farmers who provide food not only for hardworking Californians, but for much of the world.

“I’m proud to support SB 559. This bill has received bipartisan support from Valley legislators which is a win for our Central Valley,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.

SB 559 will now head to the California State Assembly for consideration where Senate Republican Leader Grove will be added as a principal co-author.