Budget Hearing – Department of State and Related Programs

1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                     ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT5                        APPROPRIATIONS FOR 20266_______________________________________________________________________78                                 HEARINGS910                                 BEFORE A1112                           SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE1314                       COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS1516                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES1718                     ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS1920                              FIRST SESSION21                              ______________2223           SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND24                              RELATED AGENCIES2526          CHARLES J. ``CHUCK'' FLEISCHMANN, Tennessee, Chairman2728  MICHAEL K. SIMPSON, Idaho29  KEN CALVERT, California30  DAN NEWHOUSE, Washington31  GUY RESCHENTHALER, Pennsylvania32  MICHAEL GUEST, Mississippi33  MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas,34    Vice Chair35  SCOTT FRANKLIN, Florida36  CELESTE MALOY, Utah3738  MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio,39    Ranking Member40  JAMES E. CLYBURN, South Carolina41  DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Florida42  MIKE LEVIN, California43  FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana44  SUSIE LEE, Nevada4546  NOTE: Under committee rules, Mr. Cole, as chairman of the full47committee, and Ms. DeLauro, as ranking minority member of the full48committee, are authorized to sit as members of all subcommittees.4950               Laura Cylke, Perry Yates, Richie O'Connell,51                     Raynor Buckley and Sykes Connell52                            Subcommittee Staff53                            ___________________5455                                 PART 45657                                                                   Page58  Fiscal Year Budget Requests for the Army Corps of59   Engineers (Civil Works) and the Bureau of60   Reclamation............................................            16162[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]6364                            __________________6566            Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations67                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE68  61-989                      WASHINGTON : 202669-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7071                   HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS7273                                ----------74                      TOM COLE, Oklahoma, Chairman7576  HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky,77    Chairman Emeritus78  ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, Alabama79  MICHAEL K. SIMPSON, Idaho80  JOHN R. CARTER, Texas81  KEN CALVERT, California82  MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida83  STEVE WOMACK, Arkansas84  CHARLES J. ``CHUCK'' FLEISCHMANN,85    Tennessee86  DAVID P. JOYCE, Ohio87  ANDY HARRIS, Maryland88  MARK E. AMODEI, Nevada89  DAVID G. VALADAO, California90  DAN NEWHOUSE, Washington91  JOHN R. MOOLENAAR, Michigan92  JOHN H. RUTHERFORD, Florida93  BEN CLINE, Virginia94  GUY RESCHENTHALER, Pennsylvania95  ASHLEY HINSON, Iowa96  TONY GONZALES, Texas97  JULIA LETLOW, Louisiana98  MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas99  MICHAEL GUEST, Mississippi100  RYAN K. ZINKE, Montana101  ANDREW S. CLYDE, Georgia102  STEPHANIE I. BICE, Oklahoma103  SCOTT FRANKLIN, Florida104  JAKE ELLZEY, Texas105  JUAN CISCOMANI, Arizona106  CHUCK EDWARDS, North Carolina107  MARK ALFORD, Missouri108  NICK LaLOTA, New York109  DALE W. STRONG, Alabama110  CELESTE MALOY, Utah111  RILEY M. MOORE, West Virginia112113  ROSA L. DeLAURO, Connecticut,114    Ranking Member115  STENY H. HOYER, Maryland116  MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio117  JAMES E. CLYBURN, South Carolina118  SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., Georgia119  BETTY McCOLLUM, Minnesota120  DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Florida121  HENRY CUELLAR, Texas122  CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine123  MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois124  GRACE MENG, New York125  MARK POCAN, Wisconsin126  PETE AGUILAR, California127  LOIS FRANKEL, Florida128  BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, New Jersey129  NORMA J. TORRES, California130  ED CASE, Hawaii131  ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York132  JOSH HARDER, California133  LAUREN UNDERWOOD, Illinois134  SUSIE LEE, Nevada135  JOSEPH D. MORELLE, New York136  MIKE LEVIN, California137  MADELEINE DEAN, Pennsylvania138  VERONICA ESCOBAR, Texas139  FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana140  MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ,141    Washington142  GLENN IVEY, Maryland143144                Susan Ross, Chief Clerk and Staff Director145146                                   (II)147148 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR149                                  2026150                                __________151152                                           Wednesday, May 21, 2025.153154FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET REQUESTS FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CIVIL155                  WORKS) AND THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION156157                               WITNESSES158159ROBYN COLOSIMO, P.E., ACTING PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF160    THE ARMY (CIVIL WORKS)161LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM H. ``BUTCH'' GRAHAM, JR., CHIEF OF ENGINEERS162    AND COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY OF CORPS ENGINEERS163SCOTT CAMERON, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY, EXERCISING DELEGATED164    AUTHORITY OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE165    INTERIOR166    Mr. Fleischmann. The hearing will come to order. Thank you.167I know this seems like deja vu all over again, but this168wonderful group was just before us just about a month or so169ago. So always welcome back. Thank you so much.170    It is my pleasure to welcome acting principal deputy171assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Robyn172Colosimo, thank you; and chief of engineers and commanding173general of the United States Army Corps of Engineers,174Lieutenant General Butch Graham, to discuss the fiscal year1752026. And I think I forgot somebody, didn't I? Oh, it is176further down. You took care of me. Okay, let's see. I am177equally pleased to welcome senior advisor to the Secretary,178Scott Cameron. Mr. Cameron. Good morning, sir. To discuss the179request for the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project.180    We scheduled this hearing with the expectation that we181would have the full budget request for these critical programs.182I appreciate the challenge facing any new administration in183submitting a timely budget request to Congress. However, we184cannot do our work without those details. I hope we can expect185that information soon so that we can begin the important work186of funding our Nation's Water Resource Development programs.187    In the meantime, the administration has provided a top line188budget request for the Corps and Reclamation, highlighting189specific areas where reductions are proposed. The request for190the Corps totals $6.7 billion, a reduction of $2 billion, or191roughly 23 percent. Within the total for the Corps 1.7 billion192is proposed for harbor maintenance trust activities, which is193approximately 1.8 billion below the maximum offset provided in194law. Consistent with prior years, the budget request does not195maximize investment in our Nation's ports and harbors.196    One of my top priorities, continuing the progress on the197recapitalization of our Nation's inland waterway system. I was198pleased to see a $32 million included--$32 million included in199fiscal year 2025 work plan to award additional option for the200final contract at Chickamauga Lock, which is in my district. I201want to express my gratitude for the Trump administration's202prioritization of this important project. I look forward to203working with our witnesses to get Chick Loc across the finish204line. In fact, I am going to visit there again next week.205    I appreciate the plan's robust investment in construction206on the inland waterway system more broadly, and I hope the full207fiscal year 2026 budget continues that support. We expect208significant outyear demands for this work and the longer we209wait to address today's need, the more difficult it will be to210manage tomorrow's.211    For the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah project, the212request proposes a total of $1.2 billion, a stated reduction of213$609 million, or approximately 35 percent below the enacted214level. I am concerned that at this level we will not be able to215address the most pressing water resources needs across the216West.217    Of particular concern is the ability to continue progress218on existing Indian water rights settlements. Upholding our219Nation's treaty and trust responsibilities is among the220Department of Interior's highest priorities. And we cannot221afford to fail delivering access to safe and reliable water222supplies across Indian Country.223    We will wait for the details of the request to analyze the224proposal's impact on farmers, ranchers, and households across225the West that depend on Reclamation's water and power delivery226mission.227    I appreciate our witnesses for being here today to explain228your budget requests and discuss the administration priorities229for these agencies. I look forward to working with you and my230colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop a bill that231addresses our Nation's most pressing water resource development232challenges.233    With that, now I will turn to my friend, the distinguished234ranking member, Ms. Kaptur, for her opening statement. Ms.235Kaptur.236    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning,237everyone. Thank you for joining us. You build America and we238respect that. I welcome this opportunity to examine recent239actions for the budget requests for the Corps of Engineers and240the Bureau of Reclamation.241    Thank you to our witnesses for devoting your lives to the242Nation and for joining us today. Your agencies play a critical243role in developing the resources of our land while mindful of244our obligations to future generations. Your vital work245strengthens our economy, sustains life on Earth, and ensures246public safety against the now constant onslaught of both247increasing natural and human-caused disasters across our248country, which is growing in population headed to a half a249billion people.250    For example, the Corps played a vital role in clearing the251waterways after the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Thank you252so much. And you are currently carrying out wildfire debris253removal in Los Angeles County. Thank you for your exemplary254service to our country. You hold us together and all those who255serve in the Corps and the Bureau.256    The proposed cuts to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and257the Bureau of Reclamation are not just misguided, they are258dangerous. Slashing their budgets and eroding their workforce259endangers people's lives and public safety, undermines economic260growth, and weakens the national welfare of the country in the261face of climate change.262    Let's start with the Corps of Engineers. Your work is not263just about dams and levees. It is about protecting lives and264building America's public infrastructure to manage flood265control systems that safeguard our communities from the266devastating effects of extreme weather. And we saw that this267past week with the terrible tornadoes from St. Louis and all268surrounding states. Along the shores of Lake Erie, the largest269freshwater system in the world, we know what is at stake:270erosion, rising lake levels, problems with algal blooms, and271increasingly violent storms threaten homes, businesses, and272public assets. We cannot build safety and a habitable273environment for our growing population on shrinking budgets and274shrinking staff.275    In the Great Lakes region, modernization of projects, like276the Soo Locks, are a prime example of long overdue investments277that will turbocharge our economy. One hundred percent of278America's domestic iron ore passes through the Soo Locks. Think279about how important that makes this strategic infrastructure.280Steel is a $500 billion industry. It supports 123,000 middle281class jobs, and I am a strong advocate for reshoring the U.S.282steel industry and growing those numbers. But we have to283modernize the shipping lanes and the waterways and our ports284for today and the future. This project will ensure our285heartland's maritime, industrial, agricultural, and commercial286products are safe and efficiently moved.287    Think about our region as the shortest distance by way of288the Atlantic Ocean to the ports of Northern Europe and beyond.289Canada, the Great Lakes, and St. Lawrence Seaway hasten global290trade. And President Eisenhower understood its place within our291continental enterprise and global defense. So must we as we292witness the dawn of the new Arctic age.293    Similarly, the Brandon Road Project aims at arresting the294potential enormous economic and environmental damage that can295be unleashed by the invasion of the Asian carp. They could296exterminate local and regional aquatic fish and species, and297that would be devastating to our Great Lakes $7 billion fishery298and its $16 billion recreational boating industry. These are299astounding numbers.300    The Corps of Engineers has a return of investments of over301200-to-1 in terms of economic benefits for every dollar302invested. Ports, locks, and inland waterways maintained by the303Corps are vital arteries for our very large Nation and its304commerce. In the Great Lakes region alone, these investments305ensure that goods from American steel to Ohio soybeans can306reach domestic and global markets. And cuts to this work would307cause costly delays, limit our competitiveness, and harm local308economies.309    Now, to the Bureau of Reclamation. Though it serves310primarily the western United States, its importance cannot be311overstated. The Bureau manages water supply for over 31 million312Americans in the dry, and I guess I would say coming from my313part of the country, drier Western states, irrigates 10 million314acres of farmland, and generates hydropower for millions of315homes. In this time of unprecedented drought and water stress,316we must bolster, not diminish Reclamation's capacity to invest317in sustainable water systems and innovative conservation318technologies. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover319understood what development west of the Mississippi would320require. So must we.321    Let's be clear. Disinvestment in the Corps and Bureau now322will lead to higher costs down the road. Deferred maintenance323becomes disaster recovery. Preventable failures become national324emergencies. