[Senate Hearing 117-415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                        S. Hrg. 117-415

                        ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                     APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

=======================================================================

                                HEARINGS

                                BEFORE A

                          SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

            COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                                   ON

                           H.R. 4549/S. 2605

 AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 
     FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                               __________

                      Department of Defense--Civil
                          Department of Energy
                       Department of the Interior
                       Nondepartmental Witnesses

                               __________

         Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations
         
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]         


        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov

                               __________
                               
                                
                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
44-168 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 2023                    
          
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------     
                              
                      COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

                    PATRICK LEAHY, Vermont, Chairman
PATTY MURRAY, Washington             RICHARD C. SHELBY, Alabama, Vice 
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California             Chairman
RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois          MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
JACK REED, Rhode Island              SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine
JON TESTER, Montana                  LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire        LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon                 ROY BLUNT, Missouri
CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware       JERRY MORAN, Kansas
BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii                 JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin             JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut      SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West 
JOE MANCHIN, III, West Virginia          Virginia
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland           JOHN KENNEDY, Louisiana
MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico          CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi
                                     MIKE BRAUN, Indiana
                                     BILL HAGERTY, Tennessee
                                     MARCO RUBIO, Florida 

                   Charles E. Kieffer, Staff Director
           Shannon Hutcherson Hines, Minority Staff Director
                                 ------                                

              Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

                 DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California, Chairman
PATTY MURRAY, Washington             JOHN KENNEDY, Louisiana, Ranking
JON TESTER, Montana                  MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois          RICHARD C. SHELBY, Alabama
JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire        SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine
JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon                 LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware       LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
TAMMY BALDWIN,                       JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
MARTIN HEINRICH,                     CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi
PATRICK LEAHY, Vermont, (ex          BILL HAGERTY, Tennessee
    officio)

                           Professional Staff

                               Doug Clapp
                           Jen Becker-Pollet
                             Aaron Goldner
                              Laura Powell
                         Tyler Owens (Minority)
                        Jen Armstrong (Minority)
                         Nora Khalil (Minority)

                         Administrative Support

                              Teri Curtin
                       Sydney Crawford (Minority)

                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              

                                HEARINGS
                        Wednesday, June 9, 2021

                                                                   Page

Department of Defense--Civil: Department of the Army; Corps of 
  Engineers--Civil...............................................     1
Department of the Interior: Bureau of Reclamation................    14

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Department of Energy: Office of the Secretary....................    35

                              ----------                              

                              BACK MATTER

List of Witnesses, Communications, and Prepared Statements.......   173
Nondepartmental Witnesses........................................    75

Subject Index....................................................   175
    Department of Defense--Civil.................................   175
        Department of the Army...................................   175
        Corps of Engineers--Civil................................   175
    Department of Energy.........................................   175
        Office of the Secretary..................................   175
    Department of the Interior...................................   175
        Bureau of Reclamation....................................   175

 
    ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

                              ----------                              


                        WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

                                       U.S. Senate,
           Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The subcommittee met at 10:04 a.m. in room SD-192, Dirksen 
Senate Office Building, Hon. Dianne Feinstein (chairwoman) 
presiding.
    Present: Senators Feinstein, Tester, Heinrich, Kennedy, 
Hoeven, Hyde-Smith, and Hagerty.

                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL

                         Department of the Army

                       Corps of Engineers--Civil

STATEMENT OF MR. JAMIE PINKHAM, ACTING ASSISTANT 
            SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (CIVIL WORKS)


             opening statement of senator dianne feinstein


    Senator Feinstein. And the subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development is in order. Today's hearing we will review the 
President's Fiscal 2022 Budget Request for the United States 
Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.
    Ranking Member Kennedy and I will each have an opening 
statement. Then I will recognize each Senator for an opening 
statement, if they wish to make one.
    We will then turn to our witnesses to present testimony on 
behalf of the Corps and the Bureau. Each witness will be 
allowed 5 minutes for opening remarks. At the conclusion of the 
witness testimony, I will then recognize Senators for 5 minutes 
of questions each, alienating between--excuse me--alternating 
between the majority and minority in the order in which they 
arrived.
    I would like to welcome our witnesses. And thank each of 
you for being here today. We have, Mr. Jamie, Pinkham, the 
acting assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works; 
Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers for the 
United States Corps of Engineers; and Mr. David Palumbo, Deputy 
Commissioner of Operations for the Bureau of Reclamation at the 
Department of Interior.
    I want to just thank the Army Corps and the Bureau for 
their very hard work in managing what is becoming an 
increasingly challenging water situation in California.
    California and other western states are in the midst of a 
mega drought caused by years of warming temperatures and failed 
rainy seasons, reducing critical snowpack that feed our rivers. 
The crippling cycle of drought, temperature increases, and 
severe weather is also affecting the frequency and size of our 
wildfires. Climate change, of course, is a major contributing 
cause of these changes. And I am really encouraged by this 
administration's commitment to address climate change and 
improve the Nation's infrastructure.
    Unfortunately, though, the commitment to battle global 
warming is not, as I see it, reflected in the Army Corps of 
Engineers fiscal year 2022 budget request.
    In fact, the proposed funding levels, Senator Kennedy and 
Senator Tester, are less than what Congress appropriated last 
year. First, the Army Corps' budget request represents more 
than a-billion-dollar cut to the Civil Works program. I am 
really disappointed that this administration has fallen to the 
same pattern of underfunding the Corps' budget.
    There are some bright spots, however, in the Army Corps 
request. I am very pleased to see a more proactive effort in 
the proposed budget for recommending new construction projects. 
This will be the first time in 4 years that the Corps has done 
this. So it is appreciated. I also appreciate the Corps' 
inclusion of important dam and flood control projects for 
California, including the Whittier Dam and West Sacramento 
levees. These investments are really critical to California. So 
I thank you on behalf of my State.
    With smart planning and innovative green infrastructure 
ideas, every project should be able to result in multiple 
benefits, when we dredge channels to maintain navigation, that 
fill material can be strategically placed to restore wetlands 
and combat sea level rise as the Corps has started to do in San 
Francisco Bay. And thank you very much for that as well.
    This brings me to the Bureau of Reclamation budget, which 
is particularly critical to my State given its operation of the 
Central Valley Project and water delivery infrastructure 
throughout the State. Reclamation's request for the water and 
related resources account is $145 million less than what we 
appropriated last year, General.
    I am very thankful for the $184 million investment in the 
Central Valley Project, but I am deeply disappointed that the 
administration requested none of the $206 million we included 
in last year's bill for implementation of the drought-related 
provisions in the 2016 WIIN (Water Infrastructure Improvements 
to the Nation) Act.
    For me, the WIIN Act is key to developing long-term 
solutions to worsening drought and other extreme weather 
events. There is no way that I can see, after more than 20 
years on this committee, that the west can survive the extreme 
drought without more investment in infrastructure to carry 
water from wet years to dry ones.
    The Bureau and several States have already drastically 
reduced water allocations. We need additional drought funding 
now to help water users in the environment get through the 
year. So I asked the Bureau to work with me on identifying 
projects that could be implemented in a 6- to 12-month 
timeframe that could help farmers, cities and the environment 
survive next year if this winter is another drought concern.
    Dam security, and let me touch on this because if things go 
bad, it could be devastating, dam security remains a big 
priority of mine. I would like to thank and applaud the Bureau 
for more than double funding for dam safety and rehabilitation 
projects from $86.5 million to $182.5 million, this will allow 
for $130 million in critically-needed repairs to the BF Sisk 
Dam, which is not only at high risk, but is also a key hub for 
California's water delivery system.
    I am also very pleased to see the Army Corps continues to 
focus efforts on dams with the most significant safety issues, 
such as Whittier in Los Angeles.
    Last year, we provided $12 million for the Army Corps 
Whittier program to provide low-interest loans for local dam 
safety projects. I encouraged the Corps and the administration 
to prioritize this program. Whittier should be a part of the 
administration's plan to invest in infrastructure. And I hope 
to hear more about it today.
    I would now like to recognize my distinguished Ranking 
Member Kennedy for his opening statement.


