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Speaker Boehner Visits California For Drought Bill

BAKERSFIELD (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says he'll support an emergency drought-relief bill to help farmers through what's certain to be a devastating year.

Boehner visited a dusty field just outside of Bakersfield, Calif., on Wednesday with three Central Valley Republican colleagues to announce the bill will be introduced in the next couple of weeks.

If the bill becomes law, it would allow farmers to pump from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as water permits, temporarily halt restoration of the San Joaquin River and form a House-Senate committee to tackle water troubles.

Gov. Jerry Brown last week declared California's drought.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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