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle,325this is not the time to retreat. It is time to lead. We must326provide these agencies with the resources they need to protect327our growing population, strengthen our economy, and safeguard328our environment for generations to come.329    Finally, I truly condemn the extreme politicization of330critical Army Corps construction funding decisions as we saw in331last week's work plan. It is yet another reminder that Congress332must reclaim its authority over funding decisions by passing333full year appropriation bills.334    Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members and our guests. I yield335back.336    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Ms. Kaptur.337    Once again, thank you to our witnesses for being here338today. Without objection, your full written testimonies will be339entered into the record.340    With that in mind, we would ask that you please summarize341your opening statements in 5 minutes. And the significance of342that is I am sure we are going to probably have two rounds even343of questions and the like, but I want to make sure that344everybody has an opportunity to ask you questions.345    With that, Ms. Colosimo, you are now recognized for your346opening statement. Thank you.347348  STATEMENT OF ROBYN COLOSIMO, P.E., ACTING PRINCIPAL DEPUTY349          ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (CIVIL WORK)350351    Ms. Colosimo. Thank you, Chairman Fleishmann, Ranking352Member Kaptur, and distinguished members of the committee. I353want to thank you for the opportunity to be here today to354discuss the President's budget request for the Civil Works355Program of the Army Corps of Engineers.356    As you know, the President's discretionary funding request357for the fiscal year 2026 was submitted to Congress earlier this358month. That request laid out the President's priorities for359discretionary funding with recommendations to reach balance and360restore competence in America's fiscal management.361    The President's top line discretionary funding request for362fiscal year 2026 includes 6.663 billion for the Army Civil363Works Program. The Civil Works Program has dedicated its364primary missions of commercial navigation, flood and storm365damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. The budget366focuses on opportunities to support these missions that provide367high return to the American public, such as facilitating368maritime commerce and addressing the most significant floods369facing communities.370    The details of the President's budget, which will present a371unified comprehensive plan for America to address the372overlapping challenges we face in a fiscally and economically373responsible way, will be released in the coming weeks. I look374forward to discussing the details of the fiscal year 2026375funding request for the Civil Works Program of the Army Corps376of Engineers soon thereafter. Since the detailed budget for377fiscal year 2026 has not yet been finalized and released, we378will not be able to discuss capabilities of individual projects379or studies at today's hearing.380    While the President's detailed budget request for fiscal381year 2026 has not been released, we did recently release the382fiscal year 2025 work plan for the Civil Works Program. The383work plan supports our coastal ports and inland waterways,384invests in projects that will reduce floods risks, and includes385446 million to advance the President's commitment to restore386Florida's Everglades. I would like to highlight a few examples387of the projects funded in the '25 work plan today.388    The fiscal year 2025 work plan will improve commercial389navigation at our Nation's ports and waterways. It includes390264.13 million for the Sault Ste. Marie Replacement Lock in391Michigan; and 172.711 million in the Sabine-Neches Waterway in392Texas; and 33.436 million for the Houston Ship Channel in393Texas, to prepare and place--in that case, to prepare placement394areas for future dredging; and 1.62 million to complete the395validation study for the Matagorda Ship Channel widening and396deepening project in Texas. It also provides 32.19 million for397the Chick Lock and Tennessee River Project; 44 million for the398Upper Ohio, Allegheny, and Beaver Counties, Pennsylvania399project; and 122.9 million to complete the major rehabilitation400of the Illinois Waterway, T.J. O' Brien Lock and Dam. The work401plan also funds important dam safety projects, including402283.719 million for the Rough River Kentucky Project; 65.33403million for the Pipestem Lake, North Dakota, project.404    Finally, the Work Plan advances reforms to bring better405value to the American public. For example, it includes 49.25406million for the hydraulic structures validation test bed in407Vicksburg, Mississippi, which will provide a new fiscal408modeling capability that will enable large-scale testing of409lock and down components. This facility will empower the Corps410to innovate infrastructure more efficiently.411    The work plan also reflects on the Corps commitments with412its non-Federal partners to accelerate projects and create413efficiencies in their delivery through non-Federal414implementation where appropriate. To that end, the Corps is415developing guidance to implement Section 1043(b) of the Water416Resources Development Act of 2014, as amended. This will allow417the Corps to transfer funds to non-Federal sponsors for the418implementation of projects. The President's '26 budget will419build on this momentum and continue to advance the primary420missions of the Corps.421    Thank you for inviting me today and I look forward to the422discussion.423    [The information follows:]424    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]425426    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you so much for your opening427statement.428    General Graham, you are now recognized, sir, for 5 minutes429for your opening statement. Thank you, sir.430431 STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM H. ``BUTCH'' GRAHAM,432JR., CHIEF OF ENGINEERS AND COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY CORPS433                          OF ENGINEERS434435    General Graham. Chairman Fleischmann, Ranking Member436Kaptur, and members of the subcommittee, I am honored to437testify before you today in regard to the President's fiscal438year 2026 top line discretionary budget request for the United439States Army Corps of Engineers, Civil Works Program.440    Through the Civil Works Program, the Army Corps works with441our partners to study, build, and operate water resource442projects focusing on our three main mission areas of commercial443navigation, flood and storm damage reduction, and aquatic444ecosystem restoration. The navigation program underpins the445national economy, ensuring that commodities can move reliably446and efficiently among 12,000 miles of inland waterways, 13,000447miles of intercoastal waterways, and into 1,000 coastal great448lakes and inland harbors. Our flood and storm damage reduction449program maintains 746 dams and over 13,000 miles of Federal450levees that provide over 200 billion, which is an astonishing451number, in flood damages avoided when averaged over a 10-year452period.453    The Army Corps is also the largest owner-operator of454hydroelectric power plants in the United States with 75 plants455producing approximately 25 percent of the Nation's total456hydropower.457    As Ms. Colosimo spoke to the Civil Works program is458performance based and focused on high-performing projects and459programs. The Corps uses a targeted approach to invest in water460resources which benefit the Nation now and into the future. The461discretionary request includes nearly 6.7 billion for the Civil462Works Program.463    As we discussed when I was last in front of this committee464back in February, our objective every day is to safely deliver465quality projects on schedule and within budget. To this end,466our current, as of yesterday, on-schedule rate across the Civil467Works portfolio is an 81 percent. That is a low B. This468performance is influenced by factors both controllable and469uncontrollable.470    Focusing on those things we can control, the Army Corps is471absolutely committed to procedural improvements in the472following three areas. We got to get the engineering right. The473focus here is on the maturity of the design. I remain committed474to my pledge that I made last time I was here to not request475project authorization unless the engineering design is at the47635 percent level.477    Second imperative is to get the project management right.478Here we are focusing on crafting logical, fully resourced479schedules and sticking dogmatically to them, ensuring that we480are delivering these important projects with a great sense of481urgency.482    Third thing is to get the team that is building these483right. We are striving to bring together the right mix of484talent either by onboard professionals within the Corps or by485leveraging the private sector.486    So the path to success is clear. Plan projects thoroughly487and then build them rapidly with the right team of master488craftsmen. I look forward to working with this committee to489stay on that path.490    Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify today,491and I look forward to answering any questions.492    [The information follows:]493    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]494495    Mr. Fleischmann. General, thank you for your opening496statement.497    Mr. Cameron, good morning, sir. You are now recognized for4985 minutes for your opening statement. Thank you.499500 STATEMENT OF SCOTT CAMERON, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY,501EXERCISING DELEGATED AUTHORITY OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, U.S.502                     DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR503504    Mr. Cameron. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Fleischmann,505Ranking Member Kaptur, members of the subcommittee, delighted506to be with you this morning to talk about the President's507fiscal 2026 budget blueprint request for the Bureau of508Reclamation and discuss what our team is doing to make America509safer, stronger, and more prosperous.510    Reclamation's projects and programs serve as the water and511power infrastructure backbone of the American West,512constituting an important driver of economic growth in hundreds513of basins throughout the 17 Western states. Reclamation manages514water for agriculture, hydropower production, municipal and515industrial use, and provides flood control and recreation for51690 million people. Reclamation's activities support economic517activity valued at $64 billion and support approximately518500,000 jobs. Reclamation delivers 10 trillion gallons of water519to millions of people each year and provides water for520irrigation of 10 million acres of farmland, which yields521approximately 25 percent of a Nation's fruit and nut crops and52260 percent of the Nation's vegetable harvest.523    Bureau of Reclamation's 2026 budget blueprint of 1.2524billion focuses on the core mission of maintaining assets that525provide safe, reliable, and efficient management of water526resources throughout the Western United States. The Water and527Related Resources Appropriations Account is a primary source of528discretionary appropriations for carrying out Reclamation's529mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related530resources in the Western U.S. This account supports the531planning, construction, operations, maintenance, and532rehabilitation of reclamation projects that deliver water for533agricultural, municipal, and industrial use; generate534significant amounts of hydroelectric power; and support535environmental stewardship and recreation. It also supports536programs that promote water conservation, improve537infrastructure reliability, and ensure compliance with538applicable environmental laws.539    Within the Water Related Resources Account, appropriations540are organized into several functioning categories. Land541Management and Development covers the stewardship of Federal542lands associated with reclamation projects, including543recreation, cultural resources, and public safety. The Fish and544Wildlife Management Area Development support species and545habitat protection, ensuring compliance with the Endangered546Species Act and other environmental statutes. Facility547Operations ensures that Reclamation's dams, canals, and power548plants operate safely and efficiently to deliver water and549power generation to our communities.550    As the chairman mentioned earlier, Indian water rights is a551significant concern for the Bureau of Reclamation, and within a552budget constrained environment we intend to do everything we553can to meet our obligations to Indian tribes.554    The Central Valley Project includes multiple divisions,555including the American River Division, Delta, and the Trinity556River Division. Together they maintain and modernize facilities557and increase water conveyance to Southern California and the558San Joaquin Valley. The Klamath Project in Oregon and559California ensures operational flexibility for irrigation560deliveries and natural resource management.561    The Bureau of Reclamation's work on the Colorado River is562increasingly important, especially in light of the 2026563expiration of a number of agreements. We are working very564closely at a senior level, very intensively with the governor's565representatives of all seven basin states to help them find a566mutually agreeable path forward, realizing that it needs to be567a state-driven solution.568    In summary, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I569look forward to answering your questions and thank you for your570time.571    [The information follows:]572   [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]573574    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank you, Mr. Cameron.575    We will now begin with questions for 5 minutes. I am going576to ask everybody to please hold their questions to 5 minutes577because we have other people having to move in and out with578other hearings going on, beginning with my own.579    General Graham, thank you again for being with us a second580time this year. You and I have already discussed the importance581of finishing the job on Chickamauga Lock serve. I was582disappointed with last year's setback caused by an583uncompetitive bid environment. Many projects have faced similar584challenges in recent years.585    With the revised contract currently out for bid, what steps586has the Corps taken to enhance competition and avoid similar587problems? Are there lessons learned that can be applied across588the enterprise?589    Finally, more generally, it seems like Chickamauga Lock is590out ahead of several ongoing inland waterway construction591projects. In what ways are you leveraging this project as a592learning opportunity to improve project delivery across the593Nation? Thank you, sir.594    General Graham. Chairman Fleischmann, thank you for that595question. Specifically on increasing competition at596Chickamauga, a lot of our facilities are in remote areas where,597and as the ranking member mentioned earlier, the Soo Lock and598Dam is another example, where we have got to go and make the599steps necessary to attract contractors and the labor force to600go to these remote areas. So the lesson learned from the601unsuccessful last project award is we have a targeted marketing602campaign that we have had ongoing to reach out to the 26603largest prime contractors that do this work. The pool of604contractors, general contractors that do this work that have605the bonding capacity to do this level of work is fairly606limited. And we know who those are. So this time around, the607District and with support from its division were much more608targeted in reaching out to those contractors.609    They held virtual site visits to attract talent. And I am610happy to announce we had 74 attendees join us for that virtual611site visit. And then they did, before the proposals went out,612they did on site pre-proposal site visits. And we had over a 2-613day period 75 contractors showed up on the first day, 24 showed614up on the second day. And so that is many, many more than we615have had at the pre-proposal visits in the past. And so that is616a best practice. And for all of our construction projects in617remote areas, Mr. Chairman, we plan to make sure that the618districts are following those best