                   statement of senator john kennedy


    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank 
our witnesses today for being here. I want to thank you for 
giving so much to our country. I want to thank my team, my 
ranking member team for their hard work, especially--many of 
you know him--but I especially want to thank Bubba [phonetic] 
from my office, better known as Kennedy's brain when it comes 
to really technical details.
    It is a real pleasure for me to--a real joy for me to serve 
with Senator Feinstein. She is, and I am not just saying that, 
we have had--we have spent a lot of time together on the 
Judiciary Committee. She is an institutional compass for the 
Senate. When you get lost, you pull out your compass. And she 
has served that role for many, many years, and I have--and will 
continue to serve that role for many, many years--and I have 
learned an awful lot from just watching her and listening to 
her.
    Before I give them opening statement, I do want to 
recognize my good friend, Senator Tester, who, if you have not 
read it, he rocked a front page article in The Wall Street 
Journal this week. I mean, he rocked it. Okay. If you will go 
read it, you are going to want to follow him on Facebook. So he 
cannot say anything yet so I can--he will get his turn.
    Let me just say a word about Louisiana. We are a State that 
has a lot of water. We deal with storm surge from the Gulf of 
Mexico, during hurricanes and tropical storms, and that is 
ordinary for us, even in ordinary times, we deal with a lot of 
water. Lately, we have had to deal with isolated rainstorms, 
people who don't live near a tributary or a body of water, have 
flooded.
    And I don't--I don't profess to know why this is happening, 
and in the grand scheme of things, and in the long arc of 
history, maybe this is not unusual. But I do know this. If you 
get 8, 10, 12, 14 inches of rain in a short period of time you 
are going to flood. I don't care whether you are in the desert 
or on top of Pikes Peak.
    The Mississippi River, of course, runs through our State. 
We are blessed. It goes from the top of our State to the bottom 
of our State. It has the third largest drainage basin in the 
entire world, not the United States, the entire world. It is 
exceeded in size only by the watersheds of the Amazon and Congo 
Rivers. And now that is something--that is a blessing, but it 
can also cause issues.
    Our basin drains 41 percent of the 48 contiguous States of 
these United States. So this is not just a Louisiana jam, an 
issue. It is a national issue. Our basin, the Mississippi River 
Basin covers more than 1.25 thousand square miles. It includes 
all our parks of 31 States and two Canadian provinces. It 
roughly resembles a funnel, just like this, which has its spout 
at the Gulf of Mexico. I am not telling you, generally, I know 
anything you don't know, but I just think it is important to 
emphasize this.
    Water from as far away as New York, and as far west as 
Montana contributes to the flows into the Mississippi River, so 
the work of the U.S. Corps of Engineers to say it is vital to 
America and to Louisiana is a gross understatement. We need 
your help with flood control, we need your help with storm 
protection projects, and just as we need help from our 
government with respect to the fires in California, and the 
lack of water in some respects in their State.
    Because we are talking about--we are not just talking about 
projects, and I know you know this, we are talking about human 
life, we are talking about humanity, and we are talking about 
property that people work very hard for.
    Now, I just wanted to include these pictures, everybody 
loves pictures. This is a project that was authorized after 
Hurricane Katrina, you know it well; it struck New Orleans. 
Thank you, American taxpayer, and thank you Corps of Engineers 
for helping Louisiana when we were on our knees. This started 
in August of 2005, the planning for these projects. Katrina, of 
course, killed about 1,600 people in my State and destroyed the 
lives of many, many more.
    This project provides storm protection for the New Orleans 
region, not just New Orleans, but for the entire region, which 
is with you, together, we just built levees around the entire 
area, not just the city, we used levees and seawalls. We, you, 
together, we constructed the largest surge barrier of its kind. 
And this project also, as you know, includes the world's 
largest, not the United States' largest, the world's largest 
pump station. It is known as the Hurricane and Storm Damage 
Risk Reduction System. And, I just wanted to mention it. Maybe 
we will talk about it later.
    Thank you again for your service.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator, for your words.
    Senator Tester, would you like to make a statement?
    Senator Tester. I will be brief. Thank you, Chairwoman 
Feinstein.
    Senator Feinstein. You are welcome.


