▶ 0:26:47>> committee will come to order. Before turning to my full opening statement I want to let members know how we are going to proceed in. I want to thank senator heinrich and his staff. Recognizing the demands on the schedule of every senator to be a sufficient as possible the committee meets for a short business meeting followed by immediately after that by a hearing on four nominations, two for senior positions within the interior and two for senior positions within the department of energy.
▶ 0:27:17We will begin with a short business meeting to consider three agenda items in the order in which each item was listed on the agenda that the clerk sent each of you and your offices this past friday, april 25. First we will vote on the nomination of the undersecretary and then we will vote on the nomination for the undersecretary of energy for science. Each has my support.
▶ 0:27:47Finally, we will finish our work on the critical mineral consistency act. Before the vote on this bipartisan legislation, which I am pleased to be the primary sponsor, I will ask the committee to take up a substituted member that has been circulated to senators and accompanying title. It builds on what I circulated before.
▶ 0:28:15As soon as we have a reporting requirement I will ask the committee to vote on the nominations, the amendments and finally the bill after we hear briefly from senator heinrich, we will make a judgment call. We have some senators running late due to some protest traffic. If we don't have a quorum we will go to the legislation first and then for nominations.
▶ 0:28:41After the votes I will recognize any member who wishes to speak briefly on any of the matters on which we voted. I will ask members to keep their remarks as brief as we can so we can briefly today -- probably to the hearing. We will go to the hearing and that I will offer my formal
▶ 0:29:01Opening And Then: Senator heinrich for his opening statement and then we will swear in the witnesses and introduce them.
▶ 0:29:08Sen. Heinrich: Thank you, chairman. I am concerned that the chaos this administration is facilitated for the workforce reductions in the reported hit list of programs targeted for termination. I fear the nominees before us will be called upon as loyal members of this administration to make policy decisions with which I will strongly disagree and which will not to be in the best interest of the department or the nation.
▶ 0:29:39Sen. Heinrich: However, these are both qualified by their experience and training to serve in these positions. So on balance, I would rather have them on the job where I hope they can bring some stability to bear and where hopefully they will be willing and able to defend the department programs and make better decisions than those currently being made by elon musk and doge.
▶ 0:30:04Sen. Heinrich: I will vote in favor of these nominations, but I do so with substantial reservations. I intend to hold both appointees accountable for their actions. This administration has shown a willingness to color outside the lines and I think we need to do everything we can to mitigate that. I'm going to quickly ask unanimous consent to enter an article into the record today. The headline of this article is a mass exodus begins at the energy department.
▶ 0:30:34Sen. Heinrich: Huge staff to purchase expected from offices that spearhead advanced nuclear grade innovation and domestic manufacturing. Headlines like these should concern all of us.
▶ 0:30:45Chmn Lee: Without objection.
▶ 0:30:48Sen. Heinrich: I want to thank chairman lee for addressing my concerns and I support the substituted amendment and will vote for the bill as amended.
▶ 0:30:56Chmn Lee: Thank you very much. We will now proceed with the business meeting. I have been informed there is a request in for roll call vote on each of the nominations so the nomination of Mr. wells griffith to be the undersecretary of energy. The clerk will call the rule. -- role.
▶ 0:31:29Chmn Lee: >> aye. >> Mr. justice? >> by proxy. >> Ms. hyde-smith. >> by proxy. >> Ms. murkowski. >> by proxy. >> Mr. heinrich. >> aye. >> Ms. cantwell. >> no.
▶ 0:31:59Chmn Lee: >> Ms. hirono >> >> Ms. hirono >. >> no by proxy. >>>> Mr. king >> >>>> Mr. king . >>aye. >>. Mr. padilla. >> no.
▶ 0:33:11Chmn Lee: On this boat, the ayes in the nays r 14. However, we do not have senators at present.
▶ 0:33:27Chmn Lee: Let's proceed to the nomination of dario gill. Never mind. We are going to go to the bill first. 22 s 714 and we will get back to the numbness in a moment. -- the noms in a moment. We will consider the amendment from senator heinrich.
▶ 0:33:55Chmn Lee: I want to thank senator heinrich and his staff are working with us. The government's listing of critical mineral should be harmonized in the list maintained respectively by the department of interior and to energy since the enactment of the energy act of 2020 have been far too often a source of confusion and have produced unintended consequences because of the fact that they are not consistent. This bill is intended to solve the problem.
▶ 0:34:22Chmn Lee: The substituted amendment does so in a better way than the text of the underlying bill. It provides clear and more specific language. It achieves the policy objectives that we share it with companion legislation that passed the house with significant bipartisan support in congress. We will also take up the necessary title amendment. Senator heinrich, do you want to speak to this?
▶ 0:34:47Chmn Lee: If any other senator may wish to speak on the amendment or on the bill, I'd ask them to hold their remarks until after it votes. We will move now to the vote on the amendments. The first vote will be on the substitute amendment. All those in favor signify by saying aye. >>ayes. They are adopted.
▶ 0:35:16Chmn Lee: Now the next vote on the title amendment. All in favor say aye. >> the ayes have it. Now the critical mineral consistency act. Do you want to speak to the bill before we vote on that?
▶ 0:35:35Sen. Heinrich: I just want to thank the chairman for working with us to come up with a bipartisan approach to this. To the extent we can do that it will make for a more durable policy and I appreciate his efforts.
▶ 0:35:51Chmn Lee: Thank you very much. Turning to the passage of the bill itself all those in favor say aye. The ayes have it. The measure will be submitted to the senate.
▶ 0:36:18Chmn Lee: I am told we have colleagues in the building. Traveling to the committee room by way of neptune. Today is the final day of argument before the supreme court and there are large demonstrations of their and I think that is what has caused some of the problems. We will patiently await them. The senator has offered to do a song and dance routine.
▶ 0:36:45Chmn Lee: [laughter] >> I would suggest we start the hearing. I've got the nodding approval of my staff director.
▶ 0:37:32Chmn Lee: One approach we could take it as we could either turn to the hearing portion of it. We could also just if anybody wants to speak to the nominees or to the bill, it could do that now. We have any idea where they are in the building? >> Mr. chairman, at eight minimum maybe we could speak to the nominees and do some introductions. If someone would like to introduce Dr. travnicek, Dr. travnicek, travnicek.
▶ 0:38:02Chmn Lee: When you provide your introduction. >> I would be happy to. >> Dr. andrea travnicek to be assistant secretary of the interior, water and science.
▶ 0:38:26Chmn Lee: I am very pleased to provide her introduction, not only because she is a fellow north dakota in -- decoded -- decdakotan. She has her father, pat with her. I thought she had two sisters, jean and heather and jean is actually her mother.
▶ 0:38:57Chmn Lee: It is great to have you guys here. I am getting just a little bit. Her father, pat, has over 40 years, I think come with the united states air force. He worked as a pilot in a uniform and also in civilian work as well.
▶ 0:39:16Chmn Lee: I had the great good fortune when I was governor of north dakota to fight with him and he flew b-52s, and we did a practice run over the state capital in bismarck 50,000 feet, which was a lot of fun. The only reason we got clearance to do it because I was governor at that time, unless you were doing that all the time. 2000 feet, we were way up there. Anyway, a great record of service.
▶ 0:39:47Chmn Lee: When I was governor, I hired andrea to come and work for us. She graduated from our outstanding land grant university, north dakota state university which everyone else is the home of the bison. I don't have to tell anyone that, certainly on the republican side because they hear me talk about it. She was a stellar student and athlete. She was a tremendous soccer player.
▶ 0:40:15Chmn Lee: Suggest an all star performer all around. I hired her in the governor's office. After that, she worked for the governor who succeeded me and another guy you might have heard of, and that is step -- governor burgum who is now the secretary of the interior. It is no surprise he wanted to bring andrea here with him. She actually in this position was during the first trump administration was the acting assistant director for water and science.
▶ 0:40:45Chmn Lee: She has some great background for this job. I strongly recommend that people support her for this position. She is a kind of person who understands these jobs are about getting things done. And senator king, that means working with everybody, even independents, not just democrats and republicans to get things done. I highly recommend her and ask your support for her. Thank you.
▶ 0:41:13Chmn Lee: Thank you. And I am sure the senator was happy not to have to do a song and dance routine. >> she is smart enough to figure there is no z in bison. Let's just say she is off the charts smart. >> you know what the mother buffalo said to her son as he when -- went off to school?
▶ 0:41:44Chmn Lee: >> "by son." >> president trump asked that final important note, we brought the advisor to the white house not too long ago and just to show you are in good company, president trump asked the same question. He said wait a second, it is an s, why are you saying a z.
▶ 0:42:16Chmn Lee: >> it is filled withan s.
▶ 0:42:22Chmn Lee: Nomination. >> Mr. lee. Aye. >> Mr. daines. Aye. >> Mr. cassidy. Aye. >> Ms. murkowski. >> by proxy.
▶ 0:42:53Chmn Lee: >> Mr. heinrich. Aye. >> Ms. cantwell. Aye no, by proxy. >> Ms. cortez masto. >> Mr. padilla. >> no, by proxy.
▶ 0:43:16Chmn Lee: -- >> would you like to be recorded
▶ 0:43:47Chmn Lee: On this vote? >> yes, please. >> thank you. So on this vote the Mr. ga ayese 14.
▶ 0:44:07Chmn Lee: Nomination is agreed to and will be reported favorably. To Dr. dario gill, undersecretary of energy for science. >> Mr. lee. Aye. >> Mr. barrasso. Mr. daines. Aye. >> Mr. mccormick. >> aye. >> Mr. justice.
▶ 0:44:43Chmn Lee: >> aye >> by proxy. . Ms. murkowski. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. heinrich. >> aye. >> Ms. cantwell. >> no, by proxy. . Mr. king. Mr. hickenlooper.
▶ 0:45:15Chmn Lee: Mr. padilla. >> no, by proxy.
▶ 0:45:48Chmn Lee: On this vote, the ayes are 15 and the nays are five.