practices.619    Sir, your second question was how are we getting better at620making sure that we have got the right team doing the design621work and doing the construction work? We have consolidated622that. Chickamauga and the Kentucky Lock and Dam, those two623Tennessee River projects, those are legacy projects. We haven't624done work that way for 10 years. What we do now is all the625design for the inland system is with one center, the Inland Nav626Design Center. Just like how you get good at anything, it is627reps and sets. And so we are not building locks and dams in all628the districts throughout the country. We are doing them in one629or two specific districts at any given time. And so that that630will concentrate the design reps and sets.631    The second thing we are doing then is once you design it,632you got to build it. And so we are concentrating the633contracting and then the construction into two districts. And634those will be Pittsburgh and Rock Island. And that will give635them the reps and sets. In fact, Pittsburgh just took over the636construction of the Kentucky Lock and Dam. We are leaving637Chickamauga with the Nashville district with close oversight.638And we are confident that we will get that this contract639awarded this summer and we will get this lock up into operation640by '28.641    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, sir. In my remaining time, Mr.642Cameron, thank you for your opening remarks about Indian water643rights and settlements. Very important to us and I think644members on both sides of the dais. Can you provide us a status645update for the subcommittee on ongoing settlements? And646recognizing you can't share the details about the request, can647you please speak to the administration's big picture plans and648vision for delivering on those commitments? Mindful we have649less than a minute.650    Mr. Cameron. Mr. Chairman, we are focused primarily on the651statutory deadlines for fulfilling our financial obligations to652Indian Tribes. That is the top priority. The second priority is653working with Tribes to figure out how they might contribute to654a broader settlement of water rights issues on a regional basis655and water allocation, such as in the Colorado River Basin.656    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, sir.657    At this time I would like to recognize the ranking member,658Ms. Kaptur, for 5 minutes for questions.659    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you660for your testimony.661    General Graham, I wanted to ask your help, and you already662are helping with your FUSRAP program for the areas that have663been contaminated around our country. And one of these is in664Northwest Ohio, in the town of Luckey, not far from where I665grew up and still live today. The Toledo Blade, over the last666couple of months, has done superb reporting on the history of667this site and the whole horrors done to the workers and668surrounding community during the Cold War as part of the669nuclear weapons race under the purview of the former Atomic670Energy Commission.671    Mr. Chairman, if I could, I would like to place on the672record two important articles from the Blade on this topic.673    Mr. Fleischmann. Without objection, so ordered.674    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you very much. General Graham and Ms.675Colosimo, as part of this reporting, the Blade discovered676radioactive substances in multiple locations around the Luckey677site which were above normal. You have been very proactive,678thank you, in communicating with me and my staff on this topic.679However, one of the things you told my office was that you had680confirmed that the radioactive materials discovered by the681Blade were not related to the Luckey site. Did we understand682that correctly? Is that still your position?683    General Graham. Yes, ma'am, it is.684    Ms. Kaptur. Okay. Can you please explain to me what other685possible sources of this magnitude of radiation might be686responsible for its presence in this area if not for the Luckey687site?688    General Graham. Ranking Member Kaptur, thank you. We remain689confident that no FUSRAP-related material has migrated off the690Luckey site and we are committed to a safe remediation of that691site.692    Ms. Kaptur. I understand what happened in St. Louis is a693possible analog to what is happening in our area. In that case,694the contamination was migrating through the soil to the water.695Is that a possible explanation here?696    General Graham. Not that I am aware of.697    Ms. Kaptur. I am very concerned about this situation and698would like to have more clarity on what is in the water, what699is in the soil, and what the dangers are to this region. Can700you commit to me that you will get the water and soil tested?701    General Graham. Working with our state partners, with Ohio702EPA, they are the ones that are currently doing the water703testing. And so we are being absolutely transparent with them704with what is on the Luckey site and our remediation plan.705    Ms. Kaptur. Can you commit to me that you will continue to706keep us informed of everything that is going on out there, even707to do a public briefing at some point, in the region?708    General Graham. Absolutely.709    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you very much. I want to change topics to710Brandon Road. The Brandon Road Project is aimed at arresting711the economic and environmental damage unleashed by the712unfortunate migration of Asian carp species that will713definitely eliminate our massive fishery if allowed to proceed714up into the Great Lakes. It is vital that the Brandon Road715Project proceed in a timely manner.716    Could you kindly, General Graham, tell us the status in717getting all Federal and state entities on the same page to718proceed with the project?719    General Graham. Ranking Member Kaptur, thank you for that720question on Brandon Roads. The President had signed a memo in721support of that on the 9th of May, and on that same date,722Governor Pritzker had a press release saying that his needs are723net and that Illinois is working to get the necessary real724estate. So with that in hand, we released the solicitation for725contract 1(a) last Friday. And what that first contract is for726is for the bubbling system and the acoustic system. This is727part of a multilayered defense. And so that contract has been728released. And once that is awarded and constructed, that will729be the start of fish deterrence, which is great news.730    Ms. Kaptur. All right. Is it possible for your staff to get731us the press release or whatever went out seeking contractors732in that area?733    General Graham. Yes, ma'am.734    Ms. Kaptur. Appreciate that very much. Do we assume that735the fiscal year 2026 budget request will include the full736capability for the Brandon Road Project?737    Ms. Colosimo. Ma'am, we are certainly going to put forth738the best estimate we can and have the administration consider739it. We do expect to have the fiscal year 2026 here soon, but740the President signaling his interest in this project, in741support of it, will be helpful action there.742    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you very much. I am going to really743switch to another subject here.744    General Graham, do you share General Spellman's goal of 70745percent use of dredge material for beneficial use by 2030?746    General Graham. Absolutely.747    Ms. Kaptur. You do. Thank you very much on that.748    My time has expired. And thank you so very much for749answering our questions this morning.750    Mr. Fleischmann. And thank you, Ranking Member Kaptur. We751will have a second round for anybody who would like to ask752additional questions.753    At this time, I would like to recognize my friend Mr.754Simpson of Idaho. He is chairman of the Interior Subcommittee755of Appropriation and has also served as distinguished chair of756this subcommittee in the past.757    Mr. Simpson, you are recognized for 5 minutes.758    Mr. Simpson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you all for759being here today. You are the largest construction company in760the world and you do a great job. And you have projects in761every congressional district, I believe. And we sometimes762complain, but we are really good at that. So I will start off763by complaining just a little bit. Not really.764    I have been working on a project, Gooding, Idaho, the765Gooding Wall replacement, for about 20 years now. In fact, I766have been told by some of my constituents down there that I767can't retire and enjoy the rest of my life until this gets768done. So you are affecting my future by not getting this done.769    The design for the project seemed to be moving along just770fine until the Corps recently had to increase its cost771estimates for the project. Now the city of Gooding will have to772consider alternatives, including shrinking the project's773footprint and attempting to get more funding in order to keep774the project moving forward. Seems to me we are going in a--we775are going a bit out of order here. Are there ways the Army776Corps of Engineers could do things differently or authorities777that Congress could provide you all that we have better ideas778of the true cost of these projects before we have funded them?779    And along that same line, depending on how Gooding wants to780proceed, we may approach the 902 limit for the project. Should781we hit that limit, do I have your commitment that the Corps782will do its part in providing the information needed to783increase the project's authorized level and will continue to do784the work to express capabilities in future fiscal years?785    General Graham. Representative Simpson, thank you for that786question. On the last part of the question first, absolutely on787the 902 limit.788    On the cost increases, we absolutely have to do a better789job. Last hearing that was our commitment to this subcommittee,790and that all starts with getting the engineering right. No more791putting out a programming number where we are unsure about what792it is we are going to build. Right? You can say, hey, I want to793go build a house and put a number out there. But until you know794you want a three-car garage, four bedrooms, and three bathrooms795with a walk-in pantry, you don't really know with good796certainty what that construction project is likely to cost.797    And in the past we have done that. We have asked for798authorization where we don't really have the scope defined799and--because we don't have the engineering advanced at least up800to 35 percent design. So on Gooding, that is a case where we801absolutely have to make sure we get the engineering right at802the beginning.803    Mr. Simpson. Thank you, I appreciate that. And just804remember, you are affecting my future and the enjoyment of my805future.806    Anyway, one other question or a couple others. Snake River807quagga mussels, as you know, in 2023, we found quagga mussels808in the Columbia Basin starting in the Snake River, and the809Department of Agriculture in Idaho started an eradication810program. The Corps is currently partnered with the state of811Idaho in its efforts to control the spread of these quagga812mussels in the Columbia River Basin and is authorized to813provide up to 50 percent cost share for rapid response efforts814on quagga mussels. What is the current status of the Corps'815reimbursement to the state of Idaho for eligible expenses in816the quagga mussel treatment?817    General Graham. Representative Simpson, thanks for that.818The Aquatic Plant Control Project remains currently funded, but819we will run out of funding in that program at the end of fiscal820year 2026.821    Mr. Simpson. We will try to make a change in that.822    Okay. I am going to ask a question about Albeni Falls Dam823in North Idaho on Lake Pend Oreille. The Corps has determined824that the locks are inadequate or are defective and that825probably all of them are, and so they are going to have to be826replaced. The community in North Idaho, I mean, this affects827the level of the lakes and so forth, and the community--828recreation is a huge issue up there. And so the lake levels829change because of that because you are conservatively830monitoring that. The communities are concerned that this--your831estimate that it may take till the end of the decade to replace832this. Is that where we still are, that it will take that long?833    General Graham. Representative Simpson, we absolutely834understand that the risk reduction measures we have had to take835place by lowering the pool that that affects the users around836the lake and we take that very seriously. But the spillway837gates need repair. They are in design right now. And like I838said earlier, with a good engineering estimate, then we can put839a good construction estimate out there. But our commitment to840you is to get those gates repaired and get the lake level back841to its water control manual levels as soon as possible.842    Mr. Simpson. Thank you. Mr. Cameron, one other question. I843am glad, as the chairman is, that you mentioned the Indian844water rights. It is going to eat the Interior budget. These845water rights settlements are enormous cost. We have wondered846why they don't come out of the judgment fund, like other847settlements do that the Federal Government engages in. But that848is something we will have to explore. But I wanted to ask you849what is the water outlook for Idaho right now for the upcoming850growing season?851    Mr. Cameron. Mr. Simpson, the West is in chronic drought in852most places. It varies, obviously, regionally. My understanding853is that Idaho is probably not much worse than most of the rest854of the West. And some parts of the state are actually in better855shape.856    Mr. Simpson. Thank you all for being here and for what you857do.858    Mr. Fleischmann. Mr. Simpson, I thank you again, for all859you do and for your questions.860    At this time, I would like to recognize my friend and861colleague, Mr. Levin of California, for 5 minutes.862    Mr. Levin. I thank my friend, the chairman, and I thank you863all for being here.864    The Army Corps Civil Works Program has a long history of865funding critical infrastructure work for water resource866development. In California, where I am from, that has often867included flood control and beach nourishment. And the Corps868strength as an institution rests in nonpartisanship and in its869ability to provide engineering and construction support870regardless of political affiliation. The nonpartisan nature of871the Corps ensures that projects are executed objectively and872meet the needs of the public. And I think that all of us in873this room can agree that our vital infrastructure simply should874never be partisan.875    So, Ms. Colosimo, I was shocked when I saw the Corps876released its fiscal year 2025 work plan last week, which zeroed877out funding for critical construction projects in California.878And when you dig deeper into the numbers, you see that the879administration has shifted more than $250 million away from the880construction of critical infrastructure projects in the so-881called blue states, like California and Washington, and moved882it to the so-called red states.883    Ms. Colosimo, do you agree that the Corps should operate in884a nonpartisan manner?885    Ms. Colosimo. Yes, sir. We should always be nonpolitical.886    Mr. Levin. I appreciate that. I have the numbers right in887front of me that indicate that that may not be taking place.888The Corps decided not to fund projects in California that were889in the fiscal year 2025 budget request and included in both the890House and Senate bills on a bipartisan basis. That includes891$34.4 million for the American River Common Features Project,892$38.5 million for the Pajaro River Project, $10 million for the893San Joaquin River Basin Project, and $43.5 million for the West894Sacramento Project. It simply does not make sense that