Today, the House of Representatives approved a Congressional Review Act resolution to reverse the Biden Administration’s decision to list the longfin smelt as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The resolution aims to prevent the designation of critical habitat for the longfin smelt and ensure that California’s water remains accessible to families and farmers. The resolution, introduced in March 2025 by Congressman Valadao along with Reps. Doug LaMalfa, Vince Fong, Tom McClintock, Darrell Issa, and Young Kim, seeks to counteract what the representatives consider unnecessary regulation.
Congressman Valadao criticized the Biden Administration’s decision, stating, “The Biden Administration’s unnecessary decision to list the longfin smelt as an endangered species is yet another example of an environmental policy not grounded in science that puts fish over people.” He emphasized the existing challenges faced by families and farmers due to current water regulations. Valadao expressed satisfaction with the resolution’s passage as a move towards easing water restrictions that impact agricultural and rural communities.
Representative LaMalfa also opposed the ESA listing, attributing it to politicized science. “The Biden Administration and activist judges have used this listing as a political tool to block progress on California water policy,” LaMalfa remarked. He criticized the scientific basis of the listing, citing skepticism from Stanford’s Center for Water California Resources Policy and Management. He further stressed the negative impact of these regulations on water availability for farmers and the broader economy.
The ESA listing, initiated by an environmental group’s lawsuit and enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, imposed new constraints on California’s water supply, affecting the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). Critics argue that these restrictions would lead to more water being directed to the Pacific Ocean rather than to farms and families. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can scrutinize and potentially nullify such regulations within a set period. This process bypasses the typical 60-vote Senate requirement for these resolutions.
