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Emergency Drought Bill To Be Introduced

FRESNO (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner will make a visit to California on Wednesday, joining three Republican colleagues to propose emergency legislation aimed at drought relief.

The chief of staff for Rep. David Valadao of Hanford, Calif., said Tuesday that Boehner will be joined Valadao as well as by Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield.

The lawmakers are expected to announce a bill that seeks to halt the controversial restoration of the San Joaquin River through 2015. Two other parts of the proposed bill would allow farmers to pump irrigation water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and to form a joint House-Senate committee to tackle long-term water woes.

Boehner's visit follows Friday's announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown formally declaring California's drought.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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