                    statement of senator jon tester


    Senator Tester. It is good to be on the committee again 
under your leadership. And I look forward to working with 
Senator Kennedy. He is no Lamar Alexander, but he is a close 
second. Let's put it that way.
    And I would just say this, simply put, water is life. And, 
you guys have a lot of work to do. This budget is going to be 
critically important. As Senator Kennedy has already pointed, 
Montana is a headwater State, how we utilize our water, and how 
it is kept clean and functional is critically important, both 
for drinking water, and for irrigation primarily.
    I am one who believes that economic development is going 
to--it has been--but it is going to continue to revolve around 
water resources. And so your job is really important. I would 
just say one thing. There is a lot of talk about resiliency, 
most time when you talk about resiliency you are talking about 
climate change and it needs to be resilient to climate change 
and effective during a changing climate.
    We also need to be aware that we need to have resiliency is 
as it applies to cyber. And that is also very, very important 
moving forward in projects where they can be impacted by 
potential cyber criminals.
    So with that, I look forward to working with the witnesses, 
and the people on this committee to get a budget that works for 
America when it comes to our water resources. Thank you all for 
being here.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much, Senator Tester.
    Senator Hyde-Smith, would you like to make some comments?
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Just appreciate everyone being here, 
and what you do. And Senator Kennedy could not have said it 
better because I am from Mississippi, the Mississippi Rivers. 
Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much. Shall we proceed 
now with the testimony?
    Each witness has 5 minutes. Your written statements will be 
entered into the record. I would like to start with Mr. 
Pinkham, followed by General Spellmon, and then Mr. Palumbo. If 
that is agreeable, please proceed.