the most895populous state in the country should receive $0 for896construction work.897    And this isn't limited to California. In total, the so-898called blue states saw a reduction of nearly half a billion899dollars, while the so-called red states saw an increase of $257900million. I am going to repeat, these Corps projects should be901nonpartisan. They should be focused on saving lives, reducing902damage to property, and spurring local economies.903    And this is what I think a lot of us feared when we saw904that our colleagues rushed through the continuing resolution905that stripped Congress' ability to direct funds with state and906local input, and instead gave all discretion to the907administration to unilaterally decide how to dole out taxpayer908funds. I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the909aisle find this as distasteful as I do. This is a lousy910precedent that is being set here.911    Ms. Colosimo and General Graham, can you both commit to912standing up against efforts in future work plans and budget913requests that would further politicize the Army Corps budgeting914decisions?915    Ms. Colosimo. Yes, sir. If I may, we always put forth the916best projects. In this case, it is a dicey situation, as you917said. You know, the House and Senate marks were around 3918billion and we were at the continuing resolution of about 1.8.919So they made hard choices, the administration did, and they had920that discretion.921    Mr. Levin. Do you--reclaiming my time. Do you have any922other possible explanation for the way the administration wants923to distribute these funds other than partisanship?924    Ms. Colosimo. They wanted to prioritize life safety,925flooding, and American prosperity.926    Mr. Levin. And you think all of the projects in California,927Washington, and other states don't do that?928    Ms. Colosimo. It is not my judgment to make. That was what929they prioritized within the funds that they had discretion to930allocate.931    Mr. Levin. Right. General, would you care to comment on932this?933    General Graham. I go with Ms. Colosimo.934    Mr. Levin. I guess no, you don't want to comment on this.935    Mr. Cameron, you want to comment on this?936    Mr. Cameron. Sir, I have gotten no insight at all into the937Corps' budgetary process. I can tell you at Interior, the938Bureau of Reclamation, we try to invest our dollars where we939can manage--produce the greatest benefit and the greatest940public safety.941    Mr. Levin. Based on the technical and the engineering942aspects of these projects, do you feel that that has been done,943that taking money, $250 million, away from the so-called blue944states, giving it to the so-called red states? Do you think945that that is consistent with solid engineering and technical946work that is been done on these projects? Do you really believe947that, Ms. Colosimo?948    Ms. Colosimo. I believe all the projects put forth are good949projects.950    Mr. Levin. That is not what I asked.951    Ms. Colosimo. What I said was I believe they were all good952projects. How they stack against the projects one by one is953difficult to answer in one sound bite.954    Mr. Levin. Well, you have 33 seconds.955    Ms. Colosimo. I do believe they represent----956    Mr. Levin. You have 33 seconds.957    Ms. Colosimo [continuing]. The priority of the958administration of life safety, flooding, and coastal.959    Mr. Levin. And you already said that. Try again.960    Ms. Colosimo. That is what I believe.961    Mr. Levin. Okay. You think that this was all on the level?962You don't think there is any partisanship at all?963    Ms. Colosimo. I believe they had to make trade-offs that I964was not privy to.965    Mr. Levin. Right. And those trade-offs were of a partisan966nature, weren't they?967    Ms. Colosimo. I don't believe they were partisan, but that968is their decision.969    Mr. Levin. You don't believe they were partisan? So what is970the explanation if it is not partisanship.971    Ms. Colosimo. It is the priorities they placed that were972different than priorities than other projects. You would have973to ask them directly.974    Mr. Levin. Okay. I am out of time, but I find your975testimony to be completely unbelievable. Thank you.976    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Mr. Levin.977    Going in the order of how folks showed up, I now recognize978my friend and colleague, Ms. Lee of Nevada, for 5 minutes.979    Ms. Lee. I was waiting for a Republican, but, okay, thank980you.981    Mr. Fleischmann. Give me these rules and I try to be982evenhanded, so.983    Ms. Lee. All right. I like it. I like it. I will take it.984Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for being here.985    Mr. Cameron, I obviously am concerned about the water986negotiations on the Colorado River. And as we gather here, as987you know, the American Southwest is confronting the effects of988the worst drought in 1,200 years. In fact, our local newspaper989just had an article on basically saying we expect Lake Mead,990the water runoff to be about at 55 percent of average in this991summer. So it is just getting worse. And so these negotiations992are incredibly important; 40 million people, including my993constituents, rely on the Colorado River. So, you know,994successfully coming to an agreement and implementing new995operating guidelines is incredibly important.996    I heard you say, I just want to get confirmation, that the997Bureau is prioritizing a consensus-based approach to crafting998these guidelines as it has done during previous negotiations.999Is that correct?1000    Mr. Cameron. Absolutely, Congresswoman Lee. When I first1001briefed the Secretary on the Colorado, he gave me three orders.1002The first, is the Department's senior political leadership will1003be working intensely with the seven states. The second priority1004or second decision was he really wants a seven-state solution1005and we are to work aggressively with the seven states to1006achieve that. The third is in the unfortunate, we hope1007unlikely, circumstance that the seven states can't come to an1008agreement, he will exercise his responsibility as watermaster1009in Lower Basin.1010    Ms. Lee. Great. You know, I would be remiss if I didn't1011alert you to an amendment that was passed in the middle of the1012night during the natural resources markup of this big bad bill1013that is being negotiated in the Rules Committee as we speak.1014And I may have to leave to go propose an amendment, but it sets1015a precedent for the, one, for the selling of public lands,1016which my colleague Mr. Simpson adamantly opposes. But more1017concerning to our work is it sets the stage for a potential1018water grab by the state of Utah, throwing a wrench into these1019already enormously complicated negotiations.1020    And so I hope to get reassurance from you and the Bureau1021that we can ensure that this type of water grab would be1022addressed in these negotiations.1023    Mr. Cameron. Congressman, I am unfamiliar with what1024happened last night. What I can tell you is as recently as last1025week, in Sacramento, met with the representatives of seven1026basin states and they were making substantial progress together1027in a very cooperative fashion. And I have got to give John1028Ensign, the Nevada state rep, credit. He has been a real leader1029and been very creative on these things. So really value1030Nevada's active involvement.1031    Ms. Lee. Absolutely. Well, you know, our economy and our1032life depends on it. So I just want to alert you to that. I hope1033that you and your staff will take that into consideration.1034    I want to now turn to the skinny budget that we saw that1035saw a $609 million reduction for the Bureau, which is crazy.1036And, you know, we didn't get too many specifics, but I am1037hearing some concerning reports that this includes--may include1038zeroing out funding for the Water Smart Program altogether. Now1039listen, this is a highly successful program. When you want to1040talk about dealing with these negotiations, I think we should1041be doing everything possible for reduction and reuse of water.1042But this basically allows the Bureau to work with Western1043states to limit water loss by providing grant funding that has1044been critical for projects in Nevada, such as converting 1.451045million acre feet--or square feet of athletic fields to water-1046friendly turf.1047    You know, I hope--I just want to confirm am I hearing only1048rumors or is this what is coming down the pike?1049    Ms. Colosimo. I'm not in a position, as you know, to talk1050about the details of the President's budget at this point. I1051can tell you that water conservation, particularly in the1052Colorado drainage, is a priority of this administration. And we1053will look--use every tool at our disposal to work with the1054seven basin states to achieve the water conservation goals in1055both the upper and lower basins.1056    Ms. Lee. All right. You know, it is already been, just1057before I close out, it is been brought to my attention that1058existing Water Smart funding opportunities have been under1059review. So I hope we can get your assurance that these already1060appropriated Water Smart initiatives will still remain open for1061application.1062    Ms. Colosimo. Congresswoman, I believe actually we are--1063sometime this summer we are going to be coming out with the1064fiscal year 2025 Water Smart Notice of Funding opportunity. So,1065yeah, they are in the pipeline.1066    Ms. Lee. Okay, thank you.1067    Mr. Fleischmann. Ms. Lee, I thank you for your questions.1068At this time I would like to recognize my friend, the1069distinguished gentleman from California and the chair of the1070Defense Subcommittee of Appropriations, Mr. Calvert. Thank you.1071    Mr. Calvert. Great, thank you, thank you. And General,1072thank you for what you are doing in L.A. I know you are ahead1073of schedule, I hope to be done but by July, I understand, on1074the cleanup part of that disaster. And so we want to work with1075you to make sure that it is done. Right. Most of the people1076signed up for just a de minimis number, unfortunately did not.1077But so it looks like it is on schedule and you are going to get1078it all done by July?1079    General Graham. We are on track right now to meet that1080need. I know that it was important to try to get Pacific Coast1081Highway open, and we are working with the governor of1082California on that as we speak.1083    Mr. Calvert. And I understand that some of your facilities1084are going to be used for the '28 Olympics. And so are they1085budgeting for that? Is the budget going to support the Corps1086involvement in that national effort?1087    General Graham. Representative Calvert, I don't have the1088answer to that question right now, but as soon as we know that,1089we will share that with you.1090    Mr. Calvert. Let us know. And regarding these negotiations1091with the upper and lower basin states here in California,1092obviously, California is, like, always a donor state. And so,1093you know, with the water rights primarily with Imperial1094Irrigation District and other agencies in Southern California.1095So I know those negotiations are ongoing, but obviously you1096have to recognize those previous water rights. And we love our1097friends in Nevada and Arizona and elsewhere, but that has to be1098worked out delicately. More water lawyers involved in that than1099I can count.1100    But to make up for that, we are going to need additional1101water delivery from the north to the south, and obviously the1102San Joaquin Delta and trying to move this conveyance system1103along. How are we--how is that moving along?1104    Unfortunately, we didn't go with a dual pipe system. We1105would have had it built by now. But nonetheless, how is the1106single pipe system coming?1107    Mr. Cameron. So, a couple thoughts, Mr. Calvert. The first1108is, I can assure you, I am reminded almost on a weekly basis of1109who has got senior water rights everywhere in the Colorado1110Basin. So it is not something anyone lets me forget, and, you1111know, we are very mindful of that.1112    Speaking in terms of the Delta and the Central Valley1113Project more generally, the administration is working very hard1114with the water districts both north of the delta and south of1115the delta to come up with a water management regime that will1116allow more water to head south. We are lucky this year, Shasta1117is fairly close to full, which is a good thing. But it is1118unlikely that that will be the pattern, you know, year after1119year after year. So we definitely need more water storage in1120California. There is no doubt about that.1121    We have got no particular position on the governor's latest1122proposal for an additional conveyance. We are watching that1123closely. We are interested. Anything that creates more1124flexibility in terms of how we manage water in California would1125be very helpful and very much appreciated.1126    Mr. Calvert. Well, obviously we need to build sites. I am1127going to have a meeting on that later today and, you know,1128hopefully that is going to be--all the approvals are going to1129be finalized here very soon and that we are actually going to1130get that under construction. And of course, I hope Shasta, you1131know, to me as we have been going through the permitting1132process for so long on Shasta, that hopefully we can get an1133agreement. We are initially going to raise that, what, 16, 181134feet, but that delivers about 600,000 acre feet of wet water.1135So it also works well for water management. So I hope we can do1136that, also.1137    One last question to you, General. Obviously the L.A.1138district's been actively involved in several projects in my1139district. The Prado Dam, Murrieta Creek Project, which I would1140like to hopefully see completed in my lifetime, not just like1141Mr. Simpson's time in Congress, within my lifetime. So how are1142we doing on those projects?1143    General Graham. Representative Calvert, on Murrieta Creek,1144Phase 2-Bravo should be awarded in June of this year. So we are1145excited to see that move forward and we are reengineering the1146Phase 2-Charlie and we will work to fit that in within1147available funding.1148    On Prado, delighted to see that the base preconstruction1149service contract was awarded in April of this year. And what1150that allow us to do is to make sure that we have a construction1151contractor looking at our design and they will have an1152opportunity to go ahead and do the construction which we hope1153to get out next year.1154    Mr. Calvert. Just one final comment if I can, Mr. Chairman,1155but I was around when we had the devastating floods in the1156early '90s that wiped out all those helicopters at Camp1157Pendleton. Santa Margarita Creek overflowed and it is a huge1158cost when--I forget the number, but it was a big number. So we1159don't want that to happen again. So I hope we can keep Murrieta1160Creek on track and finish that up.1161    General Graham. Sure.1162    Mr. Calvert. Great. Thank you. And that does have1163downstream consequence, even to my friend Mr. Levin, because1164that goes into his district. So there is a project I hope to1165get funded in California.1166    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you Mr. Calvert.1167    At this time I would like to recognize my friend and1168colleague from Indiana, Mr. Mrvan, for 5 minutes.1169    Mr. Mrvan. