▶ 0:11:49Uh, folder control of ours. There are also hearings going on in other meetings, uh, in appropriations going on back and forth. Yesterday I had the secretary of energy. So what I'm going to try to do is get this hearing wrapped up by 1130, because that first vote series is going to be very lengthy, may exceed an hour and the like. So, uh, if you will excuse some of my, my brevity, I want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to ask their questions.
▶ 0:12:17It's my pleasure to welcome assistant secretary of the army for civil works, adam tel and chief of engineers lieutenant general butch graham. Uh, to discuss the fiscal 2027 budget request for the us corps army corps of engineers. I am equally pleased to welcome assistant secretary for water science at the department of the interior, andrey travnik. Travnik. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Travnik. They've got it there.
▶ 0:12:46To discuss the fiscal 2027 budget request for the bureau of reclamation and central utah project. General graham, it is great to see you again, sir. Uh, in front of the energy and water subcommittee, uh, assistant secretary tell and assistant secretary travnik. Uh, it's a pleasure to have you both as well before us for the first time. Uh, I look forward to working with all of you to advance our nation's water resources for the benefit of all americans.
▶ 0:13:13Subcommittee has a long history of supporting the water infrastructure needs that our nation relies upon to ensure america maintains its competitive advantage in transporting goods, protecting life and property, and supplying water to our farmers and citizens. In fiscal 26, we once again demonstrated our commitment to these goals by enacting a bill that made a strong investment in our water resources.
▶ 0:13:39I look forward to hearing from all of you on how you will ensure that these investments made in fiscal 26 will be managed efficiently. I was especially proud of the 213 million in funding I was able to personally secure to advance the chickamauga lock inland navigation project in my district closer to operational status.
▶ 0:14:00While this project has not been without its challenges, I'm encouraged that with the core's partnership and the leadership of the trump administration, the project will prove to be a success and provide some lessons learned that can inform future project delivery on inland system nation wide.
▶ 0:14:16For fiscal 2027, the administration has provided a budget request for the core that totals $6.7 billion a level, even with the administration's request last year, but a reduction of over $3 billion from our fiscal 26 enacted level within the 6.7 billion total, $1.7 billion is once again provided for the harbor maintenance trust funds.
▶ 0:14:43Eligible activities, less than half the maximum offset provided for in law. I look forward to working for working in fiscal 27 to ensure adequate funding to maintain our nation's ports and harbors and their authorized dimensions. I am pleased to see the administration focusing on advancing the highest priority studies and construction projects in the course.
▶ 0:15:05Primary mission areas of navigation, flood control and ecosystem restoration that provide the most national benefits. I look forward to hearing more about the core initiatives to improve transparency within its enterprise and deliver these projects on time and under budget.
▶ 0:15:24The bureau of reclamation and central utah project fiscal 27 budget request proposes a total of $1.3 billion, a reduction of approximately 22% below the enacted level. I'm concerned that at this level, we will not be able to address the most pressing water resources needs across the west.
▶ 0:15:45While I do not represent a reclamation state, I understand the importance of robust investment in western water infrastructure and the benefit provided to the entire nation by reclamation projects that supply water and power to our communities and farmers. I appreciate our witnesses for being here today to explain your budget requests and to discuss the administration's priorities for your respective agencies.
▶ 0:16:10I look forward to working with you and my colleagues on both sides of the dais to develop a bill that addresses our nation's most pressing water resources and development challenges. With that, I will turn to my ranking member, miss kaptur, for her opening statement, miss kaptur. >> thank you very much. Good morning, and thank you all for joining us. Charles fleischmann. My colleagues, uh, and I welcome this opportunity, uh, to examine recent actions of the us army corps of engineers and the bureau of reclamation in your 2027 budget request.
▶ 0:16:42Know fully. We respect the work that you and the corps do. Uh, we, uh, all thank you for your service to our nation. And your vital work. Sustains life on earth, strengthens our economy, and ensures public safety against increasing threats of extreme weather events.
▶ 0:16:58Nature seems angrier each year from the record breaking snow drought parching the west to recent record flooding in washington state to the droughts followed by severe rainfall impacting our great lakes region and coastal battering in texas, south carolina. In california, you have a lot to catch up to.
▶ 0:17:21Truly, your agencies are essential to protecting lives and carrying out everyday life for american families, our businesses, and their ability to pay for the vital water and energy systems on which they rely. When the corps of engineers maintains our inland waterways, ports and harbors, those. Ensure that agricultural and industrial products from ohio soybeans to essential building materials like american steel reach domestic and global markets efficiently.
▶ 0:17:48This keeps the cost of goods down for everyone, and when the bureau of reclamation delivers 10 trillion gallons of water for municipal, rural, residential and industrial uses, it ensures that communities have affordable and reliable access to life's most basic necessity that too many take for granted.
▶ 0:18:06This mission is under immense pressure this very month, as historically record low snowpack threatens the colorado river basin and pushes lake powell dangerously close to losing its ability to generate hydropower that millions rely on. Our country's headed to 400 million people, and we're acting like it's about 250.
▶ 0:18:24Uh, that is why the president's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, uh, and its cuts for the corps and the bureau are not just misguided, they are dangerous, slashing the core budget by $3.8 billion, a 36% decrease, and cutting reclamations budget by $358 million will erode our infrastructure and ultimately raise costs on everyday americans and make their lives
▶ 0:18:57Worse. Remember, the president is asking us for 1.5 trillion, and that's not even plus another 250 billion in defense spending for more war costs halfway around the world. We should not put american lives at risk here at home by transferring their hard earned money abroad. He can't pay for this war by robbing every other account in the government of the united states.
▶ 0:19:21Furthermore, our nation cannot build resilient, comfortable ways of life for our growing population on shrinking staffs. The corps has lost approximately 8% of its workforce through recent terminations and attrition actions, which the corps didn't ask for, and neither did we here in congress.
▶ 0:19:38And while the bureau of reclamation has lost an alarming 25% of its workforce, including senior staff with decades of institutional knowledge, federal officials warn that the loss of this expertise and staffing capacity jeopardizes regular inspections and repairs of reclamations, 490 dams and 294 reservoirs. One nation, or our nation, cannot gamble with public safety.
▶ 0:20:05We all remember the tragedy in texas just last year, when at least 135 people, many of them children, died. Safety is paramount. I must also express my deep disappointment with and disapproval of the extreme politicization and lack of transparency we are witnessing regarding our nation's water infrastructure. During the longest government shutdown in history.
▶ 0:20:31Last october, the administration announced it would pause over $11 billion 11 billion in funding for essential core projects simply because these projects are located in so-called blue states and cities. Where did that ridiculous idea even come from? We're talking about people and communities. What type of heavy ham handed harm was exacted on the american people? No administration in us history has stooped to such political tactics. And this is not entertainment.
▶ 0:20:58What you work with every day is life itself. We are also seeing gag orders emerge from the department of defense that require all congressional communication to be routed through legislative affairs at the pentagon. What do they know? Again, this is political manipulation that impedes the timely exchange of basic factual project information with this committee and members of congress in the great lakes region. We know what's at stake.
▶ 0:21:26We know we've needed the corps to modernize projects like the soo locks to turbocharge our economy and keep maritime shipping lanes competitive and open. We need to advance without further delay. Construction of the brandon road project to stop invasive carp from devastating the great lakes fishing industry and recreational boating industries, with lake erie having the most to lose given it is home to more fish and boats than all the other great lakes combined,
▶ 0:21:56Disinvestment now will inevitably lead to higher costs down the road for the american taxpayer. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject these shortsighted, public safety compromising budget cuts. Now is not the time to retreat. We must provide these agencies with the resources they need to lower costs for working families and safeguard our people for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. chairman. I look forward to the testimony and yield back. >> and I thank the ranking member for her opening statement.
▶ 0:22:25Again, thank you to our witnesses for being here today. Without objection, your full written testimonies will be entered into the record. With that in mind, we would ask that you please summarize your opening statement in five minutes. Assistant secretary, tell you are now recognized for your opening statement, sir. Thank you.
▶ 0:22:45Chairman fleischmann, chairman fleischmann, ranking member kaptur, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the president's fy 27 budget for the army civil works program. As you know, the budget was submitted to congress earlier this month, and it laid out the president's priorities for discretionary funding with recommendations to reach balance and restore confidence in the government's fiscal posture. The president's top line budget includes $6.663 billion for the army civil works program.
▶ 0:23:11The civil works program is centered around its primary missions of commercial navigation, flood risk reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. The budget focuses on opportunities to support these missions in a way that provides a high return on investment to the american public, such as by facilitating maritime commerce and addressing the most significant flood risks facing american communities in support of these missions.
▶ 0:23:33With regard to project funding, the budget includes $2.6 billion for commercial navigation, notably including $133.76 billion for the completion of montgomery lock on the. On the ohio river in pennsylvania. Additionally, the budget includes $931 million for flood and storm damage reduction, including $420 million for prado dam in california.
▶ 0:23:55The budget also includes $410 million for aquatic ecosystem restoration, including sufficient amounts for the south florida ecosystem restoration program to help support the expedited completion of the everglades agricultural area reservoir by 2029, which is five years ahead of schedule. The budget also focuses on increased transparency and realignment of incentives related to how funds are executed through the civil works program.
▶ 0:24:17A central feature of this year's budget is the district's salary transparency initiative, which is a key part of our building infrastructure, not paperwork agenda unveiled earlier this year. This is a key change designed in how we account for costs that's designed to drive our districts towards project delivery.