▶ 0:45:58Chmn Lee: The nomination will be recorded favorably to the senate floor. Now we are going to turn directly into our hearing. The fifth nomination hearing for the hundred 19th congress. We will receive testimony from four well-qualified americans for senior office within the committee jurisdiction. I am going to recognize senator murkowski to introduce Mr. abby.
▶ 0:46:29Chmn Lee: She is apparently not here yet, so we will hold off on that for a moment. The senator is already recognized. >> I can do it again if you would like. I have a lot more to say about her.
▶ 0:46:48Chmn Lee: That would also be fine. In a moment, the senator who graciously supplied us for the vote to have a quorum has asked that I provide him a quorum in a competing markup about to start, the foreign relations committee. What if you do it?
▶ 0:47:14Chmn Lee: We are going to have senator hoe van in my absence. I will be back in a few minutes. >> that's fine.
▶ 0:47:27Chmn Lee: If senator murkowski is not here for the introduction, you can interest the other witness and swear them in and begin opening statements.
▶ 0:48:43Sen. Hoeven: I want to welcome all of our witnesses today. The rules require that all nominees be sworn in with connection to their testimony. If you would please stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give the senate committee on energy in the shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
▶ 0:49:08Sen. Hoeven: Let the -- let the record show they all responded in the affirmative. Thank you. Before you begin your opening statements, I will ask the witnesses three questions that are posed to nominees appearing before the committee. First, this will be for all of you, your response will be I do if in fact you do.
▶ 0:49:32Sen. Hoeven: First, will you be able to appear before this committee and other congressional committees to represent department positions and respond to issues of concern to the congress? Second, are you aware of any personal holdings, investments or interest that could constitute a conflict of interest or create the appearance of such conflict should be confirmed and assume the office to which you've been nominated by the president? Ok. And third, are you involved or do you have any assets in a blind trust?
▶ 0:50:05Sen. Hoeven: Ok. Thank you. I have already introduced Dr. travniec. For now, we will hold to see if senator murkowski gets here to introduce triston abbey. >> why don't I give my opening statement and that will save you a filibuster.
▶ 0:50:34Sen. Hoeven: Sounds good. [laughter] >> welcome. This is our fourth nomination's hearing this year and although the breadth of responsibilities of the offices that we are considering is narrowing as we move on, their importance is not diminished. We meet this morning to consider three assistant secretaries and the administrator of the energy information administration.
▶ 0:51:02Sen. Hoeven: Each of these offices we are considering carries with it enormous responsibilities of the utmost importance to this committee and the american people. Ms. has been nominated -- Ms. bier has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of the interior, lands and minerals management. She would oversee the bureau of land management, ocean, safety and environmental and the office of surface mining.
▶ 0:51:31Sen. Hoeven: All told, she would oversee more than 240 4 million acres of land that belongs to the public. 700 million acres of I'm short mineral estate, three point 2 million acres of the outer continental shelf, 30 national monuments, 25 national conservation areas. It will be her job to both preserve and protect our public lands and to provide for the development of the natural resources in a safe and environmentally responsible way.
▶ 0:52:01Sen. Hoeven: The doctor travniec has been nominated for the admistrator of the energy information -- the secretary assistant of the interior, water in science. It is our principal source of knowledge about our lands and waters, our mineral wealth and the natural hazards we face.
▶ 0:52:28Sen. Hoeven: The bureau of reclamation oversees the water supplies upon which millions of americans in 17 western states depend. It manages nearly 500 dams and nearly 300 reservoirs. It is the second largest producer of hydroelectricity and it irrigates 10 million acres of land to grow crops on which we all depend. Mr. gerrish has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of energy and nuclear energy.
▶ 0:52:59Sen. Hoeven: Nuclear power generates 20% of the countries electricity and does so cleanly and reliably and we cannot do without it. We depend on it to meet our energy needs and our climate goals. The current generation of nuclear power plant's built many decades ago will not last forever.
▶ 0:53:20Sen. Hoeven: At some point, they will need to be replaced by newer, safer and more affordable reactor technologies which will only come about from the sustained research and development efforts of the office of nuclear energy. Finally, Mr. abbey has been nominated to be the administer of the energy information administration which collects information about resources, production and demand upon which the department, congress, revit industry and the public depend.
▶ 0:53:51Sen. Hoeven: Senator moynihan famously remarked that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not his own facts. Each senator is entitled to their own opinion about energy policy, but we must share a common set of nonpartisan facts. It has long been the energy administration -- administrators tasked to provide those facts and it is absolutely essential that the administrator stick to the facts and not color them with partisan opinion.
▶ 0:54:22Sen. Hoeven: As qualified as each of these nominees may be, no single person can perform all the important tasks which they will be entrusted by themselves. They are not expected to. Instead, they are inspected to inspire, manage, lead organization staff with dedicated and experienced professionals who have devoted their careers to public service.
▶ 0:54:45Sen. Hoeven: The career civil service in both of these departments and across the entire government has been under relentless attack by the current administration. The fundamental question I have for each of the nominees this morning is whether if you are confirmed to these positions of public trust you will support and defend rather than demolish the offices and programs entrusted to your care.
▶ 0:55:08Sen. Hoeven: If you will faithfully execute the authority is delegated to you by congress and follow the laws as interpreted by the courts. Which brings me to something that you said, Mr. gerrish, 42 years ago at your first confirmation hearing for this committee. I had to check on that the first time I read that line.
▶ 0:55:28Sen. Hoeven: You gave the committee your unqualified assurance that you would faithfully execute the public trust in a manner that would "properly reflect the legislative intentions of the congress without regard to the political views or personal preferences of the secretary or the administration and that you would discharge her duties on the basis of your best professional judgment as to what the law is, not what you or the secretary or others would like it to be.
▶ 0:55:58Sen. Hoeven: You assured the committee you are committed to that approach both intellectually and philosophically. And I hope that is still the case, Mr. gerrish, and hope that all four of our nominees can make that same commitment and give us that assurance this morning. Thank you. .
▶ 0:56:21Sen. Heinrich: Thank you. I'm going to give brief introductions prepared by the chairman of the committee. Ms. leslie buyer nominated -- beyer manage billions of acres on the continental shelf, the bureau of land management, bureau of ocean energy management and the office of surface mining, access and develop hundreds of millions of acres of public land and
▶ 0:56:52Sen. Heinrich: Offshore resources. Ms. beyer recognizes oil and gas have been fundamental to driving our economy and lifting billions out of poverty and understands that america's strength is tied to our ability to produce reliable, affordable and cleaner energy, especially from the abundant resources here at home. This exactly the kind of leader we need to unlock american energy potential, cut through unneeded red tape drive prosperity. Mr.
▶ 0:57:21Sen. Heinrich: Ted garrish will lead the nuclear energy initiatives. He is uniquely prepared for this world having served in senior nuclear positions dating back to the reagan administration. He is to champion that nuclear is safe and powers 1/5 of america.
▶ 0:57:47Sen. Heinrich: He acknowledges nuclear power we center to the future and will ensure american energy stability for decades to come. Finally, Mr. triston abbey nominated for administrator of the energy information administration will oversee producing data for guiding policies in industry and consumers.
▶ 0:58:09Sen. Heinrich: With him at the helm, we have accurate and objectionable energy, data crucial to unleash and america's energy strength and reclaiming our global leadership. Each nominee here today is more than qualified. They represent exactly the type of bold leadership america needs now.
▶ 0:58:28Sen. Heinrich: American energy has always been a cornerstone of american strength could when we produce energy here at home, we power our economy, lift entire communities out of poverty and undercut our adversaries. Energy dominance means good jobs, strong families and a safer country. When we unleash american production, which the folks on the rigs and trucks and in the plants will win.
▶ 0:58:57Sen. Heinrich: It is testing the men and women who know how to get the job done . We need to print -- plans and permits. President trump's first 100 days back in office have made one thing clear, the america of energy decline is over. With that we will proceed to the opening statements for each of the presenters and witnesses and nominees. If you would proceed.
▶ 0:59:23Dr. Travnick: Good morning chairman lee, and members of the committee. I am humbled and nominated by trump to the assistant secretary of water and science. I'm grateful for the support and trust of secretary burnham and thank you at senator hoeven for the kind introduction today. I would like to recognize and thank my parents and my sister who traveled from north dakota to be here today.
▶ 0:59:51Dr. Travnick: My grandma and my nephews and other family are cheering me on back home. I would like to think my friends, colleagues, teammates and the buys and family -- and the bison family are here. I grew up in a military family moving a lot. My roots are tied to an inferior side, tamarac national wildlife refuge in minnesota where my parents met. Who knew we would all end up here today when mom asked dad to go for a walk along the lake.
▶ 1:00:23Dr. Travnick: Our parents also raised us and set the example early on the importance of serving others to my dad's career service to the country and 28 of those active duty in through my moms service temperament in business, work as a travel agent as a military spouse. Core values of dedication, integrity and respect for others were ingrained at a young age. My parents also raised us to have great respect for the world.
▶ 1:00:50Dr. Travnick: We visited national parks and wildlife refuges across the country between moves and spent summers back at the lake and firm in minnesota. These treasured experiences hunting, fishing, camping and spending countless hours outdoors on the water set a foundation for my passion for natural resources. Spending time kayaking or so my favorite places to me. I'm a proud graduation of north dakota state three times over.
▶ 1:01:16Dr. Travnick: My master's research is located in the was about national park where I conducted a land management study to reduce invasive species in the park. My phd research focused on stakeholder perspectives and network relationships as they related to lake management decisions in minnesota.
▶ 1:01:33Dr. Travnick: For over 20 years, my professional career has been connected to the natural resources and the private, public and through research, grassroots efforts in working with land owners, sponsors and industries, I've been able to quickly provide assessments, identify opportunities, and provide solutions to the meat management solutions. My work with the army corps and the sacramento district provided a backdrop to understanding the complexities that the management of water in california.
▶ 1:02:04Dr. Travnick: Participating first 10 in federal and state regulatory processes revealed inefficiencies in the bureaucratic system is that my public service mission, to achieve management decisions through accountable, timely responses, process improvements and collaborative and common sense approaches. In 2011, record flooding took place across the state of north dakota impacting major communities along several rivers.