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Panel. I want to1170follow up on a line of questioning from our oversight hearing1171in February.1172    There is an issue with finding storage for contaminated1173sentiment in the harbors. This is extremely costly. In the case1174of the Michigan City harbor, this hampers the Corps ability to1175dredge the entirety of the channel. When I asked Major Condrey1176about the issue in February, there was not clear answers on the1177path forward to address this issue. Specifically, what is being1178done to find additional capacity for dredged materials and what1179are some of the specific challenges that you can point to that1180Congress might be able to helpful--be helpful in addressing?1181    General Graham. Representative Mrvan, thank you for that1182question. And we are tracking closely the dredge material1183disposal site at the edge of the Calumet River where it meets1184Lake Michigan. With the change of support from Illinois, what1185that has allowed us to do is to--and the lawsuit being1186dismissed, now we can have open discussions with the state1187which are ongoing right now, which is, okay, what is next? We1188weren't able to do that before, so we got that cleared out of1189our way. And so those, those discussions are ongoing.1190    Mr. Mrvan. What are the discussions? What are the hurdles1191that have to be overcome with those discussions?1192    General Graham. It is location, location, location. Where1193is the material going to go?1194    Mr. Mrvan. What are the options?1195    General Graham. I don't have that at my fingertips, but we1196can get that to you.1197    Mr. Mrvan. What is the timeline in which a decision might1198be made?1199    General Graham. I don't know.1200    Mr. Mrvan. Okay. What as a Member of Congress can we do or1201Congress can we do to find new capacity? What is your1202percentage of that working out with Illinois?1203    General Graham. So right now, we have nowhere to put that1204material, I believe, as you well know. And our commitment is to1205continue to work with the state to find a viable solution.1206    Mr. Mrvan. So you are working with the state of Illinois1207for a viable solution?1208    General Graham. That is correct.1209    Mr. Mrvan. If that is not a viable solution, what is option1210B or C?1211    General Graham. We have taken a look to see if we can use1212other CDFs around the area, particularly maybe down in Indiana.1213But the district reports that the capacity for those are1214already claimed, so that is not viable right now.1215    Mr. Mrvan. Okay. As my colleague mentioned, it is viable.1216Obviously, this sentiment is going to keep coming up when we1217talk about commerce, when we talk about the steel industry,1218when we talk about having the navigable ability to be able to1219get through those waters, it all is contingent upon the1220dredging of the sentiment. But yet we don't have an answer to1221where that sentiment might go, which is holding up projects.1222    General Graham. Absolutely agree. The importance of the1223Great Lakes harbors to the economy of the region is1224tremendously important. Also acknowledge that there is a great1225deal of concern out there that from the legacy pollution that1226is in those sediments that the public rightfully fears that1227they don't want that to do any more harm. And so, that is our1228commitment. And I know that is not your----1229    Mr. Mrvan. We are absolutely on the same page.1230    General Graham. Right.1231    Mr. Mrvan. I want to protect the community first.1232    General Graham. Absolutely.1233    Mr. Mrvan. Clean waterways second.1234    General Graham. Absolutely, sir. Absolutely. And so right1235now, or before, we had a roadblock that we couldn't advance1236discussions with the state because of the lawsuit, that1237roadblock has been cleared, and so now those discussions are1238ongoing. So if we believe that and more engagement by any of1239the Great Lakes congressional representatives would be helpful,1240we will certainly reach out.1241    Mr. Mrvan. Okay. What I am asking for and getting to is1242that we have an open line of communication that my office,1243along with the department, and the Army Corps is able to1244understand what the path forward is. So the impact that it has1245on those projects going forward we have an understanding of1246what will be going on and the protection of our communities.1247    General Graham. Absolutely.1248    Mr. Mrvan. And then on a micro scale, Northwest Indiana is1249near Chicago. Chicago headquarters was on the list to be1250eliminated. It is now off the list. There is a small office in1251Griffith that allows people to use as a workstation, that is on1252the list. What is the current situation with obviously to1253assure me that the Chicago headquarters stays there, because1254that is the capacity that the Federal building didn't have the1255ability for them to move into. And then secondly, what is the1256Calumet office and Griffith's future look like?1257    General Graham. Representative Mrvan, the district is1258staying put. The area office, we are still working this with1259GSA, but we have our own real estate authorities that I can1260enter into year by year by year leases if we need to, and we1261will exercise that real estate authority if we have to. We are1262trying to find a more efficient way.1263    Mr. Mrvan. Okay. If we can find an efficient way to keep1264that, simply because it has to do with the--the productivity--1265--1266    General Graham. That is right.1267    Mr. Mrvan [continuing]. Of what goes on in my district. And1268I thank you very much for your time. I yield back.1269    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Mr. Mervyn. At this time, I1270would like to recognize my friend and colleague from1271Washington, Mr. Newhouse, for 5 minutes.1272    Mr. Newhouse. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate that very1273much. Thank you all for being with us this morning, and thanks1274for your work, such an important topic in the arid West. I want1275to direct my first question to you, Mr. Cameron. First of all,1276appreciate your response to a letter that my office sent to1277you, as well as some of my colleagues co-signed the letter1278regarding the imminent failure of the Yakima Titan Irrigation1279District Canal. It is in my district. Certainly look forward to1280working together with you to find solutions to prevent this1281canal from devastating impacts of impending failure. I know the1282Bureau's aware of the current state of the canal and certainly1283the importance to the area and the lives and livelihoods1284literally hanging in the balance because of the situation1285there.1286    What I would like to do is just respond and what some of1287you mentioned in your letter, that you have directed the Bureau1288to provide any assistance necessary to the district to prepare1289and submit an application for the aging infrastructure account1290and to further evaluate whether the activities qualify as an1291emergency extraordinary operation and maintenance work, and1292that you expect a final decision sometime very soon by this1293fall, so that work could commence as early as 2026. I just want1294to tell you how important it is to adhere to the timeline in1295order to prevent the catastrophic impacts of failure of this1296canal, which, you know, usually we like to say it could happen.1297This is imminent. It is just the situation is such that it is1298not a matter of if, but it is a matter of when, and so we have1299to be as prepared as possible. So would just love to have your1300commitment to continue working with my office and the1301Irrigation District to make sure that this work happens.1302    Mr. Cameron. Mr. Newhouse, you are absolutely correct. It1303is a very bad situation. I have met with representatives from1304the area on at least one, maybe two, or three occasions,1305actually. We were able to provide a small emergency grant. We1306were able to provide a loan. And as you indicated, there will1307be an opportunity to submit a proposal. It is a very bad1308situation, and we are monitoring carefully. We want to be as1309cooperative as we possibly can to reduce the public health and1310safety risk and the economic risk to the area.1311    Mr. Newhouse. It truly is an all-hands-on-deck situation.1312So I appreciate your commitment. Thank you. Then I would like1313to direct a question to you, General Graham, Lieutenant1314General. Thank you for being with us this morning. I wanted to1315draw your attention to two very important construction projects1316that are imperative to the movement of over $31 billion--1317billion--worth of cargo annually on the Columbia Snake River1318system. Certainly, the first of that is the South jetty located1319at the mouth of the system that requires at least $30 million1320in additional funding to complete the rehabilitation project,1321which is certainly critical for preventing sand from impeding1322the navigation channel in the event of a breach.1323    Second, it is my understanding that the gate replacement at1324Bonneville and McNary Locks is being planned for 2030. As you1325know, an unplanned outage could be detrimental to the entire1326system, and there are no redundant locks. I must acknowledge1327the men and women of the Corps who perform regular maintenance1328on this infrastructure that is critical to prevent an outage1329that impacts navigation on the entire system.1330    These projects were not included in the recently released1331fiscal year 2025 work plan, and I am concerned that the work1332will extend beyond the 2030 date target because of a series of1333components and systems that need to be repaired or replaced in1334sequence between now and then to stay on track. So, just a1335question as to how you will work with the Portland and Walla1336Walla districts to ensure they are able to complete the jetty1337rehabilitation that was started almost 10 years ago, I believe,1338as well as stay on track for the 2030 gate replacements in a1339planned and coordinated fashion.1340    General Graham. Representative Newhouse, thank you for1341those questions. Absolutely committed to making sure that the1342Columbia River system is maintained as a reliable engine of1343commerce for the Pacific Northwest. I have got a daughter that1344lives in Portland, and so I get out there as often as I can.1345    Mr. Newhouse. It is a great state.1346    General Graham. It is. It is amazing. So our commitment to1347make sure that the South jetty work, critical work, that1348continues, as well as on Bonneville and McNary, making sure1349that the cranes are in good repair to be able to move the gates1350and that the gate maintenance and is on track for 2030. And we1351will continue to work with your office to keep you informed.1352    Mr. Newhouse. Okay. I look forward to that as the work plan1353moves forward. So thank you very much. Again, thank you all for1354being here. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.1355    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank you, Mr. Newhouse. At this1356time, I would like to recognize my friend and the Chairman of1357the House Ethics Committee, Mr. Guest of Mississippi, for 51358minutes.1359    Mr. Guest. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To our witnesses, thank1360you for joining us today. As we begin, I want to first mention1361the incredible work of the research and development that we see1362the Army Corps conducting at your ERDC sites across the1363country. Know that there are seven labs across four states: New1364Hampshire, Illinois, Virginia, and my home state of1365Mississippi. So I always want to take a moment to brag about1366the incredible work and what I believe is a substantial return1367on investment that those sites provide not only to the Army1368Corps of Engineers, but the American public as a whole.1369    As we start looking at fiscal year 2026 budgets, I see1370that, at least the information we have, we see a reduction in1371the Army Corps of Engineers budget. And while I, and other1372members of this committee, want to be good stewards of taxpayer1373dollars, I believe that the funding of the Army Corps of1374Engineers is an investment. It is an investment for the1375American public. Unlike some other spending that the Federal1376Government may authorize, the money that we spend on the Army1377Corps of Engineers is extremely important, and you do some1378amazing work.1379    And so, as we look at the potential of a reduction in1380budget going into the next budgetary cycle, I know that the1381Army Corps manages a large portion of the portfolio of1382infrastructure across the country. Some of that infrastructure1383is aging. And so can you talk just generally about how we are1384going to make sure that with the reduction in budget that we1385are delivering on the commitments that we have made to various1386communities across our Nation?1387    Ms. Colosimo. So, if I may, I think just like we were1388talking about earlier with Mr. Levin, we are going to continue1389to focus on the priorities of the administration, right? So I1390would expect those same priorities to be focused on life,1391safety, flooding, and American prosperity. That extends a broad1392net. It doesn't mean other things aren't included. But we1393believe that will be the initial umbrella under which we will1394fall. And there are many, many investments there.1395    Mr. Guest. And then I want to talk just about one instance1396specific to my district. I know that as we continue to move1397forward, we have issues at times with staffing, with personnel.1398A press release came out just today from the Army Corps of1399Engineers Mobile District announcing the closure of roughly1400half a dozen recreational sites across their area of control.1401One of those there in my home state of Mississippi, in which is1402a 3,800 acre lake, about 11,000 total acreages within the1403recreational area that has been closed, at least temporarily,1404no timeframe as to how long those closures will last as we come1405into Memorial Day, as we come into the Fourth of July, the1406summer months where people would be much more likely to use1407these recreational areas. And also, these recreational areas1408have an economic impact on the businesses that serve those. I1409am concerned that these temporary closures may last through the1410summer, well into the summer, again, the times in which these1411facilities would be most used. We see at least this facility1412that I am talking about specifically is being shuttered1413indefinitely.1414    And so I just ask one, and I hope that this is the1415exception to the rule, that we don't see widespread closures1416across the country. But I would just ask for a commitment from1417each of you that you would look into the closings of this1418facility and the facilities in general to see that these1419facilities reopen as quickly as possible, knowing that we need1420to make sure the facilities are properly maintained, that we1421are providing safety for those individuals that use those1422facilities, but balancing maintenance and public safety also1423with the use of those facilities. And so if you all would each1424promise me that you all would look into the reopening of these1425facilities as quickly as possible. I would greatly appreciate1426it if anyone would like to respond further, would be happy to,1427but not asking for a more thorough response than that.1428    Ms. Colosimo. I would like to respond briefly if that is1429okay. Appreciate you raising this, right? Recreation is an1430incidental mission for all of our projects, right? But a huge1431one to the local economy, and what people see every day in1432their lives. And yet, we find ourselves in the situation where1433we are downsizing our workforce because of voluntary departures1434from Federal service, and that has hit some places hard. And1435recreation is the first one that is really coming about. And1436so, we are working with the corporate Corps to work through a1437process to figure out how we can start to bring folks on during1438a hiring freeze. It is challenged by how close this was1439happening as the Memorial Day to Labor Day season opens, right?1440And so that seasonal workforce is hard to gather. We are still1441hoping to get some of it, but we are working through it with a1442goal of at least partial opening, knowing that we are going to1443have some workforce challenges across. And to the workforce1444point, broader workforce, we are just now starting