▶ 0:24:33The existing account framework inadvertently incentivizes forever projects as corps districts ability to employ to pay its employees salaries and cover its overhead is tied to keeping projects undelivered or taking on projects that otherwise wouldn't to generate new business. This system also makes it difficult to distinguish the actual cost of personnel and overhead expenses, thereby obscuring how federal and nonfederal funds are being utilized. To address this issue, the corps of engineers will now separate employee salaries and overhead costs from direct project costs.
▶ 0:25:03While this budget includes the same types of resources proposed in previous budgets, all salary and overhead costs are identified and reported in a separate account from the project's line. Item costs. This change is a key component of this administration's effort to promote greater transparency and accountability across the government. This new approach will deliver unprecedented transparency to decision makers within the executive branch and here within the legislative branch.
▶ 0:25:30It will also realign incentives to focus our enterprise on building infrastructure on time and within budget, rather than building districts through the endless production of government paperwork. Thank you all for inviting me here today. I look forward to your questions. >> thank you, assistant secretary. Tell general graham thank you for being here today. It's an honor to be with you, sir. I thank you for your outstanding service to our country and also to all those who serve the army corps and our great united states army.
▶ 0:26:01Sir, uh, you are now recognized for five minutes for your opening statement. >> chairman fleischmann, ranking member kaptur and members of the subcommittee, I'm honored to testify before you today in regard to the president's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the united states army corps of engineers through the civil works program, the army corps works with our partners to study, build, and operate water resource projects, focusing on our three main mission areas of commercial navigation coastal and upland flood storm damage reduction
▶ 0:26:32And aquatic ecosystem restoration. Let me break those down. The navigation program, which consists of our coastal great lakes channels, as well as the inland rivers and our key intercoastal waterways. It underpins much of this of the nation's economy, ensuring that commodities can move reliably and efficiently. Our flood and coastal storm damage reduction programs maintain 746 dams, over 13,000 miles of federal levees, 450 miles of shore protection.
▶ 0:27:00All of that provides, on average, over 200,000,000,200 billion per year in flood damages avoided. Mr. chairman, ranking member kaptur we're a great investment for the american people. The civil works program for 2027 is performance based and focuses on high performing projects and programs. The discretionary request includes 6.663 billion for the civil works program.
▶ 0:27:23As we discussed the last time I was in front of this committee, the core's objective each and every day is to safely deliver quality projects on schedule and within budget. To this end, our current unscheduled rate across the entire civil works portfolio is up to 87.9%. When I checked this morning, we've gone from a low b from the last time I was here in the low 80s to a high b, and we're pleased with that progress.
▶ 0:27:49This performance is influenced by factors both controllable and uncontrollable, focusing on the things we can control. The army corps is absolutely committed to procedural improvements in the following three areas. First, get the engineering right. The focus here is on the maturity of the design. I remain committed to my pledge that we will not request project authorization unless the design is at the 35% level. We simply have to know what it is we plan to build before we ask for authorization and funding.
▶ 0:28:19Second key item is to get the project management right. Here we're focusing on crafting logical, fully resourced schedules and sticking to them, ensuring that we're delivering these important projects with a great sense of urgency, with a great sense of hustle. And finally, we've got to get the team right. We're striving to bring together the right mix of talent, either on board with the core or by leveraging the talents in the private sector.
▶ 0:28:42So by focusing on the basics of getting the engineering right and getting the project management right and getting the project team right, we're making our cost estimates more reliable and our project delivery more efficient. We are seeing some tangible progress from the investments congress has made. I'll focus on our coastal channel availability. We've improved. Last year we were at 85% of channel availability. This year we're at 91%. Congress is investing more in us and we're delivering more for the american people.
▶ 0:29:12And that means that 91% of the tonnage entering our ports is moving undisturbed through the system. That said, there's much more work to do, more improvements to make. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and I look forward to addressing your questions. >> and I thank you, general graham. Um, assistant secretary travnik, you are now recognized for five minutes for your opening statement. Thank you. >> great. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:29:41Ranking member kaptur and members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to testify in support of president trump's fiscal year 27 budget request for the bureau of reclamation and the central utah project, and discuss the president's vision to make america safer, stronger, and more prosperous through the delivery of water and power. I'm andrea travnik, assistant secretary for water and science. The department of the interior's bureau of reclamation manages and delivers water for agriculture, municipal and industrial uses, supports flood control and recreation, and produces hydropower across the western united states.
▶ 0:30:10Reclamation projects and programs serve as the backbone of the west water and power infrastructure, and are a driver of economic activity across hundreds of river basins. Reclamations activities support economic output valued at approximately 34 billion annually, and sustain more than 450,000 jobs each year. Reclamation delivers roughly 10 trillion gallons of water, irrigates approximately 10 million acres of farmland, and generates reliable hydropower that supports regional electric grids.
▶ 0:30:39Reclamation's core mission is grounded in maintaining assets that provide safe, reliable, and efficient management of water resources throughout the western united states. Specifically, reclamation's work includes the operation and maintenance of federal water and power infrastructure, the responsible management of natural resources, the application of sound science and engineering to inform operational decision making, and the execution of congressionally congressionally authorized programs in accordance with the federal and state law.
▶ 0:31:04Reclamation carries out these responsibilities across 17 western states and works closely with water and power customers, tribes and local partners to deliver authorized benefits efficiently and cost effectively with priority given to contractual obligations to our stakeholders, as well as efforts required by law. Reclamation's fy 27 budget advances the trump administration goals of improving water access, reliability and affordability for farmers across the western states.
▶ 0:31:31Moreover, the administration remains committed to ensuring reliable and affordable hydropower rates for power users. Reclamation continues to seriously engage with stakeholders along the colorado river and other key basins, and reclamation continues to explore how best to utilize resources in support of these goals. For fy 27 reclamation requests. Over 1.2 billion in gross discretionary appropriations.
▶ 0:31:53Of this total, 1.1 billion is requested for the water and related resources account, 64 million for the policy and administration account and 32 million for the california bay delta account. The request also includes 66.9 million for the central valley project restoration fund. Discretionary appropriations are supplemented by non-discretionary end partner funding that supports the execution of authorized projects and programs. In addition to the request for reclamation, the fy 27 budget requests 17 million for the central utah project completion act program.
▶ 0:32:22The budget supports funding for continued construction of the utah lake drainage basin and delivery system, the final component of the project. The funding supports continued construction of the spanish fork pipeline and design of the pipeline. Funding is also provided for the mitigation commission for the purpose of continued implementation of mitigation commitments for fish, wildlife and recreation as identified in project planning documents entitled three of kupka.
▶ 0:32:46In addition to the fy 27, budget reclamation continues to utilize existing resources to support its water supply management and conservation activities. The one big, beautiful bill act into signed into law by president trump, provided 1 billion to reclamation for construction of water storage and conveyance facilities. To date, reclamation has allocated 889 million to support modernizing western water infrastructure and improving storage capacity, including 540 million for california, 100 million for utah and 30 million for idaho.
▶ 0:33:17One notable example is the 40 million specifically dedicated to planning and pre-construction activities associated with raising shasta dam. Moreover, funding from the one big beautiful bill act also will be used to construct a conveyance and pump storage project for the lewiston orchards area in northern idaho and to replace 110 year old strawberry highline canal in southern utah county, utah, with an enclosed pipeline to improve safety and water delivery efficiency.
▶ 0:33:40Moreover, reclamation continues to execute bounces from prior year funding to bolster conservation activities in the colorado river, including efforts which have resulted in at least 3.4 million acre feet of additional water in lake mead. Drought related funding support, near term and medium term actions to stabilize water supplies in drought affected basins include voluntary conservation agreements, water management improvements, and infrastructure investments that deliver measurable operation benefits and protect existing federal investments.
▶ 0:34:09Additionally, reclamation funds are being applied to infrastructure projects that address deferred maintenance, improve water delivery reliability, enhance dam safety, and strengthen system performance. Reclamation has selected hundreds of projects nationwide and is implementing them through established program authorities. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on president's fy 2011 budget request for the department of the interior interior's bureau of reclamation, and I look forward to answering any of your questions. >> thank you. Assistant secretary travnik.
▶ 0:34:37We now begin with questions, starting with my own. And I am mindful it's about 1030. They say votes are going to be called around 1130. So in the interest of brevity, uh, I'm going to limit my, my, my question. Uh, general graham and assistant secretary powell, uh, to chickamauga lock. Um, I want to thank both of you all for your partnership with chickamauga lock replacement project in my district.
▶ 0:35:05I'm extremely pleased that the corps was able to award the final construction contract earlier this year. I thank you for that. Um, thanks to the $213 million I worked to include in the fiscal 26 bill for that funding, it is important to ensure, from my perspective, that there are no further delays as they take place as these contracts finish. That is my goal. Uh, it is now again, once again, fully funded to get it completed.
▶ 0:35:34Uh, my, uh, one question actually two is what is the updated timeline for chickamauga lock to be operational? And how was the corps working to complete previous contracts without delaying final construction? Thank you. >> Mr. chairman. Thank you for the question. Uh, this is an important project related to navigation along the tennessee river. Uh, it has many ties to national security facilities that you've also been a tremendous advocate for.
▶ 0:36:00Uh, this project would not have gotten as far as it has gotten today, about 85% complete without your leadership. Uh, you and I visited together about a month ago. Uh, I think we learned a lot there. Uh, we're tracking an operational, uh, date of 2028. Um, there, there have been ongoing contract discussions related to that project. I'm not going to get into those here. I'll allow general graham to do so. This is an important project.
▶ 0:36:26And we believe that the challenges related to contracting will not affect the timeline. >> thank you sir. >> general chairman just to add, we're certainly watching finishing chickamauga lock closely. As the assistant secretary said, 2028 is is our commitment to deliver that. We've got a great contractor on board now with that additional funding that we received in 2026. And so we're excited about getting this finished.