▶ 1:02:26Dr. Travnick: As a senior policy to the governor, out with international, federal, state and nation's to identify changing conditions and determine your needs. During this time, my parents house was flooded waist high and my sister's house was flooded to the rooftop. This expense impressed upon me both professionally and personally the importance of real-time data, timely collaborative operations and long-term management solutions, not only with the specific community in the state but within the shared watershed.
▶ 1:02:56Dr. Travnick: While serving in various leadership roles at the department of interior during the first trump administration, I was fortunate enough to work on priorities including those related to water and science initiatives. At the state level my lead the department of parks and recreation and during my tenure as first director of water resources, recognized tribal nations as partners for water projects come over 1.5 billion commitments were invited partners to build water supply and attraction projects and access to affordable and reliable water supply through to
▶ 1:03:27Dr. Travnick: State owned regional projects was expanded. As we look across the west today, maintaining critical water infrastructure in managing is crucial. The approach will be meeting management objectives and identifying and mapping aren't mineral assets and energy assets to the U.S. geological survey capabilities will assist in fulfilling president trumps priorities related to increasing mineral production and unleashing american energy.
▶ 1:03:54Dr. Travnick: If confirmed as the assistant secretary for water in science, I will bring my core values and natural resources and management expenses to the role. I look forward to meeting and working again with the dedicated teams of engineers and scientists at the bureau of reclamation and U.S. geological survey to implement the core missions.
▶ 1:04:11Dr. Travnick: I commit to working in cooperation with you and with the american people as decisions are made and to implement the present of the secretaries priorities to increase accountability and responsiveness and implement innovation over and manage america's resources for american prosperity and national security. Thank you for meeting with me earlier this week and for having me here today. I look forward to answering any questions.
▶ 1:04:32Sen. Heinrich: Thank you -- Sen.
▶ 1:04:36Hoeven: Thank you. Ms. beyer, Ms. beyer: it is an honor it to appear before you as the nominee for assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the department of the interior. I am deeply grateful to president trump and sec.
▶ 1:04:57Hoeven: Burgum for their confidence in my ability to ensure responsible stewardship of america's public lands for the benefit of all americans. I am also very thankful to have my friends and family here today, my parents for stan and connie, my children grant and olivia, my oldest son ethan watching us from oklahoma state where he should be studying for finalists, in my godparents charlie and kathy.
▶ 1:05:23Hoeven: From the time my grandfather, leslie, began his career and my great aunt faye was one of the first and only female tool pushers in the oilfield progressing extraordinary feats of innovation in energy development that took our country from being a net energy imparted to the world's largest energy exporter, all while leading the world in reducing emissions.
▶ 1:05:46Hoeven: Going up on our family farm in west texas, I have been surrounded by the energy work force my entire life and I have witnessed firsthand how america has proven time and time again that we can develop our resources cleaner, safer and more efficiently than anyone else in the world to the advanced drilling of equipment and the underwater remote vehicles that I'm involved with today are vastly different than the tools of my grandparents' time but the commitment to responsible production and the
▶ 1:06:17Hoeven: Respect of our natural resources remains with me. From spending my birthday weekend each year in alaska hiking glaciers and running the anchorage half marathon to our annual family dove hunting season opener and now managing my own farm.
▶ 1:06:33Hoeven: My family taught me to love and appreciate our lands, public and private or the assistant secretary for land and minerals management plays a critical role in balancing multiple uses of our public lands, recognizing the lands as a vital asset of the american people and an important contributor to our nation's financial health and security.
▶ 1:06:54Hoeven: If confirmed to serve as a second secretary, I pledge to be a responsible steward of more than 240 5 million areas of surface, 700 million of sub service and over 3 billion acres offshore, ensuring that critical energy development takes place alongside other important uses of recreation, conservation, grazing, timber management and housing.
▶ 1:07:19Hoeven: I appreciate and understand the significant responsibilities of the role with the management of the euros, blm, and others. If confirmed I commit to working collaboratively with the members of this committee regarding decisions related to the stewardship of federal lands and waters including the management and development of the mineral and non-mineral resources. As a former ceo of an organization representing over 650,000 U.S.
▶ 1:07:49Hoeven: Energy workers and now as a corporate director, I have responsibility for executive oversight, governance, and the health and safety of a combined global workforce of over 10,000 men and women. I bring a record of leadership and extensive leadership managing large organizations, qualities I will carry into the role of this accident -- of assistant secretary.
▶ 1:08:13Hoeven: I have emphasized collaboration and will bring this approach to the department of the interior, working closely with state, tribes, local communities and industry to develop decisions that benefit all. I also commit to ensuring that the bureaus under my authority carry out the directives established by congress.
▶ 1:08:34Hoeven: This includes working to ensure that sales and -- are on a regular and protectable basis, providing the certainty necessary for long-term investment, meeting natural resource needs and fulfilling the requirements of the law made rapidly growing energy demand. As a young white house staffer 20 years ago, I served on multiple trips overseas as everts remained to secure oil and gas imports due to our perceived national energy scarcity.
▶ 1:09:04Hoeven: In the following years in my career in the energy services sector, I had a front row seat to the shale revolution that has taken us from energy scarcity to energy abundance and enabled the ability to strategically provide resources to our allies. It has driven my passion for american innovation, energy resilience and respect for our nation's resources. I appreciated meeting with many of you and learning your focus on land management.
▶ 1:09:34Hoeven: If confirmed I will always keep at the forefront my mind the critical mission of protecting and managing our natural resources, ensuring we fully utilize federal lands and waters to benefit all americans. Thank you for the honor of appearing before you today and for considering my nomination, and I look forward to answering your questions.
▶ 1:09:52Sen. Hoeven: Thank you, Ms. buyer.
▶ 1:09:58Mr. Garrish: Chairman lee, ranking member, members of the committee and professional staff, thank you for the opportunity to appear for today for the nomination of assistant secretary of nuclear energy.
▶ 1:10:15Mr. Garrish: It is an honor to appear before the committee and I appreciate the confidence president trump and the secretary right have shown -- and secretary w right.
▶ 1:10:35Mr. Garrish: I -- unfortunately, my wife to do a scheduling conflict has to watch this on the web, although I have a number of friends here and colleagues that have joined me today. My career has largely been devoted to energy, mainly in the field of nuclear and much of my time has been spent devoted to public service, largely at the U.S.
▶ 1:10:58Mr. Garrish: Department of energy, originally as general counsel and a leader as assistant -- later as general counsel and leader as assistant in public affairs and most recently as assistant secretary for international affairs. I would like to thank senator heinrich for the note relative to the statement that I made.
▶ 1:11:21Mr. Garrish: I cannot believe it was 42 years ago but I can ensure the committee that I abide by the same principles today very in addition to energy, I also served as federal inspector of the alaskan national transportation system and as member of the president's commission on catastrophic nuclear accidents.
▶ 1:11:43Mr. Garrish: Throughout my career, I worked closely with this committee and I can remember many late nights working with professional staff and senators assisting with legislative efforts, and I hope that would continue in the future. I had the opportunity to serve as assistant secretary for nuclear energy in the late 1980's and the position was organized differently at the time and nuclear energy faced different challenges than it does today.
▶ 1:12:11Mr. Garrish: Today, we are on the threshold of making nuclear a significant contributor to our nation's energy future and make a true comeback for this important source of affordable, reliable, and save energy and to become a source for industrial heat for chemical production, mining and other uses.
▶ 1:12:32Mr. Garrish: While in the private sector, my time was spent largely on nuclear projects, notably I often work with newcomer countries, nuclear companies helping develop their talent and expertise consistent with the programs for new nuclear nations. If I may, let me briefly give you my vision on some of the important work I would hope to achieve if I have the privilege of confirmation.
▶ 1:13:00Mr. Garrish: First and foremost, as soon feasible, we need to build a new reactor, either a large or small or smr or micro reactor. It is important for us to proceed with development of advanced reactors and their licensing. Nuclear offers an extraordinary capacity to meet the coming increased electrical demand in a reliable, affordable, and safe way.
▶ 1:13:27Mr. Garrish: This is important and we need to get on with building of the next generation of nuclear plants. Second, the development of a robust domestic enrichment is essential for national security, and we must conduct a realistic evaluation of our current system under development and determine if our current methodology will work and provide the needed
▶ 1:13:58Mr. Garrish: Actions to protect our national security. Third, we should evaluate the status of the international market for U.S. nuclear developers and supply chains overseas to ensure we maintain strong positioning for U.S. products and services in the long-term relationships for U.S. companies building upon our strong nuclear culture with the highest standards of nonproliferation.
▶ 1:14:24Mr. Garrish: We should also consider the further use of intergovernmental agreements to promote U.S. interests. And finally, we need to begin to resolve the nuclear waste dilemma and work with congress, communities and states on solutions. If confirmed, it would be my honor to work cooperatively with the congress, especially this committee, on achieving these and other objectives. Hopefully, I can contribute to the development of this important energy source.
▶ 1:14:51Mr. Garrish: Again, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to appear today and if confirmed, I look forward to working with members of this committee and staff in furthering the interest of nuclear energy for the benefits of the united states and I look forward to responding to your questions.
▶ 1:15:13Mr. Garrish: I would like to invite our colleague, murkowski, for an introduction.
▶ 1:15:24Sen. Murkowski: Thank you. It is great to welcome all of you here this morning. An incredible group of nominees we have in front of us. Some of you have been around for a while. But it is really my honor to be able to reintroduce tristan abbey to the committee. Mr. abbey is a proud alumnus of the energy and natural resources committee.
▶ 1:15:52Sen. Murkowski: He served on my team from 2012 through 2017, took a little break, and came back from 2019 through 2020. Though he is probably more familiar with this side of the day is over here. But it is a privilege.
