Los Banos Rotary Club History
Congressman Sisk Stresses Need For Valley Drainage

Declaring he is firmly convinced that an overall drainage plan for the San Joaquin Valley will be an absolute necessity within the foreseeable future, B. F. Sisk, U.S. Congressman from this 12th district, assumed members of the Rotary and Lions clubs Tuesday of his intense interest in the problem of drainage and of his wholehearted support in working out a practical solution.
Congressman Sisk cited the importance of the state legislative hearing held in Los Banos last week in bringing the drainage problem to the fore and establishing basic evidence that can well serve as motivator and guide for further study. "Irrespective of the proposed San Luis Project," he declared, 'there is no doubt but that the problem of disposing of our surplus surface water is becoming increasingly grave and while temporary local measures may be undertaken to afford immediate partial relief, the entire problem can be licked only by valleywide interest and participation."

As to the proposed San Luis Project, the Congressman again expressed his belief the project can be best accomplished by joint federal and state endeavor, and that the construction work can be done more quickly, easily and cheaply as a federally sponsored project in conjunction with the Central Valley Project.

He also pointed out that the California Master Plan is primarily concerned with equitable distribution and benefit of all of California's water and is not a plan for actual construction work. The Congressman emphasized the inherent right of the counties producing the state's water supply to be adequately protected in their own present and future needs and urged that California move quickly in establishing legislation that will guarantee such rights to the counties of origin.

The Congressman was likewise insistent that the actual distribution and allocation of the state's water be administered and governed solely by state law, which is more flexible and more properly reflects the needs and rights of each individual area.

Los Banos Creek

Regarding possible federal assistance for this immediate community in a flood control project on Los Banos Creek, Congressman Sisk also assured his continued interest and assistance. He said he was confident that funds will be granted by the next session of Congress for a study of the proposed project by the Army Engineers, and declared that advance surveys already made indicate that eventual control of the creek can be accomplished.
He also called attention to proposed flood control projects on the Fresno, Chowchilla and Merced rivers and pointed out that remedial projects there will also benefit this community and trade area by helping to prevent flooding of valuable agricultural lands along the San Joaquin River.

Farm Problems

Questioned as to his thinking on farm subsidy and the new soil bank plan, Congressman Sisk frankly declared he voted for the soil bank plan only as a last resort and hoping it would give the farmer at least some relief; knowing that no other plan had any chance of gaining Congressional approval at the time. He expressed fear that the resulting slowing down of farm production will be followed by set-backs to the farm implement business, oil business and eventually to all small business and general industry.

"It is ridiculous to suppress or ask farmers to reduce production today," he said, "which in the same breath we are talking about a country of 200 million people in just a few years. It is inevitable that in just a few more years we will be asking the farmer to go all out to give us the farm products we must then have."

Congressman Sisk said he strongly favors farm support on basic products and declares that the little cost of an equitable farm support is "not a drop in the bucket compared with the subsidies that we grant to airlines, to our railroads, our maritime service, and to industry in general. The least we can do," he said, "is to give the farmer an equal break with labor and industry."
As examples of workable and successful farm support plans, Sisk pointed to the wool industry which operates under the old Brannan plan program and the sugar program of the same general principle.

The Congressman also expressed himself and favoring legislation offering additional price protection to small business; favoring federal assistance for educational facilities but opposing even the most remote control of school systems or administration by federal agencies; and favoring a pension plan to veterans of World War I only as they reach the age of 65; but opposed to an overall veteran pension plan for younger veterans of unimpaired physical fitness.

October 26, 1956

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