▶ 0:36:50We got a few bumps in the road with finishing the work from the our current contractor, but we're committed to working collaboratively across both those contractors to get this project delivered. >> thank you gentlemen. I look forward to working with you to complete this lock project. Appreciate that. Uh, with that, I'm now going to recognize the ranking member for her questions. And I want to make sure that everyone can ask the questions that they wish. >> yes. Mr.
▶ 0:37:16Chairman, I'd like to suggest that we do a second hearing with the corps if we are unable to ask our questions today. This is an extremely important part of our government, and I'm offended that the leadership, not you, but recessed us for two weeks. And then when we come back, they co plan hearings parallel to one another across this government. Three different ones going on right now. I'm on all the committees and I can't be there because I'm here. So I see what you're doing.
▶ 0:37:42Uh, I won't say the name of the congressman, but I'm very I'm very offended, by the way, not you or anybody here, but your leadership is handling this congress and it's not with respect. Okay. So, um, in terms of questions, uh, assistant secretary, tell us, uh, the sulak project I visited several times and I visited again this year, and I was just so impressed with everyone there. It's critical to our maritime transportation system.
▶ 0:38:10But in september 2024, the secretary of army submitted to the department of defense a special salary rate, uh request for soo locks operators in response to pay reduction driven employment losses across the corps. Uh, and the department of defense.
▶ 0:38:2919 months later, soo lock operators continue to vacate their positions for higher paying jobs elsewhere, risking the core's ability to operate the locks on a 24 hour basis and potentially delaying iron ore shipments to the great lakes region. When and that goes into steel and so forth. So it's very important to us. When do you expect the department to respond to the pending request for an appropriate, needed adjustment to the salary rate for soo lock operators to maintain critical operations there? And what are you doing to specifically prompt that response?
▶ 0:38:57And they didn't ask me to ask this question. >> ma'am, thank you for the question. And I think we share, general graham and I share your view about the importance of soo locks a lot. Soo locks this is what allows a lot of the ingredients for our steel industry to transit the great lakes through great through lake superior, um, and, and into the remainder of the, of the, of the, of the waterway system there. Uh, it is a project that is in the upper peninsula of michigan.
▶ 0:39:25It's remote, a remote location, and it does require special consideration in relation to how we pay the folks that are working on the soo locks project. So thank you for your advocacy for that. I'm happy to get back to you on the specific question about the status of the request. Um, we want to see soo locks completed. Uh, we have, uh, there was $176 million in the fy 26 work plan. There's $78 million in the president's fy 27 budget. This is important to the nation. It's important to the entire upper midwest.
▶ 0:39:54Uh, we all share that. And we want to see this project complete. >> it is a nation at war. It's even more important. So yes, ma'am. >> it's a strategic asset for our nation. >> thank you. Uh, I want to turn to the ohio harbors here just for a sec. The great lakes navigation system is an important waterborne transportation network about 2400 miles along the longest coastline in the country, actually. And, uh, one critical issue that remains for us is the beneficial use of dredged materials from our lakes.
▶ 0:40:21Um, do you share, uh, general graham, do you share general spellman's goal of a 70% use of dredged material for beneficial use by 2030? And can you commit to me that you will continue to prioritize the development of dredge material management plans in ohio? That will be necessary as existing disposal facilities approach capacity? >> uh, ranking member kaptur absolutely, uh, 70% beneficial reuse is our goal.
▶ 0:40:51I think when we checked earlier, we're at almost 40 some percent. We're not going to stop here. The redoing the dredge material management plans for all those seven harbors with the buffalo district is ongoing. That's a great step in the right direction. And the intent from both the port operators, the state of ohio and the corps of engineers, is to view that material as a resource, not as a waste product. And I that is the spirit with which they're moving forward.
▶ 0:41:19And if I could just add one piece going back to the su lock, we certainly are aware of the flooding in the, uh, the upper, uh, portion of michigan and the lower upper peninsula of michigan. That's ongoing right now, particularly around sheboygan and, uh, terrible, just flash flooding. So we have been asked to provide some dam safety engineers and they're on site. And we also have been asked for some flood fighting materials and they're on site as well.
▶ 0:41:46>> I haven't seen whether the water has come up to the base of the bridge, but it was about seven inches away at, uh, it's a serious issue there and thank you. Um, I would suggest I'll write you a letter on this that, um, and this will be my last, uh, in this round, if there'll be a second round, uh, point that I want to raise, I really do. I've met with farmers. I have eight of my nine counties are all rural counties, and they want that dredged material material.
▶ 0:42:13I would love for you to help me set up a meeting between the corps and the very best farmers that exist in america, and the farm bureau, and our farmers who specialize in cover crops. Uh, because one of the reasons lake erie is sick is because all that good material washes down through the rivers into the lake, and they have shown me some astounding achievements. It's taken them 20 years, but I think we have a lot to learn.
▶ 0:42:41Cross-agency so I would just ask if you could make a note to yourself and find me the right people. I think we can do something extraordinary for the country, uh, in our in our world. So thank you. Thank you for your services. Thank you so much. I yield back. >> I now recognize chairman simpson for his questions. >> thank you, Mr. chairman, and thank you all for being here today. This is an important hearing. You do a great work, and I appreciate and I enjoy working with all of you and appreciate the work that you do.
▶ 0:43:08This would not be an army corps of engineering hearing if I didn't ask about the little wood river. Uh, I was pleased to see that you requested $12.5 million in the budget request to move this towards completion. I won't ask you for the whole thing. It could be a simple answer. We're going to get it done. That would be suffice. Is that. >> represent symptoms? We're going to get it done. >> all right. That's all I need to hear. But I've been asking about that for 28 years.
▶ 0:43:35And I've told people that I'm not going to retire until we get that done. So you're keeping me here and I would like to go do other things. But anyway, uh, uh, assistant secretary travnik, uh, the, uh, I was encouraged to see that the bureau of reclamation released the first round of projects to receive funding from the bureau's section of last year's reconciliation bill. You mentioned the lewiston orchards.
▶ 0:44:02Uh, I would also like to highlight, as we did in a letter from the delegation, the project, a project to realign the stretch of the new canal through boise. And while most of the reconciliation funding has been claimed at this time, by my count, we still have about $100 million left. Is there is there a next set of projects funded by this reconciliation money? And if so, do you have any sense of the timelines of any future announcements? >> uh, thank you, representative simpson.
▶ 0:44:29Yeah, we were fortunate to be able to get those dollars out the door and of course, be able to get those into idaho. Uh, when I was here during the first trump administration, I actually got to see the new york canal. That was actually my first trip with reclamation. So know how important of a project that is. Uh, so as we're looking at trying to figure out, uh, to get that extra $100 million out the door, we're definitely looking at projects that shovel ready, trying to prioritize those. Um, so we don't quite know the timeline yet, but we're, we're knowing that those dollars are extremely important. So, so we'll keep everybody posted as we get those out.
▶ 0:45:00>> thank you, thank you. Uh, and, uh, assistant secretary tell, uh, I was pleased several years ago to lead the charge on appropriate on the appropriations side to get to core, uh, cause full access to the harbor maintenance trust fund. I understand you've done quite well with that access and have greatly improved your management maintenance of the nation's seaports. Part of the reform language included getting donor and energy ports, increased access to that to that fund.
▶ 0:45:26My understanding was that language was intended to apply to maintenance, dredging and closely related projects at donor and energy ports. I have heard concerns that these dredging funds are being used for projects not related to dredging. Can you explain the process? Donor and energy ports use to gain access to the harbor maintenance trust fund and how your office defines applicable uses for these funds that are generated by shippers, not ports for maintaining maintenance. Dredging. >> yes, sir.
▶ 0:45:55This is an issue that is related to the authorization act, the water resources development act, which is up for reauthorization this year and requires a certain percentage of harbor maintenance trust fund to be set aside for energy and donor transfer supports for activities that are not that are not in the federal channel, um, closer to the shoreside infrastructure.
▶ 0:46:17Um, the fy 26 appropriations act met the authorizers intent with regard to, uh, the set aside for those ports. And, um, the fy 26 work plan reflected that as well. I'm going to defer to general graham on the details of the dividing line between what we consider federal and nonfederal. >> concerns. Um, representative simpson, I'll have to get back to you on those. Exactly where the lines drawn.
▶ 0:46:44There's some it's not clear in my mind right now, and I don't want to give you any bad information. So we'll get back to you and your staff. >> okay, I appreciate that, but thank you all for all you do. It's, uh, important part of moving this country forward. And thank you. You're back. >> thank you, Mr. simpson. Miss wasserman schultz. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Secretary powell, it's nice to meet you. Um, and I understand this is today is your first opportunity to testify in front of the appropriations committee. So welcome.
▶ 0:47:11I look forward to working with you because I got a lot going on in south florida. So, um, I'll start by taking a step back. Mr. secretary, the fy 26 enacted amount for the south florida ecosystem restoration construction was $461 million. The army corps then said you were projecting 58 million in salaries and expenses for fy 26. That left 403 million in project funding, according to the fy 26 work plan.
▶ 0:47:35Looking at your fy 27 proposal, your budget request lists the project at just 295.8 million, with an additional 150 million in salaries and expenses. That combined total is still a cut from last fiscal year, and that's a three fold increase in salaries and expenses year over year. So is it correct that the s project is receiving a cut in project funding, but receiving an increase to 150.8 million in salaries or expenses? Yes or no, ma'am. >> thank you for the question.
▶ 0:48:06You've you've put your finger on the exact point that we're making with separation of project costs and salaries and expenses. For the first time, the administration is providing the legislative branch with transparency about how much of our project's costs are dedicated to the project, and how much are dedicated to our internal salaries. And you're.