                 summary statement of mr. jamie pinkham


    Mr. Pinkham. Thank you. Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking 
Member Kennedy, and members of this committee, thank you for 
the opportunity to be here today, to discuss the President's 
Budget Request for the Civil Works Program of the Army Corps of 
Engineers.
    The fiscal year 2022 budget request provides roughly $6.8 
billion for the Army Civil Works program, which is the highest 
annual budget ever proposed with a focus on investments that 
yield economic and environmental returns, increasing resiliency 
to climate change, facilitating safe, reliable, and sustainable 
commercial navigation, and accelerating and improving the water 
delivery resource projects.
    This budget relies on a foundation of strong relationships 
between the Corps and local communities, which allows us to 
work together to develop, manage, restore, and protect the 
Nation's water resources. And the budget does focus on the 
highest performing missions of the Army Civil Works program: 
commercial navigation, flood, and storm damage reduction and 
aquatic ecosystem restoration.
    In the budget we want to advance two key objectives. One, 
as the committee has talked about, is increasing infrastructure 
and ecosystem resilience to climate change and decreasing 
climate risks for communities based on the best available 
science, also promoting environmental justice in disadvantaged 
communities in line with the administration's Justice40 
Initiative, and creating good-paying jobs for the American 
people.
    The Budget supports a Corps program that has a diverse set 
of tools and approaches to working with local communities, 
whether this means funding projects with our cost-share 
partners, providing pioneering assistance and technical 
expertise to help communities make better informed decisions, 
or participating in the national and international 
conversations on how to best address our water resources 
challenges.
    The Budget also focuses on maintaining the vast water 
resources infrastructure that the Corps owns and manages, and 
on finding innovative ways to rehabilitate it or transfer 
ownership to willing recipients.
    For example, the Budget includes $13 million to complete 
six new major rehabilitation studies for inland waterways, 
locks and dams, and $2 million to investigate disposition of 
completed projects.
    At the top of the budget, the 2022 budget, it is funding: 
investigations at $106 million, the construction account is 
$1.8 billion, O&M (Operation and Maintenance) is at $2.5 
billion, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund $1.6 billion, the 
Inland Waterways Trust Fund at $52 million, the Mississippi 
River and Tributaries account at $270 million, flood control 
and coastal emergencies at $35 million, the regulatory program 
is at $204.4 million, the expenses for the Army Corps of 
Engineers $199.3 million, and the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary at $5 million.
    Of this, the Corps will use $3.4 billion to invest in 
projects that will facilitate commercial navigation, $1.7 
billion to help reduce the risk of damages from floods and 
storms, and $501 million to restore aquatic ecosystems to a 
more natural condition.
    Among these amounts in terms of the resiliency to climate 
change: $38 million will go to energy and water conservation 
measures at Corps projects, $23 million to updates to water 
control manuals, $8 million for charging--for changing the 
infrastructure needed to support a fleet of zero-emission 
vehicles, and $6 million to evaluate ways to increase the 
resilience of Corps' infrastructure over the longer term. And 
we look to the American Jobs Plan too, with the hope that 
additional resources will be brought to improve the ports and 
the waterways.
    The Budget includes $350 million for the South Florida 
Everglades Restoration Program, a $100 million increase, or 40 
percent above the 2021 enacted level. And Everglades 
Restoration Funding is also included in the American Jobs Plan. 
Taken together, we hope for a robust amount of funding to 
continue the significant progress on this ecosystem restoration 
program.
    There is also, within the budget, funding to initiate new 
work, including studies in Florida, Idaho, the eight States on 
a Great Lakes coastal area, New York, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, and Wyoming.
    The budget includes funding to initiate construction at 
four new projects, including West Sacramento in California, 
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, in Arkansas, 
Norfolk Harbor Channels in Virginia, and a project that will be 
both initiated and completed in Maryland, the Anacostia 
Watershed Restoration.
    In addition, we look to complete two additional projects, 
Calumet Harbor and river in Illinois and Indiana, and a project 
at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and 
Washington.
    Within the budget, $1.6 billion is being proposed to be 
derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, included in 
that is $787 million that would be used to support commercial 
navigation at the top 50 U.S. coastal ports across the Nation, 
which handle around 90 percent of the waterborne cargo that is 
shipped to or from the United States in foreign commerce. $252 
million for operation and maintenance of Great Lakes projects, 
and $63 million for five construction projects that will 
accommodate disposal of material dredged from coastal 
navigation projects.
    Within the budget there is also $10 million for new, 
innovative funding partnerships, which support the Corps' 
efforts to accelerate and improve the delivery of water through 
greater non-Federal participation to encourage State, Tribal, 
local, and private parties to move forward with investments 
they deem as priorities.
    In addition, the budget also proposes to return 
responsibility for management of the Formerly Utilized Sites, 
Remedial Action Program, FUSRAP for short, back to the 
Department of Energy. The budget will also begin the process of 
addressing the climate crisis as outlined in Executive Order 
14008, tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad. The Army 
will evaluate the Civil Works program to identify the 
appropriate actions the agency can take to support this policy 
objective in moving forward.
    The Army is also committed to securing environmental 
justice and spurring economic opportunity for disadvantaged 
communities that have been historically marginalized and 
overburdened by pollution and experience underinvestment in 
essential services.
    And so we will work with the Army to ensure that 40 percent 
of the benefits of climate and clean energy investments are 
directed to these disadvantaged communities, and we will begin 
to track how program expenditures can help impact, positively 
impact the disadvantaged communities, and consider metrics that 
will help track how our program benefits, accrue to help these 
communities.
    Now, I am honored to have been selected for this position 
to help implement the President's priorities for the Army Civil 
Works Program. I have been on board for just shy of 2 months, 
but I have had the opportunity to make two trips in the State 
of Washington, as well as another trip in West Virginia, and 
Ohio. And I will be visiting sites in Delaware next week.
    And I am grateful for the relationship that I have been 
building with General Spellmon and his staff. And I am 
impressed with the professionalism, the relationship they are 
working hard to develop with local communities, individuals 
who, as partners with so many members of society, working to 
advance the Army Corps, Civil Works mission.
    There is a lot that needs to be done, as outlined by this 
committee this morning. And I am excited to be a part of this 
team working alongside you to serve this Nation.
    Thank you for inviting me here today. And I look forward to 
your questions.
    [The statement follows:]
               Prepared Statement of Mr. Jaime A. Pinkham
    Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy and distinguished 
members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to be here 
today to discuss the President's Budget request for the Civil Works 
program of the Army Corps of Engineers.
    The Fiscal Year 2022 Budget request provides roughly $6.8 billion 
for the Army Civil Works program, which is the highest annual budget 
ever proposed, with a focus on investments that will yield high 
economic and environmental returns, increasing resiliency to climate 
change; facilitating safe, reliable and sustainable commercial 
navigation; and accelerating and improving the delivery of water 
resources projects.
    This Budget relies on a foundation of strong relationships between 
the Corps and local communities, which allow us to work together to 
help develop, manage, restore, and protect the Nation's water 
resources.
    The Budget focuses on the highest performing work within the three 
main missions of the Army Civil Works program:
