Another push toward water reform is on it's way to the Valley. Republican lawmakers are holding a water rally and hearing Wednesday morning at Fresno's City Hall, where they hope to spur solutions to what's being called a 'broken system.'
The hope is for a very large crowd, because the bigger the crowd, the stronger the message. Lawmakers say the main message is the need for immediate and long term solutions.
The hopes are high for Wednesday's water rally and hearing at Fresno's city hall. Congressmen Devin Nunes and David Valadao are expecting a big turn out.
Congressman David Valadao, (R-Hanford) says, "Continue to shine a light on this issue and hopefully deliver a win for us and get the senate to deliver a bill."
It's a chance for constituents, people living the drought devastation directly, to share their views. The House Natural Resources Committee will be on hand to hear the testimony.
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings says, "We're here to find out exactly what the people feel about the legislation that passed out of the house."
The hold up now is in the Senate, where a bill has yet to be passed. Congressman Nunes acknowledged the millions of dollars in aid promised by President Obama in February, but says there's still too much talk and too little action.
Congressman Nunes, (R-Tulare) says, "It's tough to make law when you only have one side of the congress actually trying to fix the problem and the other side just doing press conferences."
Congressman Jim Costa, who's also expected at the hearing, hopes the best of both bills can be combined.
"At the end of the day, I'm trying to work as the person who builds bridges that allows us to find a compromise," says Congressman Costa (D-Fresno).
Some say a compromise is not far out of reach, but say it's one that must include environmental reform.
Cynthia Lummis, with the House Natural Resources Committee says, "Small steps that will help us recover species but not have to choose between human needs and species needs. We can have both."
The rally will start at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in front of Fresno's City Hall. The hearing will follow at ten a.m. inside council chambers.