▶ 0:48:26>> if I can just interrupt you for a second, because, I mean, you're acknowledging, how are you going from $50 million, $56 million in salaries and expenses from last fiscal year to 150 million in this one? Um, I mean, is that what you're saying? Is that, uh, I mean, where's the justification for a tripling of salaries and expenses? >> ma'am, I would say that this is step one is to provide you on this committee and provide the executive branch with transparency about what you're buying.
▶ 0:48:54And this is the exact question. >> you're not answering my question. How did we triple salaries and expenses from one fiscal year to the other. >> ma'am. >> and still cut the program funding? >> this is step one. This is these are the numbers we were provided by the jacksonville district for fy 26 and fy 27. They're reflected in the president's budget. The point here is to provide you with transparency so that we can ensure that we're maximizing the dollars that go to actual project costs. >> my time because you're not answering my question.
▶ 0:49:19I don't understand how we went from 50 million to 150 million in salaries and expenses in one fiscal year. That's that's never happened. And so I need an explanation for the record. If you don't know the answer now on how that happened, and I recognize some of these decisions were handed to you, Mr. secretary, but you have to understand this move to separate out salaries and expenses and then suddenly request that this committee triple that amount for this project with no formal justification for floridians focus on everglades restoration. That looks like padding bank accounts rather than restoring sheet flow.
▶ 0:49:49Um, that that looks like what you're doing. You're nodding your head. I certainly hope that's not what you're doing. Uh, another. >> question to you that that's what it appears to be. And I think that that's something that we ought to tackle together. We have the same goal here. >> but why are you asking for $150 billion in salaries? Why are you tripling salaries and cutting? So you're acknowledging, you're tripling. You're proposing to triple the amount of salary we provide, and you're cutting the actual programmatic funding here. >> ma'am, this is transparency that the committee has never had access to.
▶ 0:50:18This is the whole point. We have never. >> it's your proposal. I want to know why. Where's the justification. >> information that was hidden from you in previous budget requests? We're providing it to you so that you can have this conversation. >> what's your budget request last year also? So that that makes no sense to me. >> this spans administrations. It goes back decades. >> my time. >> we're providing. >> you have lots of other. >> opportunities for transparency. >> you're not you're, you're actually making it more opaque, uh, under your fy 27 budget request.
▶ 0:50:47Can you tell this committee that not one single project for south florida ecosystem restoration will be canceled, delayed, or reworked due to a lack of funding because you're cutting the funding in this proposal. >> ma'am, uh, we share the goal of restoring. >> can you commit that you are not cutting, canceling or delaying or reworking any south florida ecosystem restoration project? >> ma'am, I'm not aware of any, any, any action in this budget that would do that. >> okay.
▶ 0:51:12We're being asked now to underfund this this project to make room for grotesque salary increases, uh, for cuts to actual investment, which is the first time in, in, in my memory that we'd be going in the wrong direction on the investment we're making in this restoration. I have a project, the c-11 canal in my hometown of weston that is being delayed, and now we're knowingly being asked to pour gas on that fire. Um, Mr.
▶ 0:51:40Secretary, I'm really worried that you've got some rose colored glasses on right now. Under the current funding levels, we already see shovel ready projects like the c-11 project in my hometown of weston being delayed because of resource allocation issues. Um, what's the goal of this change? Transparency, I understand, but there's a tripling. Are you saying that before the salaries and expenses were really much, much higher and it wasn't being that that was not being factually represented in previous budget requests?
▶ 0:52:10>> ma'am, until the fiscal year 27 budget request for fiscal year 26 budget request, the administration had never shared with congress or even looked at itself at. >> your administration. >> and this goes back decades. They had never had an honest assessment of what portion of the project cost that you provide are going to district salaries. >> and I need to understand why you're cutting program funding for everglades restoration.
▶ 0:52:37>> that's the fiscal year 2027 budget request for everglades restoration is $446 million total. When you include salaries and expenses, which is the exact same amount. >> to restore, the everglades is cut. It is a cut. Less money is being asked. >> no, ma'am. The budget request for fiscal year 26 was $446 million, and this budget includes 457. >> separating that out, the $295 million that you're asking for is less than you asked for last year. Less. >> it's less than the work plan. Yes, ma'am.
▶ 0:53:06We did not provide this information during the fiscal year 2026 request. We are providing transparency into the separation between project costs and salaries so that we can have the conversation we're having now, which I think is important. >> I'm out. >> of we agree with you. >> I'm I'm out of time. But you got a lot of explaining to do to folks in the state of florida, both republicans and democrats. I yield back the balance of my time. >> thank you, Mr. newhouse. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I appreciate all of you being here today. Uh, joining and joining our hearing.
▶ 0:53:34Um, assistant secretary travnik, good to see you. Uh, as you know, the 2024 retreat fire devastated the yakima valley in washington state in my district, burning more than 45,000 acres in its wake and severely damaging what's known as the yakima irrigation canal.
▶ 0:53:51This canal, which is over 110 years old and at risk of catastrophic failure support, supports over $700 million in annual crop revenue and provides residential water supply and public safety, fire suppression, uh, water to various communities.
▶ 0:54:09So I was pleased that the bureau, in accordance with the fy 26 energy and water appropriations act, declared the wildfire damaged and landslide imperiled state of the canal as an emergency, uh, which is required to receive certain emergency funding. As you know, the next directive of that legislation is to provide financing to the local irrigation district, which I understand is the step that b r b o r is currently undertaking.
▶ 0:54:38So in addition to the damaged canal, the the yakima valley is experiencing what's now the fourth consecutive year of drought conditions. And so I'm truly gravely concerned that about the risk of catastrophic failure and can't emphasize to you enough the importance of this financing in ensuring that water delivery to the to the region is not negatively impacted.
▶ 0:55:02I also understand that bir had a team look at the canal over the winter, which I hope provided an idea of the construction, timing and associated financing needs. So with all that said, uh, as a background, could you provide an update on where bau is in this process? And additionally, I know we only have a few minutes here. I would like to set up a meeting with you and your staff after this hearing to discuss how we can assist in the process.
▶ 0:55:31As I have to emphasize strongly that repairing this vital waterway remains one of my top priorities. >> right now. Thank you, representative newhouse. Yeah, we know how serious that fire was to the infrastructure up there and in the state. Um, reclamation continues to want to be a strong partner with with the district and with the with the state overall. Uh, you're exactly right. We did have a team go out in february to assess the situation.
▶ 0:55:58Um, just hard to see what those impacts were overall, uh, there's been a report that's been pulled together at the end of march here. Um, so that's where we do recognize that yes. Qualifies for that. The conditional emergency is extraordinary maintenance. Uh, we were looking at the aging infrastructure dollars to be able to, to put towards that some of the remaining dollars that still exist. And with working through reclamation, the department of the interior, uh, we're able to get approval on that. Um, so we'll be able to update your staff on that. We were able to find that out this week.
▶ 0:56:28Um, so I do think we've got some funding that can be able to assist with this. >> I look forward to that meeting. Appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Um um, Mr. patel and Mr. graham, um, as you probably understand, as a result of catastrophic massive flooding along the columbia river shoreline in the 1940s and 50s well before our time, uh, the army corps acquired land along the columbia river in the tri-cities to provide flood control for the area.
▶ 0:56:55Since that time, local governments have leased much of this land from the corps, as we've talked about, and they have operated a lot of it as public parks. Much has changed since the 1940s and 50s, and there's no longer a need for the corps to continue owning, uh, most of this land.
▶ 0:57:11A group of local governments and tribes in central washington has worked together to develop a plan that supports a transfer of this land out of federal ownership, while ensuring that treaty rights and cultural resources will remain protected.
▶ 0:57:30This is, uh, a result of the efforts of this group that a legislative solution has been proposed to codify this plan, and I certainly appreciate the engagement of the walla walla and portland districts, uh, that you've had with this group to discuss some of the more technical elements of making this happen. But I bring this to your attention because this effort has been, as you know, years in the making, uh, countless meetings.
▶ 0:57:59Um, and it's been truly fantastic to see that these groups have come together to develop, um, a solution that benefits all parties. So thanks to the, to you, to the core, uh, for your work so far on this effort. And I hope that the working group will continue to receive the strong support that will be necessary from the district at the regional and the headquarters level. If you'd care to comment on any of that, I'd appreciate it very much, sir.
▶ 0:58:29>> very briefly, I'll just say that, um, these types of real estate issues are some of the most challenging issues we deal with quite often when the corps of engineers owns real estate, it's for the purpose of flooding it in extreme conditions. And so quite often, uh, maybe a parcel straddles that line between what we intend to flood in an extreme condition and what we don't, uh, building infrastructure, not paperwork.
▶ 0:58:50Our reform agenda rolled out earlier this year, really focuses on delegating, particularly recreation are very important recreation programs to, uh, nonfederal sponsors, state and local concessionaires to deliver better recreation for the public. And so, uh, to the degree that we can achieve that here, while also ensuring that we're not putting people in harm's way in extreme conditions, we're committed to sorting this out. General graham. >> yeah, absolutely.
▶ 0:59:13For the great working relationship with the tribes and the tri cities, if we don't need this land, we certainly want to get it back in the hands of folks that can put it to good use. I'm pretty pleased with the working relationships that we have right now. There's some environmental nuances that we're working through, particularly with the cities and the tribes, but I believe that the cooperative team work that you seek is taking place, and our commitment to you is to continue to advocate for that. >> yeah. >> appreciate that very much.
