WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) is heading to California to attend the annual Ag Lenders Society meeting in Fresno on Friday, where he will address water issues affecting the Golden State.
Nunes, who has been at the center of a heated political battle over allegations that the Obama administration had conducted surveillance of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, has not detracted from his responsibilities as an elected official representing California’s 22nd congressional district.
In January, Nunes co-sponsored House Resolution 23 (HR 23), a water bill that seeks to increase water delivery to the Sacramento River Valley; speed up the completion of feasibility studies on new dams; and scale back unnecessary spending for certain projects, among other initiatives.
The event, where Nunes is the organization’s special guest speaker. will also feature “Farmer Mac Economist Ryan Kuhns who will discuss the trends of farmland rates and values,” according to the group’s website.
“The focus is to get together with this business organization to continue educating the public that we’re chronically 2.5 million acre-feet short of water in the Valley,” Anthony Ratekin, Nunes’ chief of staff, told the Fresno Bee. “We want to let them have an idea of where the problems are and what we see as the proposed solution.”
Ratekin reportedly added that Friday would provide Nunes with “an opportunity to let them know what (the bill) does and how it does it.”
The Central Valley had been one of the California’s hardest hit regions during the nearly six years of drought that came to a thrashing end with a series of downpours that boosted the Golden State’s water table to levels not seen in years.
However, Nunes’ visit to the deep blue state will not go unnoticed by his political opponents.
A grassroots demonstration is planned on Blackstone Avenue north of Shaw Avenue in front of TorNino’s Banquets, where the meeting is taking place.
Nunes is slated to address the lenders at 1 p.m., according to the ALSC website. The demonstration is planned for noon to 2 p.m.
So will a cardboard cut out of the congressman.
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