  --commercial navigation,
  --flood and storm damage reduction, and
  --aquatic ecosystem restoration.
    In developing the Budget, consideration was given to advancing two 
key objectives including: (1) increasing infrastructure and ecosystem 
resilience to climate change and decreasing climate risk for 
communities based on the best available science; and (2) promoting 
environmental justice in disadvantaged communities in line with 
Justice40 and creating good paying jobs that provide the free and fair 
chance to join a union and collectively bargain.
    The Budget supports a Corps program that has a diverse set of tools 
and approaches to working with local communities, whether this means 
funding projects with our cost-sharing partners, providing planning 
assistance and technical expertise to help communities make better 
risk-informed decisions, or participating in the national and 
international conversations on how to best address our water resources 
challenges.
    The Budget also focuses on maintaining the vast water resources 
infrastructure that the Corps owns and manages, and on finding 
innovative ways to rehabilitate it or transfer ownership to willing 
recipients. For example, the Budget includes $13 million to complete 
six new major rehabilitation studies for inland waterways locks and 
dams and $2 million to investigate disposition of completed projects.
    The FY 2022 Investigations account is funded at $106 million, the 
Construction account at $1.8 billion, the Operation and Maintenance 
account at $2.5 billion, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund at $1.6 
billion, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund at $52 million, and the 
Mississippi River and Tributaries account at $270 million. Other 
accounts include the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies account at 
$35 million, the Regulatory Program account at $204.4 million, the 
Expenses account at $199.3 million and the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works account at $5 million.
    The Army Corps will use $3.4 billion of these funds to invest in 
projects and activities that will facilitate commercial navigation, 
$1.7 billion to help reduce the risk of damages from floods and storms, 
and $501 million to restore aquatic ecosystems to a more natural 
condition. These amounts include:
  --$75 million to increase the resilience of Corps infrastructure to 
        climate change, including $38 million for energy and water 
        conservation measures at Corps projects, $23 million for 
        updates to water control manuals at Corps projects that will 
        account for a changing climate, $8 million for the charging 
        infrastructure needed to support a Federal fleet of Zero 
        Emission Vehicles, and $6 million to evaluate ways to increase 
        the resilience of Corps infrastructure over the longer term; 
        and
  --$29 million for Corps technical and planning assistance programs, 
        through which the Corps is able to enable states and local 
        communities to take steps to reduce their flood risks including 
        risks associated with climate change. For example, the Budget 
        supports Corps participation in joint Federal-State interagency 
        teams known as the Silver Jackets, which work at the state 
        level to help local communities to understand their flood risks 
        and identify options to help them manage those risks, with 
        emphasis on non-structural approaches.
    The American Jobs Plan also includes an additional $8 billion over 
five years for the Corps to improve ports and waterways.
    The Budget includes $350 million for the South Florida Everglades 
Restoration (SFER) program. The SFER request of $350 million is a $100 
million increase, or 40 percent, to the 2021 enacted level. SFER 
funding is also included in the American Jobs Plan. Taken together, a 
robust amount of funding is proposed for SFER, enabling significant 
progress on this ecosystem restoration program.
    The FY 2022 Budget includes funding to initiate seven new studies--
Central & Southern Florida Flood Resiliency (Section 216), FL; Boise 
River, Garden City, Ada County, ID; Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency 
Study, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, PA, NY & WI; Spring Creek South, Jamaica Bay 
(Howard Beach), Queens, NY; Little Narragansett Bay, RI; Waccamaw 
River, Horry County, SC; and Little Goose Creek, Sheridan, WY.
    The FY 2022 Budget also includes funding to initiate construction 
at four new projects--McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 
Three Rivers, AR; West Sacramento, CA; Anacostia Watershed Restoration, 
Prince George's County, MD; and Norfolk Harbor and Channels, VA 
(Deepening) as well as to complete three construction projects--Calumet 
Harbor and River, IL & IN; Columbia River at the Mouth, OR/WA; and 
Anacostia Watershed Restoration, Prince George's County, MD.
    Within the $1.6 billion proposed in the FY 2022 Budget to be 
derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, $787 million would be 
used to support commercial navigation at the top 50 U.S. coastal ports 
across the Nation, which handle around 90 percent of the waterborne 
cargo that is shipped to or from the Unities States in foreign 
commerce; $252 million for operation and maintenance of Great Lakes 
projects; $58 million for projects that support access by Native 
American tribes to their legally recognized historic fishing areas; and 
$63 million for five construction projects that will accommodate 
disposal of material dredged from coastal navigation projects.
    The FY 2022 Budget proposes $10 million for a new Innovative 
Funding Partnership program, which supports Corps efforts to accelerate 
and improve the delivery of water through greater non-Federal 
participation, and by removing barriers that prevent State, local, and 
private parties from moving forward with investments that they deem 
priorities. In addition, the Budget also proposes to return 
responsibility for management of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial 
Action Program (FUSRAP) back to the Department of Energy (DOE). 
Consolidation of FUSRAP with the other DOE cleanup programs under a 
single agency will allow DOE to consider a broader range of federal 
cleanup responsibilities in prioritizing work each fiscal year and 
result in efficiencies for taxpayers and the Army Corps would continue 
to perform cleanup of FUSRAP sites on a reimbursable basis with DOE.
    The FY 2022 Budget begins the process of addressing the climate 
crisis. As outlined in Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate 
Crisis at Home and Abroad, the Army will evaluate the Civil Works 
program to identify the appropriate actions the agency can take to 
support this policy objective in the FY 2023 Budget. The Army is also 
committed to securing environmental justice and spurring economic 
opportunity for disadvantaged communities that have been historically 
marginalized and overburdened by pollution and experience 
underinvestment in essential services. The Army will actively work 
towards ensuring 40 percent of the benefits of climate and clean energy 
investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. These actions 
will include an examination of the activities of key programs to 
determine whether those programs' benefits have accrued to 
disadvantaged communities. The Army will also begin to track program 
expenditures that impact disadvantaged communities and consider metrics 
that will help track how applicable covered program benefits accrue at 
specific disadvantaged communities.
    Finally, I would like to highlight one of the initiatives proposed 
in the Budget--an important technical change to the account structure 
of the Corps, which would improve our ability to oversee the spending 
financed through our two navigation trust funds. This proposal involves 
changes to the appropriations language for the Construction, Operation 
and Maintenance, and Mississippi River and Tributaries accounts, as 
well as the adoption of appropriations language for the Harbor 
Maintenance and Inland Waterways Trust Funds. It is needed and would 
enable greater transparency and accountability in how these funds are 
budgeted and spent.
    I am very honored to have been selected for this position, to help 
implement the President's priorities for the Army Civil Works program. 
I have been on-board for just a month or so. And, I've had the 
opportunity to make two short trips--one to Tacoma Harbor in Washington 
State, and another to multiple sites throughout West Virginia and 
northern Ohio. I have been very impressed with the professionalism and 
dedication of the Corps of Engineers employees, who build and maintain 
water resources facilities for our primary Civil Works missions. There 
is much work to be done, I'm excited to be a part of this great team--
serving our Nation.
    Thank you all for inviting me here today. I look forward to your 
questions.