▶ 0:59:41I appreciate your your attitude and helpfulness on this. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. chairman. I've gone over. I appreciate your forbearance. >> yes, sir. Mr. levin. >> thank you so much, Mr. chairman. Uh, the army corps of civil works program has a long history of working collaboratively with congress to deliver for all americans. And for years, my office has enjoyed enjoyed a great relationship with the la district, south pacific division and with headquarters.
▶ 1:00:08This collaboration has meant that when the san clemente shoreline project encountered hurdles. We work with all levels of the corps to adapt and complete the project. I fear the success story wouldn't be possible this year, though, because of a recent memo from the department of defense restricting communication between the corps and congress, resulting in significant bottlenecks. For example, when my team reached out to the corps regarding emergency conditions in the oceanside harbor, it took the corps two full weeks to respond to.
▶ 1:00:36Despite the severity of the situation, and in the months since, my staff have experienced delays in receiving information we needed for the word of process and the fiscal 27 appropriations process. When my office asked about project capabilities, they were told repeatedly that capabilities would be communicated in the president's budget request after congressional deadlines. Well, the budget request came out last week and it zeroed out funding, zeroed out funding for the oceanside harbor project.
▶ 1:01:06Maintaining accessibility of this harbor is essential, as it serves both commercial users and military vessels entering and exiting camp pendleton. Obviously a key military installation. The corps zone website states that the corps quote dredges this entrance channel on an annual basis, end quote. It has since come to light that this project needs $4.3 million in fiscal 27.
▶ 1:01:27So, assistant secretary, tell, can you explain to me how exactly defunding this project supports the army corps mission to secure our nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk? >> sir, thank you for the question. And this is this is an important project. I think we have a we've had some recent. I know general kelly, uh, the deputy deputy commander of the corps recently walked this project. Um, this is something that we are working closely on.
▶ 1:01:57There's been issues related to the preferences of the nonfederal sponsor here related to the use of groins or not. I think that is something that we have recently worked through. That was a key inhibitor to the ability to move ahead together. And I think we've got a new plan that gets us there. General graham, don't know if you want to add anything to that. >> we're in good shape for fy 26 with the additional money that was put there. So we're going to get the harbor dredge to its maintenance depth.
▶ 1:02:22And we'll continue to make our best technical recommendation for 27 to maintain this important harbor. As you said. >> want to get zeroed out for fiscal 27. >> sir. Uh, we'll get back to you with that answer. But there were there had been ongoing discussions between the corps and the nonfederal sponsor about the design of the project. I think we've had a recent breakthrough that will help inform resource needs going forward.
▶ 1:02:49>> I think if it were up to you guys, I don't think it would be zeroed out. The only conclusion that I can draw from this is that omb is calling the shots. Uh, and I think they have unilaterally decided it's not worth funding work to access a critical military base in california. That's the only conclusion I can draw. And because dod has restricted communications with us, we were unable to identify and support funding for the project. You guys understand how the timeline works.
▶ 1:03:14So I'd like to remind everyone congress alone has the authority under article one to legislate to fund to oversee the armed forces, including the army corps of engineers. And we've got to have the necessary information about project capabilities so that congress can do its job. And that was not the case here. And I'm sure I'm not alone. Uh, we make the funding decisions. Russ, vote does not decide. We decide. That's what the constitution requires.
▶ 1:03:41Uh, assistant secretary taylor, are you aware the language in the fiscal 26 energy and water explanatory statement that directed your office to ensure the timely delivery of information, including project capabilities to congress without delays, interference, or prior clearance from dod or omb? >> yes, sir. I am aware of that language. And we are working, uh, to to coordinate with the interagency to make sure we can get you as much information as we possibly can while being compliant with respectfully.
▶ 1:04:12>> secretary, why then, is the army corps consistently continuing to stifle information, at least to my team, I presume others, um, on a consistent basis. How do you square that, sir? >> we're not we're not stifling information. Um, our goal is to get you information that you can count on that's dependable, so that the right hand and the left hand of the organization knows what's happening. We want to get you. >> successfully, sir. When I hear from my team that they are being stifled, I hear from you that they're not. I'm going to trust my team on this one.
▶ 1:04:41So I'd ask you to look into it because that's certainly the feedback I'm getting from my team. >> yes, sir. I'll just say chairman fleischmann has been on us about this, uh, about getting this information. This is something that we've been working with him on a daily basis to try to get you as much information as we can. He's been a tremendous advocate for the subcommittee in this regard. I think hearing your concerns and we hear him as well. So thank you. >> I'll just conclude by saying you guys have to maintain good faith communication with us. This is not optional. Uh, it is required under the law.
▶ 1:05:11And we have a right as congress to direct and timely information. And this is about the life and property that you guys are trying to protect. Sir, it's not acceptable, sir. >> I would just offer anytime that you aren't getting the information you need. I'm available to you. General graham's available. >> that have been great about six weeks ago. >> just let us know. Um. >> we're here. Okay? We will. We will yield back, Mr. chairman. Thank you.
▶ 1:05:39>> and if I may, for the benefit of my colleague and friend, uh, assistant secretary taylor has properly reflected to the committee and to you, sir, uh, in his answer, that is absolutely 100% correct. So thank you, sir. Um, at this point in time, I'd like to recognize the distinguished chairman of the ethics committee, uh, Mr. guest from mississippi. Thank you. >> thank you. >> Mr. chairman. Uh, to our witnesses, uh, thank you for being here today.
▶ 1:06:03Uh, special thanks to you, secretary tail, for your history of service to our home state of mississippi. Uh, you and I had the opportunity to visit before the hearing started, uh, about your recent trip to mississippi, leading a delegation from the pentagon there to the arctic facility located in vicksburg. And just want to ask if you would take a minute to talk a little bit about the arctic facility. I know that's one of four across the country, about the important work that they do.
▶ 1:06:32Uh, and then, uh, how we as congress can help promote, uh, what I would say would be a hidden gem, uh, with within your agency. So could you just talk about arctic for just a couple minutes? And again, I know that wasn't in your testimony, but, uh, it is something important to our state and something that I really wanted to highlight because I think that they're doing phenomenal work there at all the arctic facilities across the country. >> uh, yes, sir. Congressman. Yes.
▶ 1:07:00And thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk about this, uh, the engineer research and development center, which is of course, the corps of engineers research arm, is headquartered in vicksburg, mississippi. It has labs throughout the nation, um, that help contribute in every aspect of our work.
▶ 1:07:14General graham wears multiple hats as the chief of the corps of engineers on the civil work side that deals with america's water infrastructure and on the military program side that really deals with our military infrastructure and quite often our warfighting mission, the corps of engineers, contributions to the warfighting mission, uh, all that work goes together. Even though the facility is really founded as a civil works, uh, r&d facility that was really built around preventing floods, like the tragic flood of 1927.
▶ 1:07:43Um, it, the expertise that was developed there in terms of soil composition, what types of concretes are best suited for flood risk management, management infrastructure that wound up translating over to the military program side of the house. And that expertise really wound up, uh, blossoming there. This understanding of how soils behave when they're confronted with water, how concretes behave when they're, um, when, uh, projectiles hit them.
▶ 1:08:09It really, um, it really, it really became something that the entire army uses now, uh, to do the world class r&d on these subjects. And earlier this week, on tuesday, uh, I was delighted to have the assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics and technology, as well as the assistant secretary of the army for installations, energy and environment. Join me down at erdc to understand how the civil works mission, how our milcon programs, and how our warfighting programs all intermingle there at arctic. It's something that we need to do a better job of explaining.
▶ 1:08:39It's something that we need to make sure that we're properly resourcing. Uh, erdc is a world class research facility and a proud place. Vicksburg, it's rumored, has the highest per capita phds of any community in america. So, uh, you got a lot to be proud of there, sir. >> well, look. Thank you. And look, please let us know what we can do to help, um, the army corps, uh, to, uh, and make that facility.
▶ 1:09:01Uh, again, you talk about it being a first class facility, but what we can do to promote the work that they're doing, uh, and incorporate that across, um, the government structure. Um, I really believe I've been there. I've visited, uh, I've seen firsthand the incredible work that they do. And I want to continue to be a champion, uh, for, uh, the arctic facilities across the country. Uh, last question.
▶ 1:09:26Um, very briefly want to talk a little bit about the lock and dam infrastructure, particularly along the mississippi river, uh, the tombigbee waterway. Um, we have seen that many of those structures, uh, have either met or in some cases exceeded and surpassed their life expectancy and kind of want to talk and see if y'all can give me a little information about the course plan to address the lock and dam system along these waterways, and then what we can do to maintain the system's
▶ 1:09:57Integrity. Because, look, I understand and know how important that is to commerce for us to be able to move goods up and down the river. How important that those lock and dam structures play. Um, and again, uh, we did a great job building those in some cases almost a century ago. Uh, but, uh, they are, uh, becoming, uh, aging over time and really need to make sure that we are focusing on, uh, not only maintaining, uh, but rebuilding that infrastructure. So I know I've got about 30s.
▶ 1:10:27So turn it over to anyone that would like to address that. >> I'll let general graham discuss some of the specifics, but I'll just say this. The america's inland waterway system, our inland waterway navigation system is the envy of the world. No other nation has an inland waterway system, which is the most efficient form of transportation. It opens up our entire country to the global economy. Um, you think about the upper midwest.
▶ 1:10:49You think about areas in your state and in the tennessee valley and the tennessee tombigbee waterway, I'll just say is a critical connector between the tennessee river, which is, um, you know, which feeds into the ohio river and then down the mississippi, uh, it allows the tennessee river to have access, uh, straight down into the tombigbee river and ultimately through mobile bay in alabama.
