WASHINGTON — The House approved a bill Tuesday designed to give state and federal agencies authority to move more water to California’s drought-stricken farm belt.
GOP lawmakers used their majority to pass the bill by a 230-to-182 vote. Six Democratic lawmakers joined Republicans in supporting the legislation. However, the Senate is not expected to take up the measure before adjourning for the year, meaning lawmakers will probably have to start over on the issue after the new session convenes next month.
Opponents called the bill a water-grab designed to help farmers at the expense of others, particularly the state’s salmon industry. White House advisers had recommended to President Obama that he veto the bill if it reached his desk.
California is suffering from its third year of drought, and House GOP lawmakers have complained that environmental regulations designed to protect fish and wildlife have exacerbated the water shortage in the state’s San Joaquin Valley. The bill would increase water exports to the farming region.
Both the House and the Senate passed drought relief measures early this year, but the differences could not be reconciled. This time, GOP lawmakers pursued a bill that’s much closer to what Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer helped pass in their chamber; the California Democrats’ bill focused on giving agencies more authority to move water around for irrigation and other purposes. The GOP abandoned language that had called for agencies to move water to the region without regard to the Environmental Species Act and other protections.
‘‘This relief doesn’t just help Californians,’’ said House Speaker John Boehner. “It helps every business and every household that counts on California agriculture.’’
With Boxer and Feinstein opposing the latest bill, it’s not expected to go anywhere.
More than 99 percent of California remains in moderate or worse drought despite recent rains and snow.