Critical Human-Right-to-Water Bill Held Up in Senate Rules Committee by Special Interests

Groups Urge Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg to Protect Access to Safe Drinking Water in California

Media Advisory from the Environmental Justice Coalition on Water, Clean Water Action, UUSC, the UU Legislative Ministry of California, and Food and Water Watch

Sacramento — Faith-based organizations, consumer advocates, and environmental-justice and environmental groups across California appealed to President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg today to stand up for affordable and safe water and say no to special interests that are holding hostage the human-right-to-water bill AB 685 (Eng) in the Senate Rules Committee.

AB 685, the Human Right to Water Act, recently passed the Assembly with bipartisan support. To keep the bill on track with the legislative process, it must be referred to a Senate policy committee today. Thousands of constituents across the state have contacted legislators in support of the bill and today urge Senator Steinberg to be a hero for water justice.

AB 685 will establish the human right to water as policy of the state, and require the state to consider access to safe, affordable drinking water when setting policy, funding criteria, and regulations. Senator Steinberg can stand up to the special interests by referring the Human Right to Water Act (AB 685) out of the Rules Committee, which he chairs. 

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