WASHINGTON – Rep. Adam Gray (D-Merced) is looking to expand California’s water storage capacity by providing funding and technical support to both develop and maintain water infrastructure projects.

The freshman congressman introduced his End the California Water Crisis Package last week, a series of bills that would authorize additional California water storage projects, ease permitting restrictions, and create enforceable timelines for environmental review processes.

“A reliable water supply is essential for Valley families and our economy,” said Gray. “My End the California Water Crisis Package aims to strengthen and grow California’s water infrastructure so we can maintain dependable water supplies, reduce flood risks, and responsibly manage water flow to preserve our environment while unleashing agricultural production. The Valley is the nation’s leading agricultural region, and these projects will help ensure we remain competitive and resilient as we face historic drought levels.”

If enacted, the legislation includes three bills to stabilize water access in the Central Valley:

• The Central Valley Water Solution Act would authorize 21 projects south of the Delta to increase regional water storage capacity.
• The Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act would codify certain provisions of Executive Order 14181 to create interagency oversight cooperation and lower permitting barriers for California water projects.
• The Build Now Act would create a one-year enforceable timeline for certain environmental reviews for any water project that would enhance Central Valley water storage expansion and place the burden of permitting delays on the federal government, rather than applicants.

“California needs a modern water system that can meet today’s challenges,” said Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno). “These bills take meaningful steps to strengthen California’s water future.”

Also this week, Gray signed his name to a letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson that urges keeping the House in session until a vote is held on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits.

“With these tax credits set to expire at the end of this month, millions of Americans are facing a sudden and devastating increase in health care costs,” the letter stated. “This vote would avert a needless disaster by enacting a three-year extension of the tax credits and buying Congress time to come to a sustainable, bipartisan, long-term solution to rising premiums.”
If the enhanced premium tax credits expire, an estimated 22 million Americans, including 5 million small-business owners, could see their premiums more than double, and up to 2.2 million people could lose health coverage altogether beginning in 2026,  according to Gray. The impact would be especially severe in California’s Central Valley. Nearly 85,000 residents would face higher health care costs, and an estimated 172,000 people could lose coverage entirely, driven largely by cuts to Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal.

Earlier this year, Gray introduced the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025, which aims to restore Medicaid funding and permanently extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits.

The letter was signed by Gray, Costa, and Josh Harder (D-Tracy).