▶ 1:16:10Sen. Murkowski: It is really an honor to have you in front of the committee and to have these -- to have this is the president's choice to lead the energy and -- I will tell you, my colleagues, that there is nobody I have met around here who has spent more time with crs. This is a gentleman who digs into the issues. He is really smart. He knows a lot.
▶ 1:16:42Sen. Murkowski: But he goes so far below the surface to understand, to master the issues, then applying his knowledge to help us make really good policy. He was instrumental in helping us lift the crude oil export ban and implementation plan that in my view was quite remarkable.
▶ 1:17:06Sen. Murkowski: When I had challenges, when I had tough policy questions, I brought tristen into it, and I did so because he is thoughtful. He is analytical. He brings rigor. He is a true expert. These are all things we would ask for in an eii -- an eia administrator. Three administrators have written letters supporting Mr. abbey. I would ask unanimous consent to have that entered into the record.
▶ 1:17:37Sen. Hoeven: Without objection.
▶ 1:17:40Sen. Murkowski: You did extraordinary work for the committee and I hope the committee will recognize that. I don't know if your wife and baby are here. We kind of watched everybody grow up together. Welcome. It is an honor to introduce you.
▶ 1:18:06Sen. Hoeven: I want to start with ranking member senator heinrich. Did I miss someone? You want an opening statement? Usually after senator murkowski goes with all her time as chairwoman, nobody can improve on that. In your case, Mr. abbey, we are going to let you go ahead.
▶ 1:18:27Mr. Abbey: Thank you very much, senator hoeven and senator murkowski for that wonderful introduction. Thank you, chairman lee, marissa this committee. It is an honor to appear before you today. I'm grateful to president tom for the -- president trump for the honor to serve and to introduce secretary chris wright for his confidence in me to serve in this condition. My wonderful wife is in attendance. It was during my first tour on the committee staff that I met her.
▶ 1:18:59Mr. Abbey: Our children are in bed, too young for this event. They will watch video. These three ladies, jen, evelyn, and josephine, ring more joyful life in my life -- light in my life than I ever could have imagined. When I was a kid, my parents let my brother ian and me on a couple great adventures. That leaves a lasting impression on the kindergarten are, and a teenager does not forget the suez canal.
▶ 1:19:27Mr. Abbey: I can never think my dad and mom enough or showing us the world and all its richness. Times are not always easy, and I hope they do not regret it, because I never will. I could never have predicted the path of my career. I arrived on committee staff in 2012. Eager to learn, I worked on the economics of all things energy, even doubling in the portfolio the complexity of which makes the electric grid look like a game.
▶ 1:19:57Mr. Abbey: In many ways, I grew up on the committee staff. In 2017, I was honored to join the first trump administration, initially on the beachhead team at the department of energy, and then at the national security council. Following my time at the white house complex, I returned here, where I worked on washington's response to the covid-19 pandemic and an oil price. Serving in various roles in the federal government has been the honor of my life. Each of these opportunities was a blessing.
▶ 1:20:28Mr. Abbey: None of this could be accomplished without frequent and persistent engagement with the eia. Some would say did mistreat her of the -- the administrator of the eia should not have deep exposure to policy. Ship that understands the need of policymakers is exactly what the eia requires at this prickle time. If confirmed, I will have three priorities.
▶ 1:20:54Mr. Abbey: As a member of the president's team, I will fulfill my statutory role of providing objective energy data and analysis to the american people into policymakers. Ranking member heinrich's term -- a common set of nonpartisan facts. Having served inside the government at both ends of pennsylvania avenue, as a think tank or in private-sector consultant, I have seen eia from a variety of perspectives. The reputation is one I pledge to steward carefully if confirmed.
▶ 1:21:24Mr. Abbey: Second, eia is in urgent need of revitalization. It is still the world's primary energy data agency, but this did not happen overnight. Our agency invested billions of dollars and nearly 50 years to make it so. If confirmed, I will make sure this investment continues to pay off. This will clear the deck of unfinished products -- projects, recruit the best talent, develop the most powerful analytic abilities, and modernize information systems.
▶ 1:21:56Mr. Abbey: Finally, I believe that existing mandates should be executed upon. To stand out in particular. One is the expansion of global energy collection and analysis. The other is the establishment of a critical minerals output. This agency is interested in both issues and I believe achieving these goals will do -- will go along long way, placing the eia on sound footing for a generation. Thanks for your time and your confidence. Look forward to your questions.
▶ 1:22:29Sen. Hoeven: Thank you. We will kick off questions. I want to check with the ranking member to see if he had anything before we begin questions.
▶ 1:22:40Chair Lee: Go ahead.
▶ 1:22:42Sen. Hoeven: Dr. travnicek, would you prioritize water infrastructure to ensure farmers and ranchers continue to have access to reliable and affordable water supplies?
▶ 1:22:57Dr. Travnicek: Thank you for that question. We know that infrastructure for water supply is extremely important across the west. We were making sure in the state of north dakota that we had resources able to make sure that we were able to get that water supply to people. If confirmed in this role, yes, I am committed to working toward that as well.
▶ 1:23:21Sen. Hoeven: Also, talk about the importance that usgs continues on a regular basis to update estimates of the recoverable oil and gas reserves. You talked about what you can do to continue to enhance that energy development.
▶ 1:23:38Dr. Travnicek: Senator, as relates to the usgs, we know the body of work is extremely important. They play a critical role as relates to oil and gas assessments. So making sure that we have got the expertise on that, and to be able to keep up with those studies and demands we are seeing, to make sure that we have that dominance of energy here in america -- yes, I will continue to work on that as well.
▶ 1:24:05Sen. Hoeven: What are the top three things you are going to accomplish being in this position?
▶ 1:24:09Dr. Travnicek: If confirmed, the top three priorities I would be looking at -- we know there is a lot of discussion right now related to the colorado river. We have some looming deadlines in front of us next year, so we are going to have to work closely with those seven states. At the same time, the critical minerals list -- we know that is due this year.
▶ 1:24:29Dr. Travnicek: We are going to be working really closely with federal agencies, inference stakeholders, the public, as we work to get that list put together, get that updated based on what we are hearing from the public. And then getting back to where we started the conversation earlier, looking at infrastructure. We know we have drought across the west, across the country.
▶ 1:24:50Dr. Travnicek: We are going to have to look at all those different tools in the toolbox, make you sure we have modernize systems out there, looking at water reuse, wastewater. So really just looking at that sweet of possibilities -- suite of possibilities as we try to get water where it is needed.
▶ 1:25:12Sen. Hoeven: Misfire -- Ms. beyer, you have resources that are public and used by private entities. Are you committed to access to development of those resources in a responsible manner?
▶ 1:25:32Sen. Hoeven: And will you work with me on my north dakota trust lands act, which helps make sure that everyone is treated fairly in that development, whether it is a public interest or private interest?
▶ 1:25:46Ms. Beyer: Yes, sir. Senator, I appreciated our visit about that. If I am confirmed, I absolutely look forward to working with you. There are multiple uses for those lands. If confirmed, like I said, I look forward to working with you.
▶ 1:26:06Sen. Hoeven: How about timelines? Delay can be defeat. We need certainty for all involved. What about these timelines and getting things done in a transparent, responsible way, but getting things done?
▶ 1:26:20Ms. Beyer: We can all agree that permitting should be streamlined. This committee has done extraordinary work on that. If I am confirmed, I hope to work with this committee moving forward. But coming from the oilfield services sector at the business, this is a six under 50,000 plus workforce that develops energy in the U.S., and if our companies cannot get permits to produce, permits to build
▶ 1:26:50Ms. Beyer: Transmission, we will be behind in answering the increasing energy demand. And so that is a top priority for me, is to be able to assist and help with getting a more reasonable timeline on our permitting system.
▶ 1:27:12Sen. Hoeven: Thank you. Mr. garrish, how are we going to get past some of the public perceptions and concerns with regard to nuclear, or as one of my good friends and a former president used to say, nuk e-u-lar. How can we develop it in a safe, reliable way with good management for the nuclear waste?
▶ 1:27:37Mr. Garrish: Senator, nuclear is in fact one of the safest forms of energy available today. And I think it is a matter of communicating with the public, and making sure that they understand what is happening.
▶ 1:27:53Mr. Garrish: We need to make sure we have a good public affairs component to every nuclear plant, that the community understands exactly what the nuclear plant is, and that the sorts of fears they have are unfounded.
▶ 1:28:08Sen. Hoeven: What is one thing you would want people to remember in safely handling nuclear energy?
▶ 1:28:16Mr. Garrish: In terms of this, the record is indisputable in terms of safety of nuclear plants.
▶ 1:28:24Sen. Hoeven: That is strong. I appreciate that. Thanks to all of you. Mr. abbey, I'm not going to have a question for you, because I understand senator murkowski has a lot. We will wait for that. Waking number heinrich? -- ranking member heinrich?
▶ 1:28:42Sen. Heinrich: Is assistant secretary, you will oversee management of acres of public land. This land belongs to all americans, including every single one of my constituents. Americans highly value their ability to access these lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational uses. You support the large-scale divestment of our public lands?
▶ 1:29:06Ms. Beyer: Sir, only congress has the ability to dispose of any public lands. I believe that our public lands have multiple use mandates, and they can be used for energy production, recreation, any number of other uses, for the benefit of all americans.
▶ 1:29:35Sen. Heinrich: I appreciate our conversations. It gives you specific insights into decisions that have already been made at the department. You -- the new guidance for energy products does not mention tribal consultation. However, it requires all reviews to be done within 14 to 28 days. I have personally never seen meaningful tribal consultation completed in that timeframe.
▶ 1:30:05Sen. Heinrich: So my question is, is the administration proposing to eliminate tribal consultation for these projects?
▶ 1:30:14Dr. Travnicek: Thank you, and I appreciate the conversations we have had already. We know there have been conversations related to train to streamlined permitting processes. We have seen some of the discussions within this committee as well. So we are really just trying to figure out how we can move forward while still meeting the different requirements as well, right? We know the esa was mentioned. Also, we know that we will have to engage with tribes.