▶ 1:11:12Um, and so this redundancy that we have in this, in this north south route is what the tenn-tom provides for the nation. It ensures that if the mississippi river is down for some reason, if it's low water in the mississippi river, we have an alternate route. And I'll let general graham talk any specifics. >> and I'll go fast. Um, representative gift, you're absolutely right. The the failures we had at, uh, holt and demopolis are absolutely unacceptable.
▶ 1:11:37We are not providing right now a reliable transportation network to this key and booming part of the country. So this all starts with identifying, um, what's the state of the current organization or the current infrastructure. And we've got a robust asset management program that does that. And that asset management program is all underpinned by great research and development.
▶ 1:11:57Last time I was down at holt, we were putting galvanic protection on the lock gates, and we are one of the world's leaders on being able to do that for steel structures that are down in concrete. But we do recognize that we've got to provide to this subcommittee accurate assessments of the costs to maintain this vital part of america's infrastructure. And that's our commitment to you, sir. >> thank you. And sorry for running over. Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you. Sir. At this time, I'd like to recognize the distinguished vice chair of the subcommittee from texas, Mr.
▶ 1:12:29Mcleod. Thank you. Chairman. >> uh, appreciate you having this hearing and thank you witnesses for being here. Uh, really do appreciate, um, the difference we're seeing with this administration compared to what we've seen in the past, a real proactive approach based on getting stuff done. Um, I recall times in the past where, you know, some, it was just, it was very difficult to get things done.
▶ 1:12:54It's a big difference when you're working with administration that's doing things right, trying to get the yes versus an administration that's looking for every reason to get to know, um, specifically, uh, secretary, your approach on let's get projects done, not just exist to create paperwork and to kind of spin the plate of procedural, uh, activity. Uh, and it's make a big difference.
▶ 1:13:16It's extremely important for our country and especially, and I've said this before, when we think about the army corps in the past, uh, us having a very proactive approach that we're in a race against china on infrastructure and building capabilities. Um, and so I want to thank you for that. Uh, when I talk to people all over the country, they can see the difference. Uh, and it's going to put us in a strong position going forward. Um, I wanted to talk about a couple issues that are relevant in my district, but also national priorities.
▶ 1:13:46One is the matagorda ship channel. I know you're very aware, well aware of it. The previous administration unprecedentedly, uh, rescinded the record of decision. First time for congressionally approved project that had ever been done in history, really to kind of put this project back at zero. You've done a lot of work and kind of playing catch up for the previous administration. I want to thank you all for that. I want to know what else is left for us to be done, uh, in congress, how important that this get into what a 2026?
▶ 1:14:11Anything else we can do from a congressional standpoint, even I know one of the challenges is even the availability of dredges, for example, which we can throw more money, but that doesn't mean there's more dredges necessarily unless we work on that issue. Anything we could be doing kind of in the how can we help you help us? Uh, category. >> sir, you're absolutely correct. And I was very pleased to to visit matagorda, um, a few months ago.
▶ 1:14:36I mean, if you just think for a minute about, um, what it would mean to our country if we could have a port that currently, um, on the gulf of america in texas that currently is not performing up to its capability. And we could add an asset to our economy, to our ability to export, um, petroleum products. I mean, this is a key opportunity and this is one of the most difficult areas to navigate along the entire gulf of america.
▶ 1:15:04Um, and your advocacy for the matagorda ship channel is well placed and we totally agree. Uh, the fy 26, uh, work plan, uh, included significant funding for this project. Um, you and I are in very close touch about what else may be needed and, um, in close touch with your constituents as well. And so we really look forward to working through this as we get into the design phase here. General graham, anything to add on matagorda?
▶ 1:15:29>> our commitment to representative cloud is that we're going to get the validation report in the packer update in to word of 26. Right now, our timeline is finished no later than 31st july. And our commitment to you is to make that. >> appreciate it. Thank you. Uh, it's all been really great to work with on this. And again, thank you. I wanted to touch on one thing with you. You can probably guess what it is, uh, in the region. Uh, we're in severe droughts, uh, in the gulf coast region, corpus christi specifically, we've been working on desalination.
▶ 1:16:01Uh, we've been able in, in legislation to begin the stand up of a, uh, a water technology, um, center of excellence for the gulf of america, um, to really bring a focus to what needs to be done along the coast for, for desalination, for best use of water technology and the like. You all have been very helpful again, in, in what we need to do to bring a solution to this. The president was down recently talked about, hey, we need to get this done.
▶ 1:16:28Uh, wanted to ask, uh, you know, one specific request is the city is, is working and preparing for application to the, uh, the smart water program. Um, and our water smart program. And, uh, as of yesterday, our understanding is that they've submitted everything they need. I was wondering if you could speak to maybe the timeline of the decision on that.
▶ 1:16:55Anything else we need to be doing to make sure that becomes a priority? I mean, you know how important it is to all the industry, their, uh, supplier of jet fuel for the country, strategic from a national security standpoint and the like. Uh, but, but we're running out of water. >> so no, thank you for the question, representative cloud. Uh, yeah, we know that we're seeing drought across the west. And of course, as it's impacting texas. So desal.
▶ 1:17:17Yeah, we're going to have to all be leaning in, trying to make sure that we're using that tool in the toolbox and trying to figure out where those opportunities are. So you're exactly right. We've been tracking really closely the feasibility study. Uh, so I know that there's been multiple conversations with reclamation just to make sure that you've got all, all the pieces in there. Um, so I've been tracking it very closely as well. Uh, also, yes, there's going to be a notice of funding opportunity we're working through that will be $120 million that will be available for that application process.
▶ 1:17:44I know that there was some discussion last time too, where I think there was a cap on it. So we're also looking for opportunities to possibly remove that cap. Um, so don't know the exact timing as it relates to if there's anything else with your feasibility study, but please know, I'm tracking it very closely to make sure if there's any issues, I'll make sure to follow up. >> thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> thank you chairman. >> thank you, Mr. vice chairman. Uh, miss malloy, the distinguished chair of the western caucus is recognized for questions. >> thank you.
▶ 1:18:14>> um, assistant secretary travnik, I'm I'm going to start off on a really positive note. I want to say thank you. The central utah project is really important to utah. Um, and the announcement of funding to enclose the strawberry high line canal is going to be good for water conservation, but it's also going to save, uh, failures of that canal and houses that are below it in the south part of utah county. So thank you for that.
▶ 1:18:39Um, I do have a question about, does the department anticipate a second round of 5050 won awards this year? >> um, so thank you for the question. Representative. Um, so we were working through that as well. So we're looking at those opportunities. Are those available funds? Um, so that's something that I can follow up on with you just to see what that time frame might look like. >> okay, that'd be great. Um, I was going to request a follow up meeting at the end of my questions anyway, so. Just perfect.
▶ 1:19:07I'll cross that off my list. Um, the great salt lake, the state, it's spending a lot of resources on that. It's another thing that's really important in utah besides being a large part of our identity. Um, it's also a big part of the ecosystem and the water levels are declining. Uh, we were really happy to see the president talking on social media about making the great salt lake great again and including it in the presidential budget.
▶ 1:19:29Um, and I just, I want to ask if you will work with us and find ways to make sure that we're getting the most out of this opportunity where, where it's a high priority for the administration. It's a high priority for our governor and our state legislature. Um, we need to get something done there and just would love to work with you moving forward on making sure we're doing the right things to get us long term results on the lake, and not just a short burst of activity that makes everybody feel better. >> know. Exactly. You're right.
▶ 1:19:58Uh, it's definitely a high priority for the administration. Also very high priority for the department of the interior. So we know how important that lake is to to the state, also to the region and to the country. So we are going to be actively engaged, not only working with our bureaus internally, but also working with the other departments and closely with the state and the other partners as well. So, so we are all in to try to figure out how to assist in any way. >> all right. >> we will be following up on that. Thank you. That was easy. Thank you.
▶ 1:20:25Um, assistant secretary tell, uh, I have some questions from constituents of mine about wotus waters of the united states after the supreme court decision. Uh, the the federal government doesn't have jurisdiction over a lot of areas that used to have jurisdiction over, uh, but now the jurisdiction determinations are sometimes slowing down projects.
▶ 1:20:46Could you just speak to how often the court requires an entity to obtain an approved jurisdictional determination, determination, or a letter of non jurisdiction before proceeding, rather than allowing a preliminary jurisdiction determination. So an ajayd instead of a pj d uh, and has that changed since? >> second ma'am, thank you for raising this important issue. The second decision, um, clarified in a way that has never happened since the clean water act of 1972 was enacted.
▶ 1:21:17What the law means as it relates to our role in permitting activity within waters of the united states, uh, as a result of that decision, in march of last year, uh, we issued guidance to our districts about how to adhere to sackett that's in place now.
▶ 1:21:36We're in the process working with our partners at the environmental protection agency, uh, and developing a final rule that is adherent to the sackett decision, as you keenly point out, uh, jurisdictional determinations are quite often the first step. Am I in a water of the united states where I need a permit or am I not? And this budget and the building infrastructure, not paperwork agenda, um, is going to provide tools that will make that process much faster.
▶ 1:22:03Um, we have inconsistency across our 39 civil works district about how we apply jurisdictional determinations related to waters of the united states. Uh, we want to make that consistent. Whatever district you're in, you're going to get an answer that is consistently adherent to the law of the land. Uh, in, in accordance with the sackett decision.
▶ 1:22:24Um, and so I would just say, uh, in the budget before you is our resources to speed, uh, those determinations so that we can get down to letting americans carry out the economic activity and the personal activity that they would like to carry out, uh, while complying with the clean water act of 1972. >> okay. >> thank you. I appreciate that. I'm almost out of time. I will just say I get a lot of sort of general complaints about how slow the corps is to respond.