    Senator Feinstein. And thank you very much. I appreciate 
it. Thank you very much.
    Next, please, General.
STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL SCOTT A. SPELLMON, 
            CHIEF OF ENGINEERS AND COMMANDING GENERAL, 
            U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
    General Spellmon. Thank you, and good morning. Chairwoman 
Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and distinguished members of 
the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify 
today.
    I have been in command of the Corps for a little bit over 8 
months now, and I would like to provide just a few brief 
highlights of the work our team is accomplishing as we are 
already making progress on three of my initial focus areas. And 
those are: transforming our organization for the increased 
workload, expanding research and development, and strengthening 
our already talented workforce.
    These are just a few of the key initiatives that we will 
use to optimally leverage annual appropriations, meet the 
priorities of both the administration's--the administration and 
the Congress, and ultimately deliver on our vision. And that is 
to engineer solutions for our Nation's toughest challenges.
    Over the past several years, the Corps has delivered an 
annual Civil Works program between $7- to $8 billion. And I 
would like to further develop that competency into one that can 
deliver double that benefit by stretching our dollars further 
through better partnering practices, revolutionizing our 
processes, and seeking efficiencies with functional pilot 
programs. Our Nation is again seeking to renew its 
infrastructure, and the Corps is poised to support this pivotal 
modernization.
    Some examples of the initiatives include the Corps' 
continued efforts to build upon public-private partnerships and 
other innovative financing solutions. We are all also working 
to streamline our regulatory program by providing 
straightforward, common-sense rules, but we continue to face 
challenges with a static funding stream during an ever-
increasing demand on these resources.
    We will continue to seek efficiencies in project delivery 
by reducing cost, optimizing schedules, and eliminating 
unnecessary redundancies. We have successfully validated a 
number of these concepts through implementation of the regional 
dredge demonstration program, on the Gulf Coast; and we look 
forward to applying those concepts in other regions, as well as 
furthering potential efficiencies in our navigation program, by 
advancing the beneficial use of dredged material.
    I feel strongly that in order to achieve our vision, we 
also need to elevate our research and development programs; we 
are working to expand our R&D initiatives and strengthen our 
partnerships with academic institutions to leverage our 
Nation's scientists, the enormous capacity that they bring so 
that we can meet the challenges of the 21st Century, head-on.
    I believe that investment in research and development will 
help us find solutions for today's challenges, like those posed 
by harmful algal blooms, drought, wildfires, reservoir 
sedimentation, and of course, engineering with nature.
    And finally, successful innovation in the future cannot be 
accomplished without the talented and passionate professionals 
of our workforce. People remain our greatest resource, 
investing in our people, our leaders, and diversity in all its 
forms, as well as maintaining a culture and a commitment to 
safety are keys to developing our future team.
    For over 245 years, the Army Corps of Engineers has served 
as the Nation's engineers, we have risen to meet the challenges 
of the day, and today is no exception. We will engineer the 
future, but we do not do it alone. We need the help of our non-
Federal partners, our project stakeholders, and the Congress to 
enable us to succeed. I look forward to continuing our great 
collaboration with this committee as we strive to finish 
quality projects on time and within budget.
    Thank you again, Madam Chairwoman, and members of the 
subcommittee. I look forward to any questions that you may 
have.
    [The statement follows:]
       Prepared Statement of Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon
    Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the 
Subcommittee:
    I am honored to testify before your committee today, along with Mr. 
Jamie Pinkham, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil 
Works, in regard to the President's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) Budget 
for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works 
Program.
    Through its Civil Works Program, the Corps works with other Federal 
agencies, and with State, Tribal, and local agencies and others, to 
develop, manage, restore, and protect water resources, primarily 
through the construction, operation and maintenance, and study of 
water-related infrastructure projects. The Corps focuses on work that 
provides the highest economic, environmental, and public safety returns 
to the Nation. The Corps also regulates development in waters of the 
United States and works with other Federal agencies to help communities 
respond to, and recover from, floods and other natural disasters. The 
FY 2022 Budget invests in improving the Nation's water infrastructure, 
including U.S. coastal ports, while incorporating climate resilience 
efforts into the Corps' commercial navigation, flood and storm damage 
reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration work.
    The Corps' Military program also continues our work across the 
globe with presence in more than 110 countries supporting national 
security and our Combatant Commanders with civil works, military 
missions, and water resources research and development expertise.
                                overview
    The Civil Works Program is performance-based. It uses a targeted 
approach to invest in our water resources and promote climate 
resiliency, which will benefit the Nation's economy, environment, and 
public safety--now and in the future. With the requested funds, the 
Corps will emphasize: Investments in High Return Projects; Increasing 
Resiliency to Climate Change; Facilitating Safe, Reliable and 
Sustainable Commercial Navigation; and Accelerating and Improving 
Delivery of Water Resource Projects.
    The Corps focuses on high-performing projects and programs within 
its three main water resources missions: commercial navigation, flood 
and storm damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. The 
Budget includes $6.8 billion for these Civil Works activities 
throughout the Nation. The American Jobs Plan includes an additional $8 
billion over five years for the Corps to improve ports and waterways.
                         investigations program
    The Investigations program of the Corps is funded both in the 
Investigations account and in the Mississippi River and Tributaries 
account. The Corps uses these funds to evaluate water resources 
problems and opportunities, design projects within the Corps three main 
mission areas, and support related work. The Investigations program 
includes the Corps planning assistance and technical assistance 
programs, where the Corps shares its expertise with local communities 
to help them identify and understand their water resources problems, 
and helps them to develop options including ways that they can increase 
their resilience to, and preparedness for, flood risks. In addition to 
ongoing efforts, the FY 2022 Budget supports starting seven new studies 
including those which will further investigate problems and 
opportunities associated with the commercial navigation, flood and 
storm damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration missions of 
the Corps.
                          construction program
    The Construction program of the Corps is funded both in the 
Construction account and in the Mississippi River and Tributaries 
account.
    The goal of the construction program is to produce as much value as 
possible for the Nation from the available funds. The Corps also gives 
priority to investments, selected on a risk informed basis, in dam 
safety assurance, seepage control, and static instability correction 
work at dams that the Corps owns and operates.
    The Budget provides $350 million for the South Florida Everglades 
Restoration (SFER) program, which includes the everglades. This is $100 
million above the enacted level for FY 2021, an increase of 40 percent. 
Additional SFER funding is included in the American Jobs Plan. Taken 
together, these funds would enable the Corps to make significant 
progress on this restoration program.
    The Budget also invests in four previously unfunded construction 
projects: West Sacramento, California, a flood and storm damage 
reduction project; McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 
Three Rivers, Arkansas, and Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Virginia 
(Deepening), which are commercial navigation projects; and Anacostia 
Watershed Restoration, Prince George's County, Maryland, an aquatic 
ecosystem restoration project.
                operation and maintenance (o&m) program
    The O&M program of the Corps is funded both in the O&M account and 
in the Mississippi River and Tributaries account, with the Budget 
providing over $4 billion.
    All structures age and can deteriorate over time, causing a 
potential decline in reliability. As stewards of a large portfolio of 
water resources projects, the Corps is working to sustain the benefits 
that the key features of this infrastructure provides.
    The Corps continues to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of 
its operation and maintenance program. The Corps does so by targeting 
its investments in infrastructure maintenance, repair, and 
rehabilitation on a risk informed basis. It invests in the highest 
priority needs with emphasis on the key features of the infrastructure 
that the Corps owns and operates, and in work that will reduce long-
term O&M costs in real terms.
    Generally, the O&M program supports completed works owned or 
operated by the Corps, including administrative buildings and 
laboratories. Work to be accomplished includes: operation and 
maintenance of locks and dams along the inland waterways; maintenance 
dredging of inland and coastal Federal channels; operation and 
maintenance of multi-purpose dams and reservoirs for flood risk 
reduction and related purposes such as hydropower; monitoring of 
completed navigation and flood damage reduction projects; and 
management of Corps facilities and associated lands including serving 
as a responsible steward of the natural resources on Corps lands.
                           regulatory program
    Through its Regulatory Program, the Corps protects the Nation's 
waters including wetlands, and regulates development that could impede 
navigation, while allowing reasonable development to proceed.
                          emergency management
    The Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) account funds the 
planning, training, exercises, and other preparedness measures that 
help the Corps respond to floods, hurricanes, and other natural 
disasters, and to support emergency operations in response to such 
natural disasters, including advance measures, flood fighting, 
providing potable water, and the repair of certain damaged flood and 
storm damage reduction projects. The FCCE funding proposed in the 
Budget is for preparedness work. The Corps also prepares for 
emergencies through funding provided under the National Emergency 
Preparedness program, an O&M account remaining item.
                          reimbursable program
    Through the Interagency and International Services (IIS) 
Reimbursable Program, the Corps assists other Federal agencies, state, 
local, tribal governments, and those of other countries with timely, 
cost-effective solutions. These agencies can turn to the Corps, which 
already has these capabilities, rather than develop their own internal 
workforce and expertise to act as their design and construction agent. 
The work is principally technical oversight and management of 
engineering, environmental, and construction projects. The work itself 
is typically performed by private sector firms and is financed by the 
agencies we service. We only accept agency requests that are consistent 
with our core technical expertise, in the national interest, and that 
can be executed without impacting our primary mission areas.
                               conclusion
    The FY 2022 Budget for the Corps represents a continuing, fiscally 
prudent investment in the Nation's water resources infrastructure and 
the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
is committed to a performance-based Civil Works Program, based on 
innovative, resilient, and sustainable risk-informed solutions.
    Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Members of Subcommittee. This 
concludes my statement. I look forward to answering any questions you 
or other Members of the Subcommittee may have.