▶ 1:30:42Dr. Travnicek: At the same time, how do we get the permits out the door, get the infrastructure in place, the bell of the resources we need? It is going to be trying to work on all of the above, and also engaging with the tribes.
▶ 1:31:00Sen. Heinrich: As someone who strongly supported permitting reform, and many members of this committee did, I think we largely support getting to yes or no faster. But I really want to urge you to make sure that the tribal consultation process is not a check the box exercise, that it is meaningful. I'm going to switch gears a little bit back to you, Ms. buyer -- beyer.
▶ 1:31:30Sen. Heinrich: Let me quote something you said a few minutes ago. If our companies can't get permits, we will be behind. I agree with that sentiment. Two weeks ago, secretary bergen sent a letter to the acting director of the bureau of ocean energy management, ordering an unprecedented stop work order to the empire wind project off the coast of new york. That is a fully permitted project and has over gone rigorous review.
▶ 1:32:01Sen. Heinrich: It is already under construction and would power have a million homes. Canceling this project is a job killer for the skilled trades, and my concern is it will squash any faith that the private sector has in the federal permitting process. If you can do this to one project of one energy type, you can do it to another of a completely different energy type.
▶ 1:32:27Sen. Heinrich: If fully permitted projects are subjected to arbitrary stop work orders, how can we expect the private sector to commit capital to those large, expensive projects?
▶ 1:32:38Dr. Travnicek: Senator, thank you for that question. As you know, I have not been confirmed and so did not participate in that decision-making. I agree with you.
▶ 1:32:53Sen. Heinrich: Speak to the larger issue, not the specificity of that issue.
▶ 1:32:56Ms. Beyer: Well meaning all forms of energy that we can get our hands on, there is a premium to secure reliable and affordable energy. I am from texas. We have a lot of wind energy there. I appreciate that it is additive. But there is a premium to secure affordable and reliable energy that is not weather-dependent, in my view. I will adhere to the guidance of the sec. If I am confirmed.
▶ 1:33:26Sen. Heinrich: In your view, should permitting be transparent and predictable?
▶ 1:33:36Ms. Beyer: Yes, sir.
▶ 1:33:41Sen. Hoeven: Thank you, senator heinrich. Senator justice.
▶ 1:33:44Sen. Justice: Thank you, to everyone here, especially these great nominees and all their families. I think about all the people that are out here in our audience and everything. I think about a young man that is intrigued and fascinated and motivated by the process of everything that is going on here. His name is michael wolford.
▶ 1:34:11Sen. Justice: And I absolutely want everybody here to just take just a moment and try to listen to what I would say. I am from a real energy state, and I have been in the energy business forever. And absolutely, I know a lot, an awful lot, about energy.
▶ 1:34:33Sen. Justice: And I can tell everyone here, whether they are on our side of the aisle, the other side of the aisle, what really should matter to all of us is we have a crisis right now, and it is blooming like godzilla standing in the background right now for all of us. For every single last one of us.
▶ 1:34:57Sen. Justice: And we have got to react or godzilla will surely have a good day, and we will have a bad day. The reactor is just a simple. I've said it over and over. You are going to have to decide, america. We are going to have to decide either for homes or jobs or energy and industry. We are going to have to decide.
▶ 1:35:24Sen. Justice: With all that being said, these nominees, I would say to you just this. You have a responsibility here that is second to none. It is unbelievable, the pressure, the responsibility, how we are relying on you right now.
▶ 1:35:45Sen. Justice: As you go forward, and I surely hope and pray you will be confirmed without any problems -- but with all that being said, today, like it or not like it, in this country, energy is everything. No matter what anybody says. It is the answer and it is the key to the emerald city, period. That is all there is to it. So with all that being said, I'm sure that you have areas of expertise like crazy.
▶ 1:36:16Sen. Justice: I'm sure you have a passion and a love for our lands. Dr. travnicek, you spoke of how you grew up and loved to hunt and fish and everything. That is me all over. That is absolutely me in every way, and I'm sure all of you feel exactly the same. No one wants to harm our environment. No one wants to do anything to our waters. Absolutely.
▶ 1:36:45Sen. Justice: But we have got to react, because there are bad days blooming right in front of us if we don't react. That is what our president is trying to do. That is what he does with an emergency in regard to energy. I would say to you just this. And I have a couple of quick questions.
▶ 1:37:08Sen. Justice: I would say in regard to water, many of our communities, we rely on private wells. What resources -- what resources will your department provide to assist these communities in ensuring the safety and reliability of their water supplies?
▶ 1:37:30Dr. Travnicek: Thank you, senator, for the question. We know that water infrastructure is going to continue to be more important. The bureau of reclamation, we will look at the different authorities we do have, looking for opportunities where there might be availability for cost share. At the same time, trying to see what partnerships might be.
▶ 1:37:59Sen. Justice: Thank you. I'm going to say one other thing. I know I don't have a lot of time. Senator hoeven is a really smart guy and he is a friend, and he made a statement just a second ago and he is dead on the money, spit in the bull's-eye. He said delay can be defeat. I have never heard it put that way, but it is absolutely splitting the bull's-eye. You have got to move.
▶ 1:38:30Sen. Justice: You have got to have passion. You've got to move. And you have got to know the world depends on you. Every single country in this world, the more energy they have, the longer the people live, the healthier the people are. We need to quit being afraid of energy. You've got a lot of good people out there that know how to extract and make energy for all of us.
▶ 1:39:00Sen. Justice: We need to let them go. We need to turn them loose. We need to quit being afraid. We do not need to worry about godzilla in the closet unless we don't act, and if we don't act, godzilla will act. I promise you. That is all I have got.
▶ 1:39:19Sen. Hoeven: Thank you for your comments. Appreciate it very much. Senator king?
▶ 1:39:27Sen. King: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Ms. beyer, I want to follow up on a question. The problem with the effective revocation of a permit that had already been granted is the chilling effect that has on developers generally, whether it is wind power or oil and gas or anything else. That was an extraordinary action.
▶ 1:39:53Sen. King: Coming from an energy developer myself, you spend millions of dollars and months and years to get your permits. And you have a permit effectively canceled after you had gone through that entire process, the concern has to be not necessarily about this particular project, but what this says to developers generally about the reliability and certainty of the permitting process. I joined with senator barrasso and senator manchin on permitting reform.
▶ 1:40:22Sen. King: Strongly in favor of permitting reform, but a step which withdraws an already-issued permit, I hope you will agree, is a dangerous message to the development community generally.
▶ 1:40:34Ms. Beyer: Senator, I agree with that completely. The community that is developing, that is producing, the midstream companies that will move our energy across the country -- they absolutely need certainty in our permitting system, so that they can make financial investment decisions.
▶ 1:41:00Sen. King: I appreciate that. Thank you for the answer. You've answered senator heinrich -- the commitment to public lands. You said only congress can do that. And I press you further and say that you will not support the transfer of public lands without congressional approval?
▶ 1:41:18Ms. Beyer: Sir, if I am confirmed, I will follow the law as directed by congress. I know that --
▶ 1:41:29Sen. King: Let me talk in general policy. Do you think there is any justification for the conveyance of public lands in a more general sense? And I do not mean in holdings and that kind of thing. We do those things all the time. I'm talking about a more broad program of conveyance of public lands to states or private interests. As a matter of policy, do you support that or do you oppose it?
▶ 1:41:54Ms. Beyer: I believe that not every acre of public land holds the exact same value, and that states no best and how they want to use their public lands.
▶ 1:42:12Sen. King: Are you saying you are ok with conveying public lands to states? Is that what you just said?
▶ 1:42:18Ms. Beyer: I hope to be a calamity partner with congress on that.
▶ 1:42:22Sen. King: I hope you will take that seriously because I have great concern about conveyance of public lands. It belongs to the public, and the public voice is right here. In your initial statement, only congress can do this -- I hope you will support that in your position. Mr. garrish, I have been in a number of meetings recently about the future of nuclear power.
▶ 1:42:46Sen. King: It strikes me that it is not going to happen on its own in the private sector because it is simply too expensive. There needs to be a kind of chips and science act, if you will, for new nuclear technology, with federal support for the first five or some number, because the expense is so great of developing a brand-new, highly complex piece of technology. What are your thoughts on that?
▶ 1:43:13Mr. Garrish: I agree with that completely.
▶ 1:43:17Sen. King: Made the record show that he agrees with me completely.
▶ 1:43:21Mr. Garrish: My position on this is that we need to develop a series of mechanisms for financing of reactors. The private sector can do some of this. The loan office can help and was very helpful in the vogel plan, as you know. It has been helpful in other planes that we have. In addition to that, we have to look for other sources of financing.
▶ 1:43:51Mr. Garrish: We do have some grant programs currently.
▶ 1:43:55Sen. King: For the early prototypes.
▶ 1:43:57Mr. Garrish: Getting prototypes to work and be tested and to demonstrate the materials that you need for licensing. That is a program that we currently have underway, and we are going to implement at the idaho national laboratory. It is an extremely important part of the process. We have to get these plants passed the first time.
▶ 1:44:22Mr. Garrish: We have to build five of them or 10 of them to be able to demonstrate that these can be built in factories. I agree with you this is a complex matter as to how we would go through the process. But we have to look for financing tools and financing interests, and people that are interested in doing this, including the government.
▶ 1:44:45Sen. King: Mr. garrish, I appreciate your willingness to serve and make sure those of us who remember president reagan still have something to offer. Mr. abbey, just very briefly, we need objective data to make good policy. It is as simple as that. I hope in your position -- I think you have the background to do it. You use the term objective data. That is what is needed.
▶ 1:45:11Sen. King: Straight up, honest data, without political bias, that will then help us to make good policy. Are you committed to objective data?
▶ 1:45:23Mr. Abbey: Absolutely, sir.
▶ 1:45:26Sen. Murkowski: I am smiling because I was given a statement from senator murkowski, who is on this committee, in july 18, 1986. And apparently at that time, my father introduced you, Mr. garrish, to the committee, as you were being nominated to become the federal inspector for the alaska natural gas transportation systems.