▶ 1:22:53Uh, if you'll work with us on addressing that, making sure that that people feel like they're being responded to in a timely manner, I would be happy to help you solve that problem. Um, and thank you all for being here. I appreciate your testimony. >> absolutely. Thank you. Um, this is, it's critical that we get folks answers as quickly as we can. >> thanks, and I yield. >> thank you, Mr. murvin. >> thank you chairman. Uh, thank you for being here today, assistant secretary and, uh, individuals from the army corps appreciate it.
▶ 1:23:22Uh, the army corps has a long history of delivering water infrastructure development projects critical to navigation, resource management, and public health for maintaining our commercial recreational resources, uh, and ensuring residents have clean drinking water. The army corps of chicago district has been an unparalleled federal partner in the effort to facilitate economic development in northwest indiana, which sits at the epicenter of vital networks and the great lakes, ensuring that these civil work projects are well funded is not just a local matter.
▶ 1:23:51Indiana harbor and burns waterway harbor service, a majority industrial manufacturing hub and the largest oil refinery in the midwest and the nation's largest concentration of steel production. Furthermore, these harbors are the core are the keystones of the cause. Great lakes navigation mission.
▶ 1:24:07In october, the administration issued a directive that limited communications between local cause districts and congressional offices and therefore limited my office's ability to work closely with our corps district to understand the specific budgetary needs in the harbors. So my question is simple can you assure me that there are adequate resources provided for operating in the maintenance and salaries to over and overhead to ensure that the corps is fulfilling its navigational mission in the lake and great lakes.
▶ 1:24:38>> congressman sir, absolutely. The president's budget adequately funds those operation and maintenance activities. Um, at the chicago district that are important to your district. Uh, and for the first time in history, as has been discussed today, uh, the salaries and expenses that you've referenced are provided to this committee, uh, in an effort to have transparency around what it is you're buying.
▶ 1:25:01>> so obviously there's a theme, right, that has gone around and just in plain speak, tell me, was there a lack of transparency and what effect did that have? I want to give you an opportunity for me to understand that this major change, uh, how has you're using transparency as a benefit to something I don't quite understand as a benefit? So my question to you is, why is it so vitally important for you to do that? >> yes, sir.
▶ 1:25:31Thank you for the opportunity to explain it. Um, historically, if you look at the the data and this is one of the first questions I asked when I, uh, walked into this job, um, historically one third, if congress appropriates money for vital water infrastructure project, about one third of that.
▶ 1:25:49So if you think about $100 million project, about $33 million goes to pay the salaries and expenses of our district staff in delivery of that project, about $67 million goes to actually deliver the project. Um, that was hidden from decision makers in the executive branch and the congress.
▶ 1:26:09And in my view, congress ought to have, and decision makers in the executive branch ought to have an understanding of when they appropriate $100 million to a project. Uh, how much of that project is going to deliver the project in execution and how much of it is going to pay? >> the question is, though, I get the transparency. But wasn't the army corps overseeing? That isn't part of the transparency for the cost of the projects to be understood and the cost of inflation and those salaries?
▶ 1:26:39Isn't that a core responsibility that you have? >> absolutely, sir. And, uh, nothing in this the way that we presented the budget changes those resources. It just simply provides you with more information with which to make decisions. >> okay. Clearly noted. Uh, the president's budget requests, uh, 5.6 million, indiana harbor, 240,000 for burns waterway, including salaries and expenses.
▶ 1:27:03This represents 6.5 million and 1.4 million cut from fiscal year 2026 enacted levels, respectively. Since the people on the ground doing this work have been directed not to share information with me. Can you tell me in detail why there is such a significant cut for funding of the civil works projects for these critical, critical harbors? >> congressman, I'm happy to get back to you with that answer. I don't have that in front of me today.
▶ 1:27:29Um, general graham, I don't know if you have further information on that, but I on those particular harbors, I don't have that information other than to say that the president's budget adequately funds operation and maintenance for those harbors. >> except there's cuts. >> well, congressman, when we're developing the budget request on an annual basis, we look at a number of factors, uh, where in the pipeline of work are we? Um, there are a number of factors that might make a budget, um, go up or down in a given year. >> um, in the communication side of things. >> yes, sir.
▶ 1:27:58>> how is it advantageous for the local community? Boots on the ground. And I was a local elected official for 15 years to be able to cut off communications with the member of congress. That works very well with the army corps of engineers. I produced. Our region produces the most steel in the region. We have one third largest oil refinery in northwest indiana. It is vitally important for me to be able to communicate locally to those leaders who know those projects best, instead of going to a bureaucracy of individuals who don't.
▶ 1:28:24I need a real case of clarity on how that's to my advantage or my constituents advantage. >> sir, there has been no cut off of communication. >> no, there. >> has been. Well, look, I'll just say that, uh, the secretary of war issued a memo earlier. >> so you redistrict you, you basically, for you to say there's been no cut off of communications is inaccurate. There has been. And I'm not blaming you, but let's just call it what it is.
▶ 1:28:50>> I would just say that, um, the secretary of war's memo took time for our organization to fully, uh, implement. And during that period of time, I think there was some hesitancy on our part to engage with congress before we understood, before they understood the new normal. And I think that we have largely addressed that today. I don't think that there is a gap in communications now. There are certain types. >> and my time is up. And so, yes.
▶ 1:29:19No, your testimony is that I can call my district office, ask communicative question about how we should do projects in the future and how projects are going. They will answer me. >> absolutely, sir. Except in the case where it violates an administration rule like omb circular a-11, which administration officials are required to adhere to. >> thank you for your time, I appreciate it. >> thank you.
▶ 1:29:42Um, while time permits, uh, I'd like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the dais and our witnesses for very thoughtful and complete answers and the like. Um, we can start a second round before votes are called at 1130 ish. Um, so, uh, I will begin with myself again.
▶ 1:30:03General graham, I'd like to call your attention to another issue of tremendous importance to my home state, tennessee, preventing the spread of invasive carp further into the tennessee and cumberland rivers. I get constant calls and community meetings about this, particularly in counties such as like roane county and the like.
▶ 1:30:24Congress has upheld its commitment to section 109 asian carp prevention pilot program, including $10.5 million in fiscal 26. Um, if I may, sir, uh, where are we on finalizing implementation and how our coordination discussions with states like tennessee and kentucky over ppas and the tva authority over an mou progressing.
▶ 1:30:50And I just in a general sense, what's a realistic timeline to construct an invasive carp deterrent? Thank you sir. >> uh, chairman fleischmann, thank you for that question. And, uh, really delighted to see that $10.5 million in fy 26. And we plan to put that to good use. We'll purchase the pilot equipment at berkeley, uh, lock and dam. And what we learned there will apply to the other locations. In particular.
▶ 1:31:16What we learned is, you know, had they, they call it a fish disco, we used all sorts of things, um, lights, uh, acoustics, bubbler, curtains. And what we found through great science is that hopefully I won't get quoted on c-span with the fish disco. Um, the acoustics were the most effective. And so that's a great bit of understanding that we can then rapidly apply for the other locations.
▶ 1:31:41So we're still working through the kind of the funding challenges because with the pulling all those states together that border the tennessee river system, um, we've got to do that in accordance with the state laws. And so we're working with some other entities that might allow us to do that. But our commitment is to take that money and put it to good use to prevent asian carp from getting down the cumberland and tennessee. >> uh, Mr.
▶ 1:32:05Chairman, if I might just add, there is there remains an interest in understanding whether there's a market, uh, for these invasive species, uh, that would incentivize, um, fishermen and others to remove them from the system. And so we're not going to abandon that concept either. In fact, we're going to, we're going to really explore that. And it's been explored before, but we're going to further explore it as our understanding of asian carp has developed. >> thank you. And, uh, assistant secretary, I appreciate that.
▶ 1:32:33I even seen some culinary interests in in the asian carp. Uh, so we wish you well in that endeavor in general. In, in well as as well. So thank you for that. In the interest of time, um, I think I am going to, uh, cease my questions and, uh, recognize the gentleman from california, Mr. levin. >> I thank my friend, the chairman. Uh, Mr.
▶ 1:32:55Tell if an energy project is sited near wetlands, project developers need to obtain a permit from the corps. And historically, the corps is processed clean water act and rivers and harbors act permit applications routinely. Um, Mr. chairman, I ask for unanimous consent to enter into the record a report from heat map news. It's called. The trump administration is now delaying renewable projects it thinks are ugly. You can't make this up.
▶ 1:33:24S unanimous consent to enter this article. Thank you, Mr. chairman, and the article details how the administration is transforming what was a routine process into one in which outcomes are based on an arbitrary density metric, which is really outside of any statutory framework, which effectively blocks only certain types of energy projects would, which happen to be solar and wind projects.
▶ 1:33:48Uh, and as the administration looks to do that, they're making our energy bills more expensive every single day. It sort of defies logic during a time when bills are too high as it is in september. So secretary tell you issued a directive to prioritize the processing of permits for projects based on and I quote, energy density, end quote. It's a concept that the administration is using the system systematically disadvantage, uh, wind and solar.
▶ 1:34:17And the de-prioritization tactic is affecting projects primarily on private lands, on private lands. That's different from the interior secretary, who doesn't want wind and solar projects to advance on public lands. Now you have the interior secretary blocking these project projects. On public lands. You have the army corps throwing up barriers for these projects on private lands. And again, all during a crisis of energy affordability and supply shortfalls. So with that is the context.
▶ 1:34:43Assistant secretary tell how long does it now take for the court to process permits for wind and solar energy projects, and how does that differ from oil, gas and coal projects? >> uh, congressman, I'm not aware of any, uh, specific data that, um, shows that the additional information that we are requiring for permit seekers, for energy projects to understand our land and particularly our land that are, that is waters of the united states is, is a precious commodity for our nation.