to see the1445numbers. And so we are actively managing it across portfolios,1446including recreation.1447    Mr. Guest. Well, thank each of you for being here today.1448Mr. Chairman, I yield back.1449    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Mr. Guest. At this time, we are1450going to engage in a second round of questions. Consistent with1451the first, I would ask that folks keep their questions to 51452minutes so that we all can ask additional questions. I will1453begin with myself.1454    General Graham, a matter that has been discussed earlier1455but of prime importance to me and members on both sides of this1456dais, is Asian carp. It is of tremendous importance to my home1457state, the great state of Tennessee, in preventing the spread1458of invasive carp further into the Tennessee and Cumberland1459Rivers. Program implementation has faced repeated and avoidable1460delays despite robust funding provided by Congress. I1461appreciate the Nashville District's renewed commitment to this1462work. Time, however, is of the essence on this, and we cannot1463afford to be discussing this program development this time next1464year. Sir, where are we on finalizing the program1465implementation? And as a follow-up to that, what steps are you1466taking to work with the state, state of Tennessee and other1467prospective sponsors so that projects can be ready for funding1468and execution as soon as the program management plan is1469finalized? Thank you, sir.1470    General Graham. Mr. Chairman, thank you for that question.1471And we absolutely--our commitment is to do everything we can1472using our facilities to help limit the spread of invasive carp1473both into the Great Lakes and throughout the Tennessee and1474Cumberland system, and down through the Alabama and Tennessee1475Tombigbee Waterway. And so this program is tremendously1476important to us. And Chairman, the direct answer to your1477question is we will continue to work with the states to see if1478we can get them to act as a non-Federal sponsor. We will1479continue to work with great partners in the Tennessee Valley1480Authority to make sure that when the programmatics are ready to1481go, that we aren't trying to figure out the PPAs, and that1482ideally that those are on the shelf ready to go.1483    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank the General for his comments.1484And I just want to comment by saying as issues come up from1485time to time throughout the district, this is an issue that I1486literally hear from constituents throughout the year. They have1487meetings to discuss the invasive carp species, and they are1488literally scared environmentally, economically, because where1489the carp have become a major problem, it has been extremely1490devastating. So I thank the General for his efforts, but we1491really want to get that done because I am doing my best to1492assure these constituencies that I and the Corps and all the1493other partners are doing their very best to address this--this1494pressing concern. And I thank you, sir.1495    And in that regard, and in the interest of time, I am going1496to recognize my dear friend again, Ms. Kaptur, the Ranking1497Member, for 5 minutes for her questions. Thank you.1498    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, you know, I share your1499concern about the Asian carp. And I do wonder whether we have1500the right architecture as a country to solve this. In other1501words, you have got the big burden on your back as the core.1502But, for example, in terms of genetic research, I don't know if1503the Vicksburg lab of the Corps is sufficient. I look at other1504instrumentalities that we have at NOAA, at the Department of1505Commerce. I keep thinking about our own research labs at DOE.1506We need a genetic solution, perhaps. I don't know. But it just1507seems like the carp are getting ahead of us, and we have a1508fish-out strategy working with the Department of Interior. And1509I don't think it is enough.1510    And I had one member from your state, Mr. Chairman, I won't1511say who it was, he came up to me. He never cared about it until1512it hit his district, and then all of a sudden he went crazy.1513Okay. So I really do need your advice, not now, but think about1514who else could help across the government of the United States.1515What can we do to stop this spread? We are going to put up1516engineering barriers. That is part of it. But there are1517probably genetic controls. We can't seem to get to the1518scientific answer. And so I am just asking for your advice1519there. Who else would you like to have partners around the1520table? I don't know how you feel about it, Mr. Chair.1521    Mr. Fleischmann. Well, I share the ranking member's1522sentiments. And of course, for years, the ranking member has1523been a champion for the Great Lakes watershed, and I thank her1524for that. God forbid these invasive species get there. So I1525will commit to working with the ranking member and anybody who1526will work with us in Congress on this issue to get a viable1527solution. I yield back to the gentle lady.1528    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much, and just we1529really appreciate your advice and welcome your advice, General,1530in this area. I wanted to just switch for a second on the1531dredge material issue also. In our region, we have the largest1532budget in the Great Lakes for Lake Erie, as you well know. It1533fits--every year, if you were to put all that material1534together, it would rise 400 feet high in the Cleveland Browns1535stadium. And some people have said to me, well, you should fill1536the Cleveland Browns stadium. But, you know, when you think1537about that year after year after year, and I think of our1538scientific capabilities, my goodness, what can we do with that1539dredged material?1540    I keep thinking, can we put--Cleveland has the largest1541sewage treatment plant in all of Ohio, and it does amazing1542things. Because of science, we are able to produce fertilizer1543at the end of the process that the EPA approves. And I keep1544looking at this dredge material. Again, I go to the high1545science. We have all these research labs. Is there a bigger1546answer here where we can use the dredged material? We wouldn't1547have to go to, you know, the 20th-century solution of confined1548disposal facilities, but where we can put it through tubes,1549right? And we can figure out whether there is dissolved1550reactive phosphorus, whether there is beryllium in there,1551whatever it is. It seems to me that there is a way for1552detection. If we are going to Mars, you mean to tell me we1553can't decide what to do on Earth with our dredged material?1554    Again, I ask you for your scientific and engineering1555recommendations that would guide us as mere house1556representatives here from our region, trying to do the best for1557the people going forward. If you put a consortium table1558together with the EPA, with our energy research labs, with1559Vicksburg, whatever, let's go after this from another way that1560is perhaps more promising going forward. Maybe it is1561impossible.1562    And in this regard, I will just put on the table this1563interesting fact. As we try to look at new forms of power, we1564are realizing we are wasting a lot of power, and this committee1565is energy and water. We have solutions nobody else can come up1566with. The Cleveland sewage treatment plant, in one year, throws1567into Lake Erie the equivalent of 400,000 barrels of oil and1568waste heat. Imagine if we could use that power all across1569America, all across the Great Lakes, and create a sub-utility1570to help process this very stuff, this dredge material. Imagine1571if we could do that. We are thinking in the past. We have1572nuclear power plants along our shore. I believe by regulation,1573they throw that waste heat into Lake Erie at a temperature of157493 degrees. That is wasted thermal heat. We have the ability to1575do things that other centuries haven't had. But I don't see the1576thinking across the government. I think it is too stovepiped1577into different agencies rather than sort of cross-bred. And I1578just share that with you as we try to figure out what to do1579with this dredge material.1580    So please answer a question about if you could reshape how1581we find the answer to both the Asian carp threat and to the1582contaminated sediment. Help us. Help us put that architecture1583together across the Federal Government.1584    Final question, Mr. Chairman, real quickly. In terms of1585enlistment in the Corps, do you have skills that you are short1586and have you considered creating a program like Starbase that1587works across DoD to help encourage young people to come into1588the sciences, engineering, solving real problems for this1589country? There is one called Starbase that is used in different1590places, that is already authorized. I would love to have your1591suggestion on what we could do through the Corps. You touch1592every community in the country. I mean, you have an1593unbelievable ability to draw young people in, and I just want1594to push you a little bit in that direction.1595    Thank you very much. My time has expired.1596    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank the ranking member for her1597questions. Folks, ladies and gentlemen, we have had some1598additional members show up, so I want to welcome them. At this1599point in time, I would like to recognize Ms. Maloy of Utah, my1600friend, for 5 minutes. She is a water attorney by profession,1601so not only is she more than welcome on this committee, but she1602is going to help me on the water side.1603    Ms. Kaptur. Mr. Chairman. Does the Chairman yield?1604    Mr. Fleischmann. Yes.1605    Ms. Kaptur. I want to compliment you because, under your1606leadership, and I hope I have helped, we have had such a great1607turnout on our subcommittee. If you look across the Congress1608and what happens, this is a working subcommittee. Thank you,1609Mr. Chairman, and members that have come.1610    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank the ranking member, and I1611appreciate that the ranking member has chaired this1612subcommittee before. I do it, we have had other members do it,1613but there is a tremendous degree of cooperation, and it really1614is a source of pride and inspiration, I hope. But I thank the1615ranking member. With that, I recognize Ms. Maloy.1616    Ms. Maloy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the benefit of the1617people who are here to testify, I apologize that I missed the1618first round. I had another hearing at the same time, so I got1619here as quick as I could. Mr. Cameron, my constituents1620appreciate the funding and efforts Reclamation provided earlier1621this year to complete the 12-mile SLU modification work1622pursuant to the 2024 SEIS. Given that last year's bypass of1623Glen Canyon Dam's hydropower generators cost the basin fund1624nearly $20 million and deferred critical maintenance, can you1625assure this committee that you will seriously consider a non-1626bypass or no-action alternative in your summer 2025 operational1627decision making to avoid further financial and grid reliability1628impacts?1629    Mr. Cameron. Ms. Maloy, coincidentally, I was just briefed1630on this topic yesterday, and we are looking at it. We are1631trying to be creative. We are trying to figure out ways that we1632cannot add to the financial, you know, burden of the power1633users, for instance, and WAPA. So yeah, we are looking for--1634looking for options. But we also need to figure out a way to1635get rid of those small mouth bass, as you are very much aware.1636    Ms. Maloy. Yeah. Thank you. Anything you can do to help1637avoid the ratepayers, my constituents, bearing that cost1638directly, I would really appreciate it. And we are happy to1639work with you as you move forward.1640    Okay, for either Ms. Colosimo--I don't know if I am saying1641your name right. I am sorry, I haven't been here.1642    Ms. Colosimo. Colosimo.1643    Ms. Maloy. Colosimo, thank you. Or Lieutenant Graham.1644Panguitch Lake Dam in my district. It is a small dam; it serves1645a small town. But the dam started to crack last year, and they1646have been working to try to repair the dam, and they keep1647running into delays. So they are trying to get a stream1648alteration permit, and they keep getting more requests for1649information, requests for information. They don't feel like1650they are getting a lot of help, just a lot of letting the clock1651run while, you know, it is spring, and the lake is filling back1652up and the pressure is back on the dam. And what they need is a1653solution so that they don't lose that lake. Will you work with1654us to make sure we can get them the help they need in a timely1655manner, so we are not losing a dam and losing the water supply1656for a rural part of my district?1657    General Graham. Ma'am, absolutely. This is a private dam,1658and they are looking for assistance, probably, with both the1659permitting and the repair.1660    Ms. Maloy. I think they are just looking for assistance1661with the permitting, but I will get you----1662    General Graham. Okay. We will contact your office, ma'am,1663and get in contact with the dam owner operator----1664    Ms. Maloy. Thank you.1665    General Graham [continuing]. And see how we can help.1666    Ms. Maloy. Thank you. I appreciate that. Another one for1667the two of you. In Tooele County, Utah, the local government is1668trying to plan transportation, and some of it requires1669navigating a process to obtain transportation rights away--1670across the Tooele Army Depot, which is DoD managed land.1671Recognizing the Army Corps of Engineers' engineering and1672environmental expertise, how can our local government,1673somebody, like, Tooele County, leverage the Corps' assistance1674to assess feasibility and impacts of new transportation1675corridors to improve regional mobility while maintaining1676National security interests? And I know the National security1677interest is really important to them, but that area is growing1678quickly, and they have got to be able to have transportation1679infrastructure.1680    General Graham. You have our absolute commitment that we1681will meet with them to see if we can come in with a win-win1682solution that manages and balances out both of those needs, the1683National security interests, and the needs for improved1684transportation to a growing region.1685    Ms. Maloy. Okay, thank you. Last question. I am moving1686quickly. This is one of those days where everything is1687happening fast. How is Reclamation working with Utah1688stakeholders to streamline permitting or NEPA compliance for1689our local water infrastructure projects, particularly in rural1690counties that may lack capacity to navigate Federal processes?1691    Mr. Cameron. Thank you very much for that question. So we1692work with our local water district partners on a regular basis1693to try to provide technical assistance. One of the things that1694we are also exploring is whether we can leverage the expertise1695and, frankly, the streamlined acquisition processes that our1696non-Federal partners often have so that we can leverage their1697ability to get contracts issued faster and at a lower price1698than might be the case for our Federal agencies. That would1699stretch this committee's dollars as well. So we are always open1700to creative thinking about how to work more effectively with1701our partners.1702    Ms. Maloy. Please work closely with my staff. And we would1703love to be the bridge between our Utah partners and both of1704your offices to make sure we are getting that assistance to1705people in a timely manner. The speed at which the Federal1706Government moves on these projects is a huge source of1707frustration.1708    Mr. Cameron. We share that frustration, believe me.1709    Ms. Maloy. Thank you. With that, I yield back.1710    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank you, Ms. Maloy. At this time,1711I would like to recognize my friend and colleague, again from1712California, Mr. Levin, for 5 minutes.1713    Mr. Levin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Cameron, back in1714February, DOGE published a list of agency offices whose leases1715were to be terminated. The Bureau of Reclamation, Southern1716California Area Office, which provides water management support1717throughout Southern California, including in my district, was1718and is, I just checked the list again, on that list, along with1719hundreds of other facilities across the Nation. The Southern1720California Area Office administers several essential programs1721that assist with water conservation and efficiency strategies,1722water recycling and desalination programs, and other watershed1723management activities. The decision to close this office and1724others like it makes our water less secure. And now Southern1725California is doing everything it can, charging ahead with1726innovative desalination and water recycling and reuse1727technologies. But when I look at what DOGE is doing regarding1728these lease cancellations, I fear that they will leave1729communities like mine vulnerable, despite our best efforts to1730develop a resilient local water supply. Mr. Cameron, were you1731personally involved in the decision to close this office? Were1732you in the room?1733    Mr. Cameron. No, sir, I wasn't. My understanding is that1734the General Services Administration provided the department and1735other departments, a list of leases that they were planning to1736cancel. And we have been very actively involved in terms of1737going back to GSA and indicating situations where we thought1738eliminating those leases would be problematic.1739    Mr. Levin. That includes this office. Do you agree with the1740decision to close this office?1741    Mr. Cameron. I am not aware of that particular lease, to be1742honest with you, Congressman. I am happy to look into it. I can1743tell you that there are quite a few Bureau of Reclamation1744leases where we have been actively talking about GSA, about why1745it would be a real problem. But I am happy to look into that1746one in particular.1747    Mr. Levin. What criteria do you think that DOGE used to1748decide which offices to close?1749    Mr. Cameron. My impression is that it was actually a1750General Services Administration directive. Whether it was the1751DOGE people at GSA, I don't know. I think they were looking at1752leases that were about to expire across the whole government,1753across all Federal agencies.1754    Mr. Levin. Do you think it is contrary to Reclamation's1755mission of protecting water resources in the interest of the1756American people to be closing these offices all over the place?1757    Mr. Cameron. We clearly have an interest and a need to1758operate the government as efficiently as possible to stretch1759the dollars that the subcommittee provides. And where we have1760identified situations where we think it is counterproductive to1761close offices, you know, we have been actively chatting with1762our friends at the General Services Administration, and at1763least in a number of instances, successfully so. I am not aware1764of this particular situation, but I am happy to look into it,1765Mr. Levin.1766    Mr. Levin. Well, we will follow up with you on that. Ms.1767Colosimo, I want to get back to the California projects that I1768mentioned earlier. Were you personally involved in the1769decision-making to not fund any of those projects, or not fund1770all of those projects?1771    Ms. Colosimo. No, sir.1772    Mr. Levin. And do you have any idea who specifically was?1773    Ms. Colosimo. We deliberate the package with the criteria1774we submit to OMB, and the OMB and the administration make the1775decision, the final decisions.1776    Mr. Levin. So, do you have an actual human being who was1777responsible for making the decision? Do you have an email? Do1778you have----1779    Ms. Colosimo. We don't make the decisions; we make1780recommendations.1781    Mr. Levin. I understand that you don't personally, but you1782just said that OMB relayed those decisions to you. Do you have1783any correspondence with them that would indicate why those1784decisions were made prior?1785    Ms. Colosimo. I do not have any correspondence, no.1786    Mr. Levin. How did you----1787    Ms. Colosimo. Office of Management and Budget did their1788business, and they----1789    Mr. Levin. How did you learn?1790    Ms. Colosimo [continuing]. Provided us the product.1791    Mr. Levin. How did you learn that those determinations had1792been made?1793    Ms. Colosimo. They provided us with the final product.1794    Mr. Levin. Who?1795    Ms. Colosimo. The Office of Management and Budget did.1796    Mr. Levin. Who specifically?1797    Ms. Colosimo. They didn't provide it to me. I don't have a1798name, but it would be our examining unit.1799    Mr. Levin. Okay. Who in your examining unit received the1800information?1801    Ms. Colosimo. In my--in our office?1802    Mr. Levin. I am trying to understand who at OMB made the1803call.1804    Ms. Colosimo. Well, I think it goes all the way up to the1805Director.1806    Mr. Levin. Okay. So you are telling me, Russ Vought, the1807Director of the OMB, personally made the decision to take $2501808million away from California and the blue states to give it to1809the red states. Is that your testimony?1810    Ms. Colosimo. My testimony is that he was engaged with his1811staff as anybody would be, as far as I know.1812    Mr. Levin. It is a simple yes or no question.1813    Ms. Colosimo. I can't answer that question.1814    Mr. Levin. Okay.1815    Ms. Colosimo. I don't have full visibility on that1816information.1817    Mr. Levin. Okay, I appreciate that. We will ask questions1818for the record to try to understand and----1819    Ms. Colosimo. That is fine.1820    Mr. Levin [continuing]. Get to the bottom of it. You said1821before the criteria used were life safety, flooding, and1822American prosperity. Which of these criteria were not met by1823the California projects that I mentioned earlier?1824    Ms. Colosimo. I don't know the details of the California1825projects you are talking about.1826    Mr. Levin. Well, let's unpack one. How about the Sacramento1827Delta? Do you agree that the Sacramento Delta region is perhaps1828most at risk for catastrophic flooding anywhere in the Western1829United States?1830    Ms. Colosimo. I know they have challenges and risks, but I1831am not at liberty to say what the trade-offs were on which the1832projects they chose or stacks against other projects.1833    Mr. Levin. Do you not think that it meets life safety, or1834flooding, or American prosperity to try to protect lives and1835property in the Sacramento Delta region?1836    Ms. Colosimo. I am sure it does. How it stacks against1837other projects was not my call.1838    Mr. Levin. Do you agree or disagree that it is one of the1839most flood-prone areas in the Western United States, if not the1840entire country?1841    Ms. Colosimo. It is certainly susceptible to flooding.1842    Mr. Levin. All Right. So it sounds like it doesn't meet the1843criteria that were--that you laid out before. I don't think OMB1844followed, and I think you are getting played by OMB, and you1845don't even know who at OMB. And with that, I will yield back.1846    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Mr. Levin. At this time, I1847would like to recognize the distinguished Vice Chairman of this1848subcommittee, my good friend from the great state of Texas, Mr.1849Cloud, for 5 minutes.1850    Mr. Cloud. Thank you very, very much, Mr. Chairman, and1851thank you all for being here. The work you all do is extremely1852important to the economic lifeblood of our Nation and thank you1853for that. I first want just to say thanks and especially to1854the--to the Corps, for the great work done at the Corpus1855Christi Ship Channel over the last several years. June 2nd, I1856believe, will be whatever you do when the project for--I don't1857know if you can ribbon cut across the channel--but the great1858work is under the water level. So a lot of people don't see it.1859But it is extremely important, and we certainly see the effects1860of it. So I want to thank you for that.1861    I do want to touch on the Matagorda Ship Channel. That has1862been a difficult project to deal with over the last few years.1863For the first time ever, under the Biden administration, we had1864a Congressionally authorized project, have the record of1865decision revoked. And after that, we have worked with the Corps1866to try to work on timelines, anything we can to speed up those1867timelines. There has been a number of delays along the way.1868Some of them with excuses that weren't really appropriate, I1869guess, or valid. We sent an email to a wrong place, and so we1870have to delay this for a month, and what have you. And then1871working with leftist NGOs that really don't have a stake in the1872area or district to kind of cater to them, and do what they1873could to drive up the BCR and delay this project in an effort1874to try to kill it.1875    So, under new leadership that understands the importance of1876our ports and the development of it, hopefully we can turn a1877course on that and get our timeline on track. I will say we1878have gotten a timeline on the SEIS, but we still have some work1879to bring some more detail to that, and then we need a timeline1880for the whole project. So, could we work on getting that, and1881when could we expect that?1882    General Graham. So, Representative Cloud, thank you for1883that question. And at the beginning statement, I know you just1884got here, I said one of the first things we have to do in the1885Corps is we have got to get the engineering right. And on the1886Matagorda Ship Channel deepening, we did not get the1887engineering right. In fact, we got the trigonometry wrong.1888    Mr. Cloud. Sure.1889    General Graham. And that is what we sent over to the1890authorizing committees to authorize. And we didn't calculate1891correctly. We calculated how much material would need to be1892removed from the channel, but we didn't calculate correctly1893where we would place that.1894    Mr. Cloud. Right.1895    General Graham. And so that is what is causing it. We have1896to go back and fundamentally redo the environmental impact1897statement because it is--we have double the amount of material1898we are going to move from one place under the water to another.1899    Mr. Cloud. Right. In times past, the practice has been to1900work concurrently with a revised supplemental impact study and1901to continue the project. So the fact that it was--the record of1902decision was revoked, and the whole point of a record of1903decision is to bring certainty to a project, I mean, that is1904what in the name of the title, the record of decision. So we1905undid a decision. So, you know, so that was concerning. But1906going forward, anything we can do to shorten. You know,1907sometimes there is like 4 months to make a decision. We have1908had these discussions before, and anything we can do to shorten1909those timelines going forward. This project has been pushed1910back plenty far enough. And, you know, with this President's1911help, I believe hopefully we will be able to finally execute on1912it moving forward.1913    General Graham. So our commitment to you, Representative1914Cloud, is to get the engineering right on this and to move1915forward as rapidly as we--as we possibly can.1916    Mr. Cloud. Sure. I appreciate it. Thank you for that. I1917wanted to touch on desal. You know, Corpus Christi is a leader1918for the region as a water provider. One of the issues we have1919been looking at is what we can do to continue to provide water1920for the region. Desal, of course, being along the Gulf of1921America, being an important option. When we look just generally1922speaking, at Texas, and Texas has really been overlooked when1923it comes to water projects.1924    And I know we are waiting on the ASA to be confirmed, but I1925am curious how long we think it will take once we have1926confirmation to stand up the grant process and to be able to1927move that forward. And then really what we can do to turn the1928corner on getting funding to the state of Texas that, you know,1929when you look at the projects that have been funded in the1930state of Texas, when it comes to water, it is very minimal from1931a--from a Federal standpoint. Where other states--and certainly1932when you think of Federal dollars going to region, it is1933because of Federal purposes. And so, you know, you have states1934like California that have high regulations that make it1935difficult to provide an economic flow into the country. And1936then Texas, which is, you know, pretty strong and friendly to1937business and being a lifeblood of commerce into the--into the1938country, has been overlooked on these water projects. And so, I1939would like a commitment on what we can do to begin to look at1940and prioritize Texas in the region when it comes to funding of1941these water projects. Any comment on how long it would take to1942stand up at least the grant process?1943    Ms. Colosimo. I think we will have to loop back with you.1944Just to be clear, though, you are talking about a loan, right?1945It is from this--it is from this Infrastructure Loan program, I1946believe. We don't--we don't have grants.1947    Mr. Cloud. Right.1948    Ms. Colosimo. Okay. So I think we will have to get the1949details and loop back with you if that is okay.1950    Mr. Cloud. Okay, thank you.1951    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank Mr. Cloud. At this time, I1952recognize now my friend Ms. Lee of Nevada for 5 minutes.1953    Ms. Lee. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Cameron, I received a--I1954had a small offline discussion with Mr. Ensminger, and he1955appreciates too, your leadership in these negotiations. So1956thank you. I don't envy you at this point. But can you give us1957any daylight on how you are actively working to build1958consensus? What you see as the prospect? You know, given Mr.1959Calvert's line of questioning, obviously, the water rights1960issue, but ultimately, I think it is imperative that we come to1961a consensus because if we don't, it is going to be years and1962years and years of legal wrangling before we see any type of1963agreement. And I don't think we have it.1964    Mr. Cameron. So, Ms. Lee, Reclamation and the seven basin1965states have a pact to not disclose the details of negotiation.1966    Ms. Lee. I figured that.1967    Mr. Cameron. As you may know.1968    Ms. Lee. I thought I would ask, okay?1969    Mr. Cameron. But what I can tell you is at our most recent1970meeting in Sacramento, several of the seven basin states reps1971came up to me and said, we have made more progress in the last19722 days than we had in the last year and a half.1973    Ms. Lee. That is great.1974    Mr. Cameron. So, you know, I think in government, you have1975to be an optimist, or why are you doing anything in government?1976So I am quite optimistic that working with the seven states1977will end up getting to a good place on a timely basis. And I1978believe all seven states are negotiating with each other and1979with Reclamation in very good faith. They all want a solution,1980and they all agree that it is much better for them to come to a1981deal than have the Interior Secretary impose a deal.1982    Ms. Lee. Absolutely. Godspeed. So, you know, last month,1983UCLA released a report which found that states across the1984Colorado River Basin are squandering a critical opportunity to1985ease this water crisis. It is water recycling and reuse. While1986my home state of Nevada reuses 85 percent of our treated1987wastewater, the seven basin states combined reuse only 261988percent of this water. You know, just to put it in perspective,1989if these states were able to collectively raise their reuse1990rates to just 40 percent, we are talking a 14 percent increase.1991We could gain nearly 900,000 acre feet of new water annually,1992enough to supply nearly 2 million homes. UCLA researchers1993emphasize that this represents a significant percentage of the1994projected shortfall on the Colorado River and a solution that1995could be pursued aggressively to ensure sustained management of1996the river.1997    So I am asking, is the Trump administration committed to1998continuing and building on the kind of bipartisan support for1999water recycling and reuse initiatives which Congress advanced2000in the legislation that was passed in the bipartisan2001infrastructure law?2002    Mr. Cameron. Water reuse and recycling definitely have to2003be part of the solutions. Absolutely. No doubt about that. You2004know, we are obviously dealing in situations where individual2005states, individual municipal governments have to make their own2006decisions about what is the smartest thing for their particular2007locality. So we are mindful of their perspective on their water2008rights. We are mindful of their own economic decisions. But we2009are very interested in working with the municipalities across2010the Colorado Basin to promote and encourage water recycling.2011And Nevada has been leading the way. You are absolutely right.2012    Ms. Lee. Thank you. Well, thank you, and thank you for your2013leadership. And I am finished. I yield.2014    Mr. Fleischmann. And I thank you, Ms. Lee. At this time, I2015would like to recognize my friend again, Mr. Newhouse,2016Washington State, from the great state of Washington, for 52017minutes.2018    Mr. Newhouse. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just let me say, not2019only has this committee benefited from strong leadership over2020the years, but certainly the subject matter we deal with2021impacts every single community and energy and water as our key2022building blocks to our economic and health success in this2023country.2024    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, sir.2025    Mr. Newhouse. So thank you. General Graham, in my state of2026Washington, the Corps are certainly responsible for the2027majority of the Federal hydropower facilities, which, as you2028know, provide clean, renewable power to at least half, I think,2029well over half of the constituents that I represent. It is my2030understanding that there has been cuts to the facility2031maintenance as well as the fish production staff at the four2032Federal hydropower dams on the Lower Snake. This is2033particularly concerning because these dams, as you know,2034produce an average of approximately a gigawatt of power, up to,2035in emergency situations, 3 gigawatts of power. So I am2036concerned that such cuts could jeopardize the administration's2037goal of achieving energy dominance for millions of people in2038the Pacific Northwest. Could you tell me has the Corps2039designated any of these staff as essential staff, and either2040why or why not? And does the Corps have the staffing necessary2041to truly reliably operate the system for power, but also other2042Federally authorized purposes?2043    General Graham. Representative Newhouse, thank you for that2044question and the importance of those facilities. We absolutely2045share your recognition of we also share your recognition that2046for those facilities to operate reliably for your constituents,2047that they have got to be staffed by well-trained members. And2048so as we go through workforce optimization right now, critical2049work such as our power plant operators, critical work such as2050our maintenance divers, critical work such as any of our crane2051operators, we are putting that at the top of the of our list of2052we have to manage those folks very carefully to make sure that2053we have the right talent on board to continue to operate these2054facilities safely.2055    So to recap all that, we are going through the process2056right now of looking to see what individuals with what skills2057are leaving the organization and what we have, and we are in2058the process of making sure that whatever it takes to move the2059right people where they have to be to continue to operate these2060facilities effectively for your constituents will do.2061    Mr. Newhouse. I appreciate that of all the resources we2062have and enjoy and manage, certainly the human resources one2063that we have to get right. So thanks for your efforts there.2064    Both you, General Graham, and Ms. Colosimo, permitting, it2065is often one of the biggest challenges that we have when it2066comes to completing projects, and adequate staffing is vital to2067completing that work as well, especially when there are2068interagency consultations involved. The fiscal year 2025 Corps2069work plan again included $221 million for the Corps' regulatory2070program. However, I would say other agencies are not as2071fortunate. There have been staffing cuts at NOAA Fisheries, in2072the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that may have--may impact2073this process. And the skinny budget proposes significant2074decreases to these agencies. So, to either your knowledge, have2075reductions in staffing, staffing, excuse me, had an impact on2076the permitting processes, and what is the Corps plan for2077getting consultations completed in a timely manner for these2078civil works projects, which are so important for these projects2079sought by a regulated public.2080    Ms. Colosimo. So, sir, thanks for that question. It is a2081really important subject, as you say. And I think the big thing2082overarchingly here is for the interagency process to work,2083right, and we have to get those connections happening,2084particularly as we are losing staff across agencies because the2085already existing relationships are weakened the minute you lose2086one person.2087    Mr. Newhouse. Yeah.2088    Ms. Colosimo. So I think there are things we need to do in2089D.C. to make sure we are setting up the agencies collectively2090for success, both on civil works projects, but also to the2091permitted public through normal permitting processes. I think2092the other part is that rules are happening and getting updated2093at the same time. So we have to be current with what the best2094tools are to make sure we are able to not continue to make a2095stoppage. If that makes sense. I mean, there is risk when you2096are doing new rules. At the same time, you are losing staff.2097There is also opportunity. And so, I think there is a lot of2098collaboration across the aisle to try and make sure we are2099doing the right things here. So we need our leader to arrive,2100to do that with his counterparts, but we are beginning that2101already.2102    Mr. Newhouse. General Graham, any comment?2103    General Graham. So, Representative, the health of our2104regulators right now, it is--when I--as we are going through2105the process of looking to optimize the Federal labor force,2106right now, we are pretty healthy on our regulators. So it is2107not a great concern for me right now, which is a good thing.2108    Mr. Newhouse. Okay, I appreciate that. I see my time has2109expired. Mr. Chairman, I apologize. But thank you all for2110being, again, here with us today.2111    Mr. Fleischmann. Mr. Newhouse, I thank you again, sir, for2112your questions.2113    It has come to my attention that few of the members would2114like to ask some very brief questions in the third round. Being2115mindful that it is 11:50, I am going to personally pass on my2116third round and recognize the ranking member, Ms. Kaptur, for2117her question, and anybody else who would like to engage in the2118third round.2119    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you. It is very generous of you, Mr.2120Chairman. And I want to thank you, General Graham, for2121including priority for the Soo Locks and the continuing efforts2122on that project. And appreciate the fiscal year 2025 work plan2123included $264 million. However, that was $63 million below the2124House bill and 186 million below the Senate bill. I just want2125to reemphasize that funding for the Soo Loc is critical because2126there are many time-sensitive contracts over the next 2 years.2127And may I ask of both yourself and Ms. Colosimo, what is the2128Corps' plan to ensure the project receives adequate funding so2129that the contracts can proceed as closely as planned and not2130result in further cost increases?2131    Ms. Colosimo. It is a priority, ma'am. And I think we2132recognize the value of this project and continuing to make sure2133that happens. So we are going to continue to advocate the2134merits of completing the work on time and within budget and2135getting the resources to make those increments happen. It is at2136a vital stage.2137    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you.2138    Mr. Newhouse. So, ma'am, to the--to building upon that, the2139four remaining contract options that would expire at the end of2140this fiscal year, we believe, with the money that we got in the2141work plan, that we can award all three of those. And so that is2142great news.2143    Ms. Kaptur. All right. Thank you for trying on the2144contracting. Is it still open for contractors to----2145    Mr. Newhouse. So in this case, these options were part of2146a--there is a base plus option for the people, the contractor2147that is doing the current work. And so these options are2148already priced out. And so as long as we provide the funds,2149which we, with the work plan funding we will be able to do,2150there should be no issues executing those options four, five,2151and six.2152    Ms. Kaptur. My last two questions are of Mr.--let's see2153here. In terms of the Bureau of Reclamation over the last2154several years, what percentage of agriculture has been cut off2155in the West that simply doesn't get water anymore, or does it2156continue as it has in the past? I don't have a sense of what is2157happening on the ground. And then I wanted to also ask the2158General, again, are you full up on your recruitment, or do you2159have enlistment shortages? And if so, can you provide us with a2160list of what are the skills that you need that you don't have?2161    Mr. Cameron. So, Ms. Kaptur, the answer to your first2162question is that it varies a lot from year to year and region,2163in the West, region to region, depending upon the hydrology. I2164can tell you that for the first time in a very long time, the2165Klamath Basin in California and Oregon has got plenty of water.2166Now that probably won't be the case 2 years from now, but you2167know, for this year, we are lucky. And also this year,2168Reclamation was able to provide more water to Central Valley,2169California farmers than in the last several years. But we2170really are at the mercy of the weather and the snow and the2171rain, plus, of course, the regulatory constraints I know you2172are aware of.2173    But while I am answering your question, I do want to point2174out that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S.2175Geological Survey are both heavily involved in Asian carp. So I2176hope that if you have friends on the Interior Subcommittee that2177they are tracking that as well.2178    Ms. Kaptur. You know, sir, thank you, Mr. Cameron, for2179that. The problem is we have all these geniuses, but the2180discomfort we feel is because it doesn't seem like there is a2181general consensus. There is a lot of people out there, but we2182don't really have a coordinated effort, in my opinion. And2183believe me, we study this a lot. But we don't, on the science2184front, I don't see the surge. I just don't see it. And so we2185are fishing out. This is really like, you know, what, 18502186rather than 2050, you know, in the way we are looking at this.2187And so I just wanted to mention that.2188    And General, what about the needs in the Corps? What should2189we be telling audiences? What should we be saying you need?2190    Mr. Newhouse. So two points. I wear a couple of hats for2191the Army. One of those is I oversee the tactical engineer2192branch that does the war fighting piece and the Army's meeting2193its enlistment goals. A great deal of effort that entails to2194make sure that we get citizens coming in to continue to join2195our ranks. And I am absolutely delighted to report that that2196right now it is going well.2197    On the Corps of Engineers side, we are primarily a civilian2198organization with military leadership. Our biggest challenge2199with our civilian workforce, and it has been that way since I2200have been here, is the schools producing STEM graduates. And I2201am sure that that is the same for any of those. And so when I2202was a district commander, we worked really close, as all of our220344 districts do with the local universities, because that is2204where it happens, to try to encourage young minds at the high2205school level to get out and explore careers in the science,2206technology, and engineering realm. That is where it has got to2207start. We can't look any different than what the schoolhouses2208are, and you got to get them in high school.2209    Ms. Kaptur. How do we work with the Corps in order to--we2210have a Corps, small, teeny office in our area. How do we2211sponsor a symposium for young people? How do we do that? Think2212about it. Let us know.2213    Mr. Newhouse. Okay.2214    Ms. Kaptur. Thank you. And I yield back.2215    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you. Ms. Kaptur. Ms. Maloy, you are2216recognized for a third round.2217    Ms. Maloy. I will keep it brief. I know you guys have been2218here for a long time. Mr. Cameron, we are going to submit some2219questions for the record to you on the Central Utah project and2220the changes in funding there. I would rather have you have some2221time to do some research and get back to us with thorough2222answers than put you on the spot here. So just be prepared that2223that is coming. And like my colleague Ms. Lee, I also represent2224one of the Colorado River Basin states. So thank you for the2225assurance that the state negotiations are moving forward. And2226with that, I will yield. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.2227    Mr. Fleischmann. Thank you, Ms. Maloy. A few comments.2228Again, I would like to thank all of our witnesses for being2229here today. And as the ranking member did allude to in her2230comments, you saw tremendous turnout on both sides of the dais.2231That is not only out of respect, it is out of admiration for2232each and every one of you all. You were here before us in2233February. That was a very furtive hearing, as was today. So we2234accomplished an awful lot. So I do sincerely thank you in that2235regard.2236    For the record, if you could please ensure that the hearing2237record, questions for the record, and any supporting2238information requested by the subcommittee are delivered in2239final form to us no later than 4 weeks from the time that you2240receive them. Members who have additional questions for the2241record will have until the close of business on Tuesday to2242provide them to the subcommittee office. With that, I say thank2243you, and the subcommittee stands adjourned.2244    [Whereupon, at 12:17 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]2245    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]22462247                           W I T N E S S E S22482249                              ----------2250                                                                   Page22512252Cameron, Scott...................................................    182253    Prepared statement...........................................    202254Colosimo, Robyn..................................................     42255    Prepared statement...........................................     62256Graham, Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Jr...............    122257    Prepared statement...........................................    1422582259                                  [all]