▶ 1:45:56Sen. Murkowski: As my colleague has said, there is a few from the reagan days that not only understand things, but understand things so well that they are back yet again. So a little bit of committee history here. I just want to acknowledge that. Ms. beyer, I want to speak to you. Couple questions here. I love your connections to alaska.
▶ 1:46:24Sen. Murkowski: It takes tough individuals to run the marathon. I just love the fact that you like to spend family time up there. So you are familiar with alaska. The last time we had a senate confirmed a slm position was an alaskan. He this was obviously before blm .
▶ 1:46:53Sen. Murkowski: You are going to be asked to pick up a lot in this space, as you know. I know that you are familiar with the no more wilderness clause that is contained in a nota -- anota. I want your commitment to me and the committee you will ensure that blm and other agencies under your purview abide by this clause, and even going a little bit beyond that, whether or not you would be willing to work with the delegation to evaluate
▶ 1:47:27Sen. Murkowski: What has happened in alaska since the passage as a result of blm's oftentimes unilateral decisions to withdraw more and more land from public access, and just your willingness to work on this.
▶ 1:47:43Ms. Beyer: Absolutely. Given my personal affinity for the state, it is one of the things I am most looking forward to working on. I look forward to working with you on all of these issues.
▶ 1:47:57Sen. Murkowski: We will invite you back often. Speaking of alaska land conveyances, as you know, we are dealing with the lifting of outdated public land orders, long, long overdue land conveyances that are owed under our alaska statehood act, as well as the native claims settlement act. We have to resolve submerged lands issues.
▶ 1:48:21Sen. Murkowski: These are matters that require a great deal of detail, time, and resources. But we have been a state now for long enough, and I think some of these promises that were made at statehood need to be completed. We need your help and commitment.
▶ 1:48:39Ms. Beyer: Absolutely. If I am lucky enough to be confirmed, I look forward to working with you.
▶ 1:48:46Sen. Murkowski: I know you are not in the building yet, but the department has recently announced a new five-year program for offshore development, as well as what they are calling a new high arctic planning area. And I get where the administration is coming from. It is basically put everything on the table, and then figure out how meet -- how we might want to we know some of this back where we want leasing to occur.
▶ 1:49:14Sen. Murkowski: As you well know, in alaska, there are places we seek to develop aggressively, responsibly, and there are areas that we do not. I would ask your commitment again. You work with the alaska delegation. We have got alaskans that are here in the room as part of alaska day-to-day, but especially current north slope leaders, to determine where leasing is appropriate and perhaps not appropriate.
▶ 1:49:40Ms. Beyer: Absolutely. I look forward to being briefed on the details of that and will take a close look. Murkowski Mr. abbey, I'm going to give you an opportunity to share a little bit of your vision here. You don't have much time, but you have spent a lot of time thinking about many of these things. You mentioned the vision you have for critical minerals and the specific outlook.
▶ 1:50:06Ms. Beyer: But is what we were able to accomplish when it came to lifting the oil export ban, and the strategy, the implementation -- can we do this with critical minerals? Can we do this with lng exports? Is this something that in your new role, you think you can bring to the table?
▶ 1:50:32Ms. Beyer: Looking at the objective analytical data that the eei a -- that the eia brings to bear, can we look toward developing strategic approaches to these?
▶ 1:50:50Mr. Garrish: Thank you for the question. Objectivity is a discipline you can practice, and in various capacities, I have been an objective steward of data. In other capacities, I have had more of a policy role. If confirmed as administrator, I would no longer be in a policymaking role, but I do believe that the crude oil export debate illustrates the importance of eia.
▶ 1:51:16Mr. Garrish: There were a lot of consulting firms writing reports about crude oil exports, that of them were using eia data. It is a common set of facts, and I think the eia can play a critical role in helping anybody trying to develop any kind of energy policy, to equip them with the information that they need.
▶ 1:51:38Sen. Murkowski: That is a good answer. I appreciate it.
▶ 1:51:41Mr. Garrish: Thank you. I learned from the best.
▶ 1:51:45Sen. Hoeven: -- chair lee: I forgot senator cortez masto.
▶ 1:52:00Sen. Cortez Masto: I respect your position, so thank you. First of all, congratulations on your nominations. Welcome to the family members that are here. This is an exciting time. Thank you so much. Me start with you, Mr. garrish. I'm sure you are not surprised. I am from nevada and this is a question I ask everyone from the department of energy.
▶ 1:52:23Sen. Cortez Masto: Starting with secretary chris wright, who provided the following response during his nomination process. He said the people of nevada are not in favor of yucca mountain unless president trump -- and president trump and I do not support yucca mountain is a waste repository. My question to you is, do you agree with this statement?
▶ 1:52:45Mr. Garrish: Yes.
▶ 1:52:48Sen. Cortez Masto: You establish a consent based repository site selection process?
▶ 1:52:54Mr. Garrish: I would like to speak to that, if I may. I have been concerned over the word consent-based. I would prefer something that sounds more like collaborative. In other words, I would like to collaborate with states. The idea of consent suggests that you are doing something to the states that they may not want.
▶ 1:53:18Mr. Garrish: I would prefer to work collaboratively with the states, and determine what states might be interested in this opportunity, and whether there are things that could be added to it, benefits. And that is a process that we could enter over a period of time. So I would propose initially to go with a system that would be more collaborative.
▶ 1:53:43Sen. Cortez Masto: If there is a consent-based legislation and the consent is really taking into consideration the state of nevada, the stakeholders, whether they agree to any nuclear waste being sited in their state, you would take that into consideration I would not force it upon them if they did not agree to it?
▶ 1:54:06Mr. Garrish: Generally my belief is that if the state is not interested, the collaborative process would terminate.
▶ 1:54:14Sen. Cortez Masto: When we say every state should be treated equally, that would include the state of nevada? There is no and mistry position at this time.
▶ 1:54:28Sen. Cortez Masto: Is the superseding legislation to allow all states to be treated equally, including the state of nevada. You would support that if there was superseding legislation?
▶ 1:54:37Mr. Garrish: I'm not in a position today to tell you legislatively the position on behalf of the administration.
▶ 1:54:49Sen. Cortez Masto: Previously, the secretary has said he will support it, so I am a little confused why you would not. We can have another conversation about this. I am concerned about your position, I need to get on to other questions. Let's have further conversations.
▶ 1:55:04Mr. Garrish: I understand we have scheduled a meeting and hopefully we can talk about this and a collaborative approach, and generally your suggestion is interesting, in terms of entering this position. If confirmed, I would really like to get your views is one of the first people I talked to on this.
▶ 1:55:23Sen. Cortez Masto: Good. I look forward to the conversation. Dr. terminate, you talked about the colorado river. Thank you. This is a priority for all of the states along the colorado river. We know that we have deadlines coming up, guidelines for future water allocations expire in 2027. There is negotiations going on right now.
▶ 1:55:51Sen. Cortez Masto: The hope is that the basin states will come together and agree to the guidelines of how they are going to manage the colorado river. My question to you is, if confirmed, how will you prioritize this process to ensure that the basin can reach that necessary consensus and avoid litigation before time runs out?
▶ 1:56:13Dr. Travnicek: Thank you for the question. As discussed earlier, colorado river is going to be front and center. If confirmed, it would be one of my top priorities to hit the ground running right away. We know we have to work with the seven basin states. Needs to be consensus-driven, state-led. We don't want this to be decided by a judge. It is going to be my top priority.
▶ 1:56:35Sen. Cortez Masto: I look forward to working with you. One final question as this came to my attention just recently, talking with my electric co-ops, who are concerned about hydropower from the hoover dam, as well as the canyon dam. Let me talk a little bit about hoover dam. In congress, we previously made significant investments through the bipartisan infrastructure law and inflation reduction act, to improve water infrastructure and to mitigate drought conditions along the river.
▶ 1:57:06Sen. Cortez Masto: Talked a little bit about that. Unfortunately, many of those funds are currently halted. Additionally, colorado river contract customers have been working with the bureau of recommended -- of reclamation to receive some of those bipartisan infrastructure law funds to install whitehead turbines that can operate at low levels and continue to generate the hydropower that my companies and nevadans need.
▶ 1:57:32Sen. Cortez Masto: If these turbines are not installed and production generation drops due to the low water level that has been set by the bureau of reclamation, customers in nevada will be forced to replace these hydropower resources with more expensive power, impacting our prices for rural communities in nevada.
▶ 1:57:52Sen. Cortez Masto: So my question to you is, can you commit to me to work to release those funds that were allocated by congress in the bipartisan infrastructure law, the inflation reduction act, that addresses those needs specifically? Those projects we need along the colorado river, you commit to working to release those funds?
▶ 1:58:17Dr. Travnicek: Thank you for the question. As relates to hydropower, we know reclamation is the second-largest largest producer of hydropower. It is extremely important to have those low costs related to energy production. So as we look at those different funds, I appreciate the overview related to what those funds have been supposed to go toward. If confirmed, I am committed to looking into that, to understand more of what it is and how that could help.
▶ 1:58:43Sen. Cortez Masto: Thank, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:58:47Chair Lee: Ms. beyer, we have about 700 miles of our southern border that consist of federal land. On a number of occasions, over and over again over many years, federal land managers have blocked access or delayed access to customs and border protection to that land. They want to keep them out of that land in the name of environmental protection.
▶ 1:59:18Chair Lee: Meanwhile, illegal border crossings themselves have themselves caused massive environmental degradation, including leaving trash piles, damaged ecosystems, wildfires, and other problems. If confirmed, how will you prioritize vetting environmental damage that may be caused by illegal immigration?
▶ 1:59:38Ms. Beyer: I believe that the local stakeholders know best what is going on, on those public lands, and I would instruct the blm to work collaboratively with people on the ground to ensure that we are making the best use of the land.
▶ 1:59:57Chair Lee: It is certainly not an environmentally neutral thing to allow the border to be open. That certainly has to be taken into account. Dr. tronic, a federal decision last year requires the bypass of hydropower generation at glen canyon dam to control the smallmouth bass, a species that itself threatens the esa listed humpback touchup. Restricting hydropower generation does a lot of things.
