Weeks after President Obama's trip to the dried out Central Valley comes this.
New bipartisan legislation signed into law Thursday would help forecast future droughts, warning farmers in the bread basket of America.
"What happens here matters to every working American," the President said February 14th while visiting a Central Valley farm.
Fourth generation farmer Brian Pacheco who's running for Fresno County Supervisor, District One, knows all too well the impact this drought is having
on the local economy.
on the local economy.
"As a farmer myself, without water we simply don't have any crops. Without the crops we don't have jobs and again jobs is key to this county," said Pacheco.
The law signed Thursday by the President is part of his Climate Action Plan.
According to The White House, it will help deal with climate change and it's impact on the weather.
Republican Congressman Devin Nunes says more needs to be done.
"We have an unmitigated disaster. We're gonna have hundreds of thousands of acres put out of production. We're gonna have farm workers that are already losing
their jobs. This is something that needs direct immediate attention by not only the President but the U.S. Senate," said Nunes.
their jobs. This is something that needs direct immediate attention by not only the President but the U.S. Senate," said Nunes.
Farmers are hoping for more than another fancy title on a law.
They want water to be collected and released to them.
"A little regulatory help. Get some more water flowing and keep the water on the farms and our community because our cities are in trouble as well. We think when
we turn the tap on, water is going to come out and that's not going to be the case," said Pacheco.
we turn the tap on, water is going to come out and that's not going to be the case," said Pacheco.
The law may help prepare but does nothing about the state's current situation at the driest period on record.