▶ 1:35:12>> the corps doesn't keep any specific data on the link. >> I'm happy to try to. I'm happy to try to provide you that information. I'm not aware of any data, but I will just say within the, the, the, uh, limited commodity which is u.s lands, it is prudent to examine if we're going to, uh, permit an activity in within our limited capacity of land that we look at the energy density. Are we going to, are we going what, uh, level of energy production per acre?
▶ 1:35:42Is this project going to result in? It doesn't, um, the directive doesn't say there's a cut off if you don't produce a certain amount of energy per acre, it simply says it's a consideration that we ought to examine, uh, as we think about how to use this limited resource. >> and, um, what legal authority gives you the ability to consider energy density? >> uh, congressman, I can get back to you with that question. Um, but it is lawful. >> under what law?
▶ 1:36:12>> the clean water act of 1972 permits the corps of engineers allows the corps of engineers to permit activity within waters of the united states. >> right. And has it ever been used in this way to arbitrarily. >> there are a number of factors that have been used over the years and changed over the years that allow us to look at all types of factors when determining activity within.
▶ 1:36:32>> according to court filings and reporting developers with projects that have been in the pipeline for a long time, or being forced to completely re-engineer their projects, it costs of millions of dollars to avoid your jurisdiction entirely, and that extends timelines. It drastically reduces design efficiency, and now developers are not only facing likely denial, they're increasingly deterred from even submitting applications to begin with. I would just put this in broader context. Makes no sense given the situation in iran.
▶ 1:37:02The closure of the strait of hormuz, it is revealed the shortcoming of relying solely on oil and gas, the need to diversify our energy sector with the focus on domestic clean energy, which is often less expensive and faster to bring online. And every megawatt of this sort of energy that we add to the power grid helps to insulate the american consumer from the volatility of fossil fuels.
▶ 1:37:27So I would implore you, sir, reverse course on this and ensure that all energy projects are permitted fairly, fairly, so that we don't see headlines such as the trump administration is now delaying renewable projects it thinks are ugly. What do you think of this headline when you hear that? >> I think it's not reflective of reality. >> what do you think is reality?
▶ 1:37:49>> reality is we have a limited resource, which is land, and we ought to, as we're considering how to use it, consider the activity that's going to take place on it and what the benefit is to the public. >> well, I look forward to seeing and follow up to this line of questioning the legal, uh, theory upon which the court is relying, because I don't think there is a concrete legal authority that you're relying on. I don't think the clean water act or any other environmental statute does what you are saying that it does. I think this is arbitrary and capricious and political. And with that, Mr.
▶ 1:38:17Chairman, I yield back. >> thank you. Uh, I'd like to recognize vice chairman cloud for some questions. >> uh, thank you, chairman, and I appreciate that we're talking about energy because it is so important, especially right now. Um, and the need for us to have affordable energy. You know, when I think about, you know, different ways we get energy, solar, wind, natural gas, clean coal, uh, and we talk about affordability.
▶ 1:38:45It seems to me solar and wind are more expensive to produce. Uh, we can throw nuclear in there as well, which is extremely efficient. Um, I recall the biden administration is as reliable as natural gas. Uh, and is the biden administration literally put in their budget that we shouldn't spend anything, uh, that would help oil and gas, uh, and what that did to drive up gas prices in our country was, was ridiculous.
▶ 1:39:14And so I appreciate this administration taking a hard look and refocusing us on energy projects that matter on baseload, especially as we try to compete with china when it comes to the race to ai, uh, which is actually an energy production race. Um, and we think about, again, what was labeled as energy projects under the biden administration, we can include clean coal with which, how much energy does our, I'm sorry, carbon capture, uh, how much energy does carbon capture create for our country?
▶ 1:39:44Zero. Right? So, uh, it actually costs communities a lot of energy. Um, and we were spending billions and billions and billions of dollars on that. So I just want to thank you for being on the cutting edge of refocusing on us on affordable energy, uh, production. Uh, and thank you for that. Um, what else, uh, can we be doing to help you refocus us on cheap and affordable energy? >> thank you. Congressman cloud.
▶ 1:40:15The first things that come to mind are, um, what we've done already, uh, to enable this, uh, more than 1000 energy permits have been approved, um, in accordance with president trump's executive order related to energy dominance, uh, by the corps of engineers, uh, since within the past year and a half, uh, that's a huge step.
▶ 1:40:36But I think about, I go back to, uh, projects like the matagorda ship channel in your district, um, our ability to compete in the 21st century to ensure that the united states of america remains the greatest nation in the history of the world, is dependent on our ability to transit commerce over the most efficient means of transiting commerce man has ever created, which is the water.
▶ 1:40:59Uh, we cannot compete in the 21st century, uh, in a global economy, in a very competitive atmosphere, unless our, uh, arteries, which are our ports, our inland ports, our coastal ports are deep and maintained. And the best thing that this subcommittee can do to help american energy dominance is to ensure that our navigation is competitive globally.
▶ 1:41:24It is a tremendous competitive advantage that we have as a nation, and we ought to use it for all that we can. >> before I recognize miss lee, I want to thank the assistant secretary. I could not agree with you more about the dredging and the need for for that for our channel. So thank you. And that will be a priority for the chairman as well. So thank you. Uh, so that everyone knows, uh, they have called votes, but miss lee is here and I want to make sure that she has an opportunity.
▶ 1:41:53The gentlelady from nevada, to ask some questions. And so our witnesses know we have several hearings going on at the same time. So, uh, so glad that you made it, ma'am. And thank you. Recognized. >> thank you for offering me the opportunity to ask my questions. Uh, doctor travnik, good to see you. It is crunch time for negotiations on the colorado river, especially in light of the worst drought we've seen in 1200 years.
▶ 1:42:14And you see ucla, uh, released a report recently or last year that emphasized that states across the colorado river basin are squandering a critical opportunity to ease the region's historic water crisis, water recycling and reuse.
▶ 1:42:35Researchers found that just if the basin states were able to collectively raise reuse rates by 40% to 40%, we could gain nearly 900,000 acre feet of new water annually, enough to supply nearly 2 million homes. Uh.
▶ 1:42:53The bureau of reclamation's large scale water recycling program is scheduled to sunset this year, and I have a bipartisan bill with my colleague, representative juan ciscomani from arizona that would reauthorize this program for another five years till, uh, from 2026 to 31.
▶ 1:43:09Uh, do you agree with me and representative cisco that this program and similar efforts at the federal level level to support water recycling and reuse represent essential tools in the reclamation's toolbox to partner with states like ours and tackling the western water crisis. >> uh, good to see you. Yeah, thank you for the question, representative lee. Uh, as you mentioned, right. We are seeing an extreme drought situation in the colorado river system.
▶ 1:43:37Uh, we know that we've been working very closely with the seven basin states, trying to get to a consensus agreement. Um, and we know that we have got to figure out those other opportunities to try what, try to find water within the system, right? Whether that's conservation tools, whether that's looking at the water, reuse, the desal. So, so to your, to your question related to, to water reuse, I know that nevada has been a strong, strong leader within that. Uh, also, I know that we've been working really closely with a lot of the municipalities across the seven basin states.
▶ 1:44:08Uh, we do have a notice of funding opportunity that's, that's out on the street right now, too, related to large scale water of the recycling projects. Um, so we'd definitely love to learn a little bit more about your bill and, and, and see what those opportunities might look like. >> uh, so the question was, do you believe if, uh, that this is essential? I mean, in light of it being, I hope that we can look at an opportunity to, uh, reauthorize this program.
▶ 1:44:35And I'll move on to my next question, which is about the hoover dam, which will require more than $200 million in major plan investment over and above the routine operation and maintenance during the next, uh, decade and during the last congress reclamation testified in support of my bipartisan bill, help hoover dam act to recover upwards of $50 million in existing funding that's been collected from hoover
▶ 1:45:05Hydropower contractors to help address these needs, which include, for instance, the installation of new wide head turbines to maintain power generation at lower reservoir elevations, which is obviously something that we're entering into. Uh, I successfully was able to incorporate our bill into the final fiscal year 26 funding package.
▶ 1:45:29But the fact of the matter is that more, more must be done to modernize the dam, both for it to be able to adapt to the current realities on the colorado river, as well as continue to stand tall as the american icon it had for another hundred years. Could you please speak to some of the most pressing modernization efforts, either underway or pending at the hoover dam?
▶ 1:45:52And is it fair to say that support from congress in this committee remains key to ensuring reclamation and its partners are successful in completing these efforts? >> uh, no, thank you for the question, and we really appreciate the support. We know how iconic. As you stated, the hoover dam is to the to the whole system, to the country, to colorado river, all the users. So we continue to look at what those efficiencies are, what those infrastructure needs are as we modernize it.
▶ 1:46:17So we've been working really closely with the, our partners as well, uh, looking to see what those opportunities are to, to make sure that we can get some of those whitehead turbines replaced to make sure that they are efficient. So, uh, we continue to have it as a high priority, continue to want to be able to work with congress and with the partner, the power partners as well. >> great. Thank you. And I yield. >> okay. >> um, we are about eight minutes left on votes.
▶ 1:46:42So, uh, I'd like to again thank our witnesses for being here today. Uh, thank you for, again, your thoughtful and thorough testimony before us. Um, a few housekeeping messages. Um, please ensure that the hearing record questions for the record and any supporting information requested by the subcommittee are delivered in final form to us no later than four weeks from the time that you receive them.
▶ 1:47:10Members who have additional questions for the record will have until the close of business thursday to provide them to the subcommittee office. And with that, the subcommittee stands adjourned.