Padilla Visits California’s Central Valley, Pushes for Critical Water and Transportation Infrastructure Needs in the Region
Fresno, CA –Today,U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) traveled throughout California’s Central Valley visiting farms, water infrastructure facilities and a high-speed rail construction site as part of Padilla’s statewide Infrastructure Listening Tour. Padilla and Costa met with various local and state leaders to discuss the critical water and transportation infrastructure investments needed in the region.
“I thank Representative Costa and the many local leaders for welcoming me to the Central Valley as part of my Infrastructure Listening Tour,” said Senator Padilla. “The biggest long-term danger to California’s water supply is the climate crisis, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the issues most important to this region and how it fits into a statewide framework. Access to clean water is essential for the health and safety of all communities and the economy. As we begin the process of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that we invest in building a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable future that works for everyone.”
Padilla and Costa visited the Dos Palos Water Plant, along with Dos Palos Mayor April Hogue, State Senator Anna Caballero, and Assemblymember Adam Gray, to discuss the importance of access to clean drinking water. As a member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, Padilla has pushed to increase equity in the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act – legislation recently passed by the Senate. Padilla also introduced the Lead-Free Drinking Water for All Act, a bill that would allocate 45 billion dollars to replace every lead pipe in America over the next ten years.
In addition to his visit to the Dos Palos water treatment plant, Padilla also joined Costa for a visit to the Friant Dam, where they met with staff to discuss the San Joaquin River restoration project – a program aimed to restore flows in the San Joaquin River, from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River.
Padilla and Costa also visited Joe Del Bosque’s Farms, where they toured the farmland and met with farmworkers to discuss the impacts California’s drought and immigration reform efforts. Padilla recently cosponsored the Large Scale Water Recycling and Drought Resiliency Investment Act, a bill that works to combat droughts and protect the water supply of millions of Americans living in California and other western states.
Padilla and Costa and members of the CA High-Speed Rail board, visited the High-Speed Rail construction site at the San Joaquin River Viaduct. Padilla has been outspoken about the importance of building an equitable transportation future and has pushed for key investments in accessible and sustainable public transportation projects. Padilla cosponsored the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act, legislation thatwould invest $500 billion over the next ten years to accelerate our transition to an all-electric public transportation future.
Padilla’s statewide infrastructure listening tour is part of an effort to highlight and discuss the need for bold, comprehensive infrastructure investments across the state. Senator Padilla is a member of the Senate Budget Committee, which recently negotiated a $3.5 trillion framework to make major investments in critical infrastructure for the American people.
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