▶ 2:00:30Chair Lee: Including forcing customers to purchase more expensive replacement power. This is also depleting the basin fund which supports critical infrastructure along the colorado river, that the colorado river basin states need and rely on. If confirmed, how will you balance esa compliance with the need to protect affordable hydropower and benefit american families and otherwise address the needs of colorado river basin states?
▶ 2:01:00Dr. Travnicek: Thank you, senator lee, and I appreciate the conversation yesterday as well. As we are looking at the colorado river and how those dams are operated and the energy that goes with it, we are going to have to have some of that balance. It was a decision completed last year that leans a little more on reducing impact to the hydropower energy. If confirmed, committed to looking into it and trying to figure out how we can still rely on that lower-cost energy.
▶ 2:01:29Chair Lee: Much appreciated. Thank you. Mr. abbey, congress directed eia to produce a quick call minerals outlook that would deepen its capabilities in international analysis. It is now 2025, and we have not seen the report.
▶ 2:01:49Chair Lee: If confirmed, how do you view the international critical materials landscape, and what would you do as the administrator of eia to ensure we have the best information available to strengthen our supply chains?
▶ 2:02:03Mr. Abbey: Thank you, chairman lee, for that question. There are great americans in the audience we did not mention in my statement, my mother-in-law and father-in-law, who can attest to the fact that although I am extremely interested in the minerals issue, I am not presently employed at doe. I am blissfully living a life in tampa at the moment. I think the issue you raise --
▶ 2:02:28Chair Lee: Washington is a lot like tampa. You won't notice the difference.
▶ 2:02:32Mr. Abbey: The issue you raise is important. One of the first things I would do if confirmed is meet with the team to understand what steps, if any, of been taken to adhere to the statutory guidance from congress to establish that outlook. As you mentioned, it was directed in 2021 and does not exist today. If confirmed, it would exist.
▶ 2:02:58Chair Lee: Thank you. Mr. garrish, I loved seeing the reference from senator murkowski, talking to the -- a same one in a different era. Our country is facing a looming energy crisis through the growth of energy intensive industries, and in many cases the retirement of dispatch a bow and firm generation resources.
▶ 2:03:24Chair Lee: In response, many states, including my own state of utah, are taking steps to significantly increase their production. The state of utah, through operation gigawatt, is working to double its energy capacity for the next 10 years in an ambitious, but I believe achievable, ambition, leading the way in making it easier to build new nuclear energy as part of that same effort.
▶ 2:03:50Chair Lee: As energy demand continues to grow, we need to increase our supply with reliable, affordable, clean baseload generation. If confirmed, what will you do in your role as assistant secretary over the office of nuclear energy, to make sure that we get the continued cooperation -- rather, that we get continued operation of the existing nuclear fleet, to make sure we get new nuclear plants up, running, and online as soon
▶ 2:04:24Chair Lee: As possible?
▶ 2:04:26Mr. Garrish: Senator, nuclear has a role in the future and will play an important part. What we have to do initially is get a plant licensed and operating as soon as possible. There are a number of programs the department currently has on the way. The advanced nuclear project.
▶ 2:04:47Mr. Garrish: The advanced nuclear reactor program that will -- it is really to facilitate first movers to get the advanced reactors into the marketplace. Similarly, there are programs right now at the national laboratory where we can begin e testing of prototypes, full-size prototypes, to begin to have new reactors available into the market. The key is, we need to build one.
▶ 2:05:17Mr. Garrish: We need to license one. And we need to do it in an economic way. In that process is going to take a little time, but we need to get started with it immediately. That is an important aspect of my plans, if confirmed, that I would really intend to begin with.
▶ 2:05:36Chair Lee: I realize the office you have been nominated to fill plays a different role. Are there benefits that could be derived from a collaboration between your office and the nuclear regulatory commission to accelerate the process?
▶ 2:05:51Mr. Garrish: Absolutely, and I think one of the very interesting ideas that has been suggested is a very close collaboration with our office as they begin to test the new reactors, and work with the nuclear regulatory commission, on ways in which licensing could be enhanced. And we could do research that is directly related to the information needed to accelerate the license process.
▶ 2:06:20Chair Lee: Excellent. Thank you very much. Senator padilla?
▶ 2:06:25Sen. Padilla: Thank you, Mr. chair. Thank you to all of the witnesses that are here today. I'm going to begin with an idea, and opportunity, I think, that is near and dear to me, important for the state of california, that could be critical for the country.
▶ 2:06:50Sen. Padilla: There was an analysis quantifying the domestic lithium resources in california's salton sea region. It confirms something we have done for a long time in california. The salton sea region has potential as a domestic source of critical minerals to reduce our reliance on minerals from foreign countries, particularly china. So it is a matter of both economic opportunity and national security. My question is for Ms. beyer.
▶ 2:07:21Sen. Padilla: What is your plan to develop domestic sources of lithium and ensure we are not reliant on foreign sources?
▶ 2:07:29Chair Lee: -- Ms. beyer: thank you for the question. We have to be very focused as a country on developing our own critical minerals to secure our supply chain and make us less dependent on other countries for those minerals.
▶ 2:07:47Chair Lee: If I am confirmed and oversee that mining process at the office of os emery -- osmre, although it is from early round call, I will do everything to ensure we can mine effectively, and get america ahead on that process. We know that we are behind, and it is incredibly dangerous, specifically with regard to china.
▶ 2:08:22Sen. Padilla: Your chances of being confirmed are pretty good. I will jump into the weeds. Would you confirm that writing as a means of extraction would be included in any administrative action to incentivize the domestic supply of critical minerals?
▶ 2:08:42Ms. Beyer: Since I have not been in the building and have not been fully briefed on that, I cannot say specifically what I would support. But I look forward to learning more about it. I look forward to getting into the building soon and being able to get into the weeds of that.
▶ 2:08:58Sen. Padilla: I look forward to being part of that education coming up to speed and asked that you work with california leaders to advance brining and other opportunities in the lithium valley region of california. My next questions are directed at Dr. travnicek. Graduation's again on your nomination. -- congratulations again on your nomination. I want to confirm one thing.
▶ 2:09:26Sen. Padilla: You are currently working as a senior advisor at the department, right?
▶ 2:09:30Dr. Travnicek: That is correct.
▶ 2:09:33Sen. Padilla: If you watched any of the confirmation hearings for your colleagues that have been through this committee, I'm sure you've heard me talk about our work in recent years to establish and to expand national monuments in california in recent years.
▶ 2:09:49Sen. Padilla: As I have talked about here in committee, and with the secretary directly, repeatedly, in person and on the phone, and during his confirmation, these sites have little or no energy potential. We worked to establish the boundaries very precisely.
▶ 2:10:14Sen. Padilla: By the way, these monuments are tremendous with overwhelming support in california across the board. I raise that because I would hate to see -- I do not believe these monuments, new and expanded, fit into this rightsizing effort that I am hearing the administration discussing when it comes to national monuments.
▶ 2:10:39Sen. Padilla: So I would like to know, have you been part of the discussions at the department to date, in terms of rightsizing of national monuments, or the review process for protected landscapes for energy?
▶ 2:10:51Dr. Travnicek: As a senior advisor, I have been working on different executive orders for the department. As relates to this one, I have not been specifically involved.
▶ 2:11:02Sen. Padilla: If and when you do become involved, engagement with stakeholders is critical for this in all processes. As far as we can hear, we are hearing about a review. We are hearing monuments might be on the list, maybe they are on the list. But leaders advocated for the establishment and expansion of these monuments. They have not been consulted.
▶ 2:11:29Sen. Padilla: I would ask that you commit to if or when you would become involved with this. True engagement with local leaders, both sides of the aisle, democrats and republicans, tribal leaders, conservationists, and others, as part of any so-called review.
▶ 2:11:52Sen. Padilla: I would ask as the first trump administration did if there would be a suggested reconfiguration of the boundaries that it be made public in a public comment period or an opportunity for public input be allowed before any final actions were taken? Would you commit to that?
▶ 2:12:11Dr. Travnicek: If confirmed, I am committed to working with you and others that might be related to that. There are executive orders and it will be different bureaus that will be working on that versus the ones I will be involved with. I will bring any of those concerns and commitment to working with those colleagues that are working on that initiative.
▶ 2:12:35Chair Lee: Senator daines?
▶ 2:12:39Sen. Daines: The blm core principle is multiple use. That is mandated in the federal land management and policy act. However, under the wyden administration, the bureau of land management implemented the so-called conservation and landscape health rule that subverted the agency's multiple use management of public lands. At that time, I heard a lot from my ranchers.
▶ 2:13:09Sen. Daines: I expressed deep concerns for this rule, especially as it pertained to the impact on livestock raising on public lands. Livestock operations are part of our montana way of life. With cattle and sheep grazing on public lands, and provides benefits by mitigating the risk of wildfire, suppressing invasive grasses, improving wildlife habitat, while economically supporting where communities were struggling
▶ 2:13:39Sen. Daines: Across our state. Would you commit to reconsidering this overreaching rule that harms multiple use, destroys transparency and public input around land-use decisions?
▶ 2:13:54Ms. Beyer: Senator, thank you for the question. I know that has been an extraordinary issue in your state and I have to follow that. If I am confirmed, I absolutely will follow the law, the multiple use mandate, and the contours that provide that.
▶ 2:14:14Sen. Daines: Earlier this month, we were very pleased that president trump announced a number of executive orders to support coal in montana. The generations go back in montana. Many watch shows like "yellowstone" and see brad pitt with a fly rod and think it is only about fly fishing. As a lifelong fly fisherman, I could not agree more, but we also have more recoverable coal in any state in the united states.
▶ 2:14:46Sen. Daines: It is an understated fact and something many don't know. The eos that support us in montana with coal involved rolling back a resource eminent -- amendment preventing new coal development. Secretary burgum likewise took steps to support energy development on our federal lands.
▶ 2:15:15Sen. Daines: I fully believe that blm can balance coal, oil, gas, renewable energy development, while also supporting recreation and grazing resource. That was the mandate from congress.