    Senator Feinstein. Thanks very much, General.
    Mr. Palumbo.

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


                         Bureau of Reclamation

STATEMENT OF MR. DAVID PALUMBO, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF 
            OPERATIONS
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member 
Kennedy, and members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to 
discuss with you the President's fiscal year----
    The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest supplier and 
manager of water in the Nation, and the second largest producer 
of hydro-power. Reclamation manages water for agricultural, 
municipal, and industrial uses, the environment, and provides 
flood control, and recreation.
    Reclamation enjoys a close bipartisan working relationship 
with the subcommittee. The relationship has helped us address 
long-standing and emerging challenges in the West. Many of 
these challenges will continue to require close cooperation and 
innovative solutions, addressing drought, climate change, 
issues of equity and sustainability are essential, as are the 
continuing needs to secure, modernize, and maintain our 
Nation's water infrastructure.
    Reclamation's request of approximately $1.5 billion in 
discretionary appropriations addresses these challenges. I 
would like to acknowledge what is probably at the forefront of 
many members' minds, the significant, expansive and persistent 
drought. As you can see from the current U.S. drought monitor 
map, nearly every State west of the 100th meridian is 
experiencing some level of drought, with many of the 17 western 
States experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.
    Many farmers, Tribes, stakeholders, and related communities 
have had to make significant sacrifices. This dire hydrologic 
situation highlights the need for actions to make our 
infrastructure more resilient to water resource scarcity and 
variability, as well as to maintain healthy ecosystems.
    Reclamation's priorities reflect this vital need through 
our commitment to drought planning and response activities, 
such as the Seven Basin States, Drought Contingency Plan, and 
system conservation agreements. This budget request also 
acknowledges the need to continue to deploy and develop 
science-based drought and climate change adaptation strategies.
    Reclamation's water smart and science technology programs 
directly contribute to these administration priorities. In 
addition to our ongoing water resource management activities, 
our budget request includes roughly $200 million related to 
drought.
    Reclamation also continues to provide an important source 
of renewable energy. The 400 million megawatt hours of clean 
energy we generate each year, displaces over 18 million tons of 
carbon dioxide emissions and supports grid stability and other 
renewables like wind and solar power.
    Reclamation must also plan for the future of its 
infrastructure. Reclamation's dams and reservoirs, water 
conveyance facilities, and power generation facilities serve as 
the water and power infrastructure backbone of the American 
West.
    However, much of this infrastructure is aging and in need 
of critical maintenance. B.F. Sisk Dam in California, for 
example, which provides 2 million acre-feet of water storage 
south of the Delta, is one of the most significant funding 
needs under Reclamation's Dam Safety Program. Our request 
includes $207 million for dam safety, and $125 million for 
other extraordinary maintenance.
    However, it is not sufficient to address infrastructure 
needs without considering economic inequities and the needs of 
underserved communities. This administration is committed to 
generating broader economic opportunities and fostering greater 
social inclusion. Reclamation is establishing and rebuilding 
water infrastructure for underserved populations by ensuring 
that water for multiple purposes is reliably provided to all 
communities.
    In addition to settlements with mandatory funds, our budget 
request includes $158 million for Indian Water Rights 
Settlements, as well as $200 million for Reclamation's Native 
American Technical Assistance Program, and $93 million for 
Rural Water Program.
    The Bureau of Reclamation remains committed to working with 
Congress and our operating partners and stakeholders in 
carrying out our mission responsibly planning for the future. 
The challenges of drought and climate change demands such 
action. And the need for more equitable outcomes and broader 
economic development do as well.
    I again thank the subcommittee and your excellent staff. 
And I am happy to answer any questions.
    [The statement follows:]
                  Prepared Statement of David Palumbo
    Thank you, Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of 
the Subcommittee for the opportunity to discuss with you the 
President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Budget for the Bureau of Reclamation. 
I am David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the Bureau of 
Reclamation.
    The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest supplier and manager of 
water in the Nation and the second largest producer of hydroelectric 
power. Reclamation manages water for agriculture, municipal and 
industrial use, and the environment, as well as providing flood control 
and recreation for millions of people. Reclamation's activities, 
including recreation benefits, support economic activity valued at 
$66.63 billion, and support approximately 472,000 jobs. Reclamation 
delivers 10 trillion gallons of water to more than 31 million people 
each year, and provides water for irrigation of 10 million acres, which 
yields approximately 25 percent of the Nation's fruit and nut crops, 
and 60 percent of the vegetable harvest.
    Reclamation's fundamental mission and programs--modernizing and 
maintaining infrastructure, conserving natural resources, using science 
and research to inform decision-making, serving underserved 
populations, and staying as nimble as possible in response to the real-
time resiliency and long-term adaptation requirements of drought and a 
changing climate--position our agency to deliver significant 
contributions to the Biden-Harris Administration's core priorities. The 
Bureau of Reclamation's FY 2022 budget provides the foundation to meet 
our mission: to manage, develop, and protect water resources, 