▶ 2:15:29Sen. Daines: My question is, do you support the actions by the president and the secretary to rollback these anti-energy rules, like the mile city rmp, and the unreachable bonding rates, and return blm to its true multiple use mandate?
▶ 2:15:50Ms. Beyer: Senator, thank you. I think president and secretary burgum laid out a very full vision for developing more american energy resources. Coal has a very important role in that. I believe in american innovation around reducing emissions and how effectively we can produce energy around coal.
▶ 2:16:19Ms. Beyer: I commit to following the direction of the president and the secretary.
▶ 2:16:30Sen. Daines: We saw in spain and portugal what happens when nonsense drives energy policy and where we get energy, in terms of the balance, in terms of energy and baseload power. I'm grateful for this administration. After, the bureau is working quickly to address the catastrophic failure of two siphons in the st.
▶ 2:16:56Sen. Daines: Mary river that are part of the milk river project that provides water to innovators. I want you to raise awareness because you will be confirmed and I'm sure that your grateful for that. I'm working to establish when tennis last private water contact -- to establish montana's last private water compact.
▶ 2:17:24Sen. Daines: Some of these go back a century, to treaties. And getting these resolved on behalf of the irrigators -- we are down to one left in montana, for belknap. We are making great progress on that. This will improve infrastructure and economic development for our tribal and nontribal water users. My question -- will you work with me to ensure the continued success of these federal water projects?
▶ 2:17:54Sen. Daines: Farmers, ranchers, tribes, municipal users will have certainty over there water rights.
▶ 2:18:05Dr. Travnicek: Thank you for your concerns and try to move those projects forward. I'm committed to working with you.
▶ 2:18:11Sen. Daines: Many of you see beautiful movies and pictures of montana. You see a lot of water. That is true. We are a semi arid climate in montana, but literally there is an artery, a lifeline of water that has been tragically interrupted because of infrastructure failure. We support irrigators this year. I'm out of time, Mr.. Thank you.
▶ 2:18:46Sen. Daines: -- Mr. chairman. Thank you.
▶ 2:18:48Sen. Hickenlooper: Obviously, kara -- coloradan support conservation and protection of land. The slaves boost a $17 billion recreation economy. You are nominated for a role that would oversee the bureau of land management. It has multiple uses. You are experienced on the oil and gas side of things.
▶ 2:19:17Sen. Hickenlooper: But you also have to transition for broader lands, and making sure we ensure healthy lands, diversity of landscapes, reliable access to outdoor recreation. We work with this to make sure that we maintain these approaches to conservation and protection.
▶ 2:19:35Ms. Beyer: I appreciate you pointing that out, and absolutely, I agree with you and commit to working with you on that.
▶ 2:19:45Sen. Hickenlooper: Mr. garrish, nuclear energy could play a huge role in energy security. I share the frustration of many organizations that the colorado nuclear alliance and others -- that d.o.e. Has let go of more than half the staff.
▶ 2:20:10Sen. Hickenlooper: One of the most effective federal offices supporting new nuclear projects in the united states -- how is the administration, from your perspective, plan to expand domestic nuclear energy while simultaneously dramatically reducing the staff that would be critical for that expansion?
▶ 2:20:31Mr. Garrish: I'm hopeful that as applications come in for additional nuclear projects, that there is sufficient staff to handle them. I see no reason -- I am not familiar with the staff situation. But I anticipate that we will have the staff the right to handle that.
▶ 2:20:54Sen. Hickenlooper: If there is insufficient staff, you will raise your voice and say we need new staff?
▶ 2:20:59Mr. Garrish: Yes indeed.
▶ 2:21:03Sen. Hickenlooper: Glad to hear that. Dr. tobin it, the department of the interior announced some permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic resources, minerals. As has been noted, this initiative seeks to reduce multiyear review processes. -- as quickly as 28 days. I am an outspoken supporter of bipartisan permitting reform.
▶ 2:21:34Sen. Hickenlooper: I emphasize bipartisan permitting reform. I am concerned about some drastic actions. Some litigation risks to accelerate timelines without an act of congress. Creating far more obstacles and problems in the future as we seek to circumvent the existing structure.
▶ 2:21:56Sen. Hickenlooper: How do you justify operating under a national energy emergency while excluding the technological technologies like solar, wind, energy storage from these new permitting procedures? >> we have been directed through the presidential order in regard to the energy emergency we see in this country. I know this committee has been active as it relates to finding ways to streamline permitting processes.
▶ 2:22:25Sen. Hickenlooper: The interior has been working very hard to try to see if there are any ways to streamline that even further. That is where you did see this last week where there was a new permitting process rolled out to try to expedite that to make sure we can develop the resources and get the infrastructure needed to make sure we are getting the clear energy dominance. It is also looking at esa, nhpa.
▶ 2:22:54Sen. Hickenlooper: I know there was a question earlier related to tribes. The department will work hard to implement that. >> thank you. There have been some serious discussions about large-scale sales of public lands for the generation of revenue for the federal government.
▶ 2:23:14Sen. Hickenlooper: I just wanted to ask each of you to give your authentic opinion as to whether that is a worthy outcome. I am a great believer in budgets and frugality but I think widescale sale of public lands just for the generation of revenue -- I want you to share each of your opinions on that. >> thank you, senator for the question.
▶ 2:23:45Sen. Hickenlooper: There are a lot of multi use associated. >> I'm just talking about the sale. I understand multi use. In some towns you can sell one acre or two the vacant use for housing. I'm not against that. I'm talking about larger scale of sale of public land solely to generate revenue for the government.
▶ 2:24:10Sen. Hickenlooper: >> we have an executive order to review all the public lands to see if there are any opportunities. It would be working with states to see if there are any opportunities. >> you are ok with that? >> congress has the authority to dispose of public lands. I agree with my colleague from the interior perspective. We would look to the states. Any state looking to.
▶ 2:24:36Sen. Hickenlooper: >> you said congress has the authority but you will look for the states? Look to the states to advise congress? That is the question. I'm not trying to be trouble. >> I understand. I meant that in the context of I'm sure there is a role for the department of the interior. I do not currently work in the building. My understanding of the constitution is a gives that authority to congress.
▶ 2:25:07Sen. Hickenlooper: >> senator, I am not familiar with the senate to provide enough of an opinion. As I understand if this is a matter for congress. >> thank you. >> thank you, senator, for the question. I appreciate the question you raise. As the nominee for the eia, I am unfortunately not able to respond. >> I am out of time.
▶ 2:25:37Sen. Hickenlooper: >> thank you, senator.
▶ 2:25:42Sen. Gallego: My first question, one of the most pressing issues for my state is funding. We see funding freezes at the bureau of recommendation. If you are confirmed these funds would be your responsibility. A concern of these funds are being held in the have heard reports the department plans to hold funding until an agreement is reached.
▶ 2:26:08Sen. Gallego: Do you commit to releasing all funding and do you recognize the urgency of drought funding in the west? >> as I have discussed before we know that drought is an important issue in the west. We will have to work hard. I am committed to if confirmed looking into it to understand
▶ 2:26:33Sen. Gallego: For us it seems like it is not the smartest move because some states would be happy to let this go to litigation and keep fighting it out and that you are punishing some of the lower basin states that need the investment now I just want to make sure to get that in perspective.
▶ 2:26:56Sen. Gallego: I would like to ask about the settlement act this would be the largest indian water rights settlement in the history of the country the navajo nation, other tribes that desperately need water and infrastructure funding without a settlement there is uncertainty involving colorado river water rights.
▶ 2:27:27Sen. Gallego: This particular -- that nation is one of the largest outstanding claims of navajo homes do not have running water. This will ensure tribes can thrive on their homeland. Will you commit to working with me to finish the settlement? >> I understand the importance of the indian water rights settlements.
▶ 2:27:56Sen. Gallego: I had an opportunity to work with several tribal nations so I am committed to working with you on those.
▶ 2:28:03Sen. Gallego: I appreciate our time yesterday talking about creating solutions for energy. I am very interested in smrs to meet arizona's rising energy demand. Communities are excited about the deployment of the technology. I was hoping we could talk further about potential creative ways to have faster deployment.
▶ 2:28:34Sen. Gallego: Will you commit to visiting arizona and working together on smrs, including the potential use on military bases in the state? >> thank you for the time you took to discuss this important topic. Arizona has a tremendous opportunity for nuclear development and you are currently home to one of the most successful and largest nuclear plants.
▶ 2:28:58Sen. Gallego: I look forward to working with you, including the military bases for nuclear potentials. >> arizona is home 12.1 million acres of land. Within these are national monuments that highlight the beauty of my state.
▶ 2:29:27Sen. Gallego: The ancestral footprints of the national monument. It is sacred for many tribes. It is an enormous economic driver. Loving the grand canyon is not controversial. It is not unique in being protected. Grand canyon national park started out that way.
▶ 2:29:55Sen. Gallego: Reports have circulated the administration will shrink the boundaries in a number of areas. Do you plan to support the rollback of protections for the grand canyon? >> thank you for the time. I enjoyed speaking with you about this. The grand canyon is an amazing place.
▶ 2:30:28Sen. Gallego: My parents and my son have spent a lot of time there. I am not aware of any of those discussions. The importance and the majesty of the grand canyon is not lost on me.
▶ 2:30:46Sen. Gallego: Thank you and I yield back. >> I want to thank the witnesses and everyone for their participation today. It has been a little chaotic with multiple markups but a lot of cooperation. Questions for the record for this hearing are due by 6:00 p.m. This evening. The record of the hearing will remain open for statements until thursday, may 8.
▶ 2:31:15Sen. Gallego: On behalf of the committee I extend congratulations to those nominees. I look forward to working closely with each one. I also look forward to working with the committee as we consider each of the president's remaining nominees within the jurisdiction of this committee. I hope every senator will continue to work with native leadership on both sides of the aisle. Again, I think all senators for their cooperation this morning.
▶ 2:31:46Sen. Gallego: This hearing is adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]