consistent with applicable State and Federal law, in a cost-effective 
and environmentally responsible manner in the interest of the American 
public. Reclamation remains committed to working with a wide range of 
stakeholders, including water and power customers, Tribes, State and 
local officials, and non-governmental organizations, to meet its 
mission.
    Reclamation is requesting $1,532,949,000 in gross Federal 
discretionary appropriations. Of the total amount, $1,379,050,000 is 
for the Water and Related Resources account, which is Reclamation's 
largest account, $64,400,000 is for the Policy and Administration 
account, and $33,000,000 is for the California Bay Delta account. A 
total of $56,499,000 is budgeted for the Central Valley Project 
Restoration Fund, to be offset by expected discretionary receipts in 
the amounts collected during the fiscal year. Reclamation also 
anticipates approximately $900 million in other Federal, including 
mandatory, and non-Federal funds to support FY 2022 activities.
    Racial and Economic Equity: Activities to Support Underserved 
communities, Tribal Programs & Tribal Water Rights Settlements: 
Reclamation tackles the challenges of racial equity and underserved 
communities through investments in tribal water rights settlements, the 
Native American Affairs technical assistance program, rural water 
projects, and investments in specific projects for underserved 
communities. Reclamation is confident in its ability to meet the 
legislated deadlines of tribal settlements.
    Reclamation's budget supports Indian water rights settlements, 
continuing the high prioritization of these projects to meet Tribal 
trust and treaty obligations. The FY 2022 budget request includes a 
total of $157.6 million for Indian water rights settlements consistent 
with settlement dates required by statute. In addition to requesting 
discretionary funding, these settlements will draw on available 
mandatory funding to support current settlement implementation 
activities.
    The FY 2022 budget includes $20.0 million for the Native American 
Affairs program to increase the capacity to work with and support 
Tribes in water resources development, including the resolution of 
water rights claims, sustainable and equitable water sharing 
agreements, and other water related technical and resource management 
activities. This funding will also strengthen Department-wide 
capabilities to achieve an integrated and systematic approach to Indian 
water rights negotiations to consider the full range of economic, 
legal, and technical attributes of proposed settlements.
    By means of its request of $92.9 million for the Rural Water 
program, Reclamation is also establishing and rebuilding clean water 
infrastructure for underserved populations, furthering the President's 
environmental justice goals as well as his commitment to Tribal Nations 
by ensuring that clean, safe drinking water is a right in those 
communities. The request consists of $68.1 million for construction and 
$24.8 million for operation, maintenance, and replacement of completed 
Tribal features.
    Conservation, Climate Resilience and Climate Science: Reclamation's 
projects were primarily designed and constructed in the first half of 
the 20th century with snowpack serving as the largest reservoir. The 
decrease in snowpack and earlier spring runoff have made climate 
resilience and adaptation an important focus area for Reclamation. Our 
investments address the unprecedented and persistent drought and our 
ability to combat climate change by continuing to fund the WaterSMART 
program, to improve water conservation and energy efficiency as well as 
proactive efforts to provide sound climate science, research and 
development, and clean energy. We will continue to seek to optimize 
non-Federal contributions to accomplish more with our Federal dollars.
    Reclamation is continuing efforts to manage drought. Across the 
west, we are seeing drought at a scale and intensity that we have not 
seen before. California is currently experiencing its third driest year 
on record; the second two consecutive driest years on record, and the 
driest year since 1977. In the Central Valley of California, 
precipitation has been far below normal, at the bottom 10th percentile 
of historic levels, which equates to snow and rain precipitation of 
less than half of average for this date. Reclamation plays a crucial 
role in managing and regulating water operations in California, 
coordinating closely with the State, fishery agencies and local 
operating partners to evaluate options. The FY 2022 budget continues to 
support drought mitigation and planning efforts, including a request of 
$184.7 million for operations within the Central Valley Project, which 
includes work to modernize facilities and take advantage of water 
conservation efforts. In addition, the FY 2022 Budget includes $33 
million for the California Bay-Delta Restoration account and $56.5 
million for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund. In the 
Colorado River Basin, the period from 2000 through 2021 has been the 
driest 22-year period in more than 100 years of record-keeping and one 
of the driest in the past 1,200 years based on paleohydrology data. The 
FY 2022 budget includes salinity control efforts along the river with 
both the Title I ($17.6 million) and Title II ($7 million) Programs, 
while continuing to implement the Drought Contingency Plans (DCP) in 
coordination with the Seven Basin States through the Lower and Upper 
Colorado River Programs. Drought response activities include $15 
million for the DCP to conserve water in Lake Mead to reduce the 
likelihood of the Lake declining to further critical elevations and $3 
million for the Upper Colorado River Operations Program for Demand 
Management.
    The Klamath Basin is also experiencing one of the driest hydrologic 
years on record. The 2022 Budget includes $24.1 million for the Klamath 
Project with $3.3 million for water conservation, water quality 
monitoring, and water measurement operations; $15.7 million for Tribal 
Trust Obligations and Endangered Species Act compliance, and $2.5 
million for maintenance activities and the rehabilitation of Link River 
Dam.
    Climate change adaptation is a focus of Reclamation's science 
efforts. Funding will focus on innovation strategies that are necessary 
to address present and future hydrologic changes. The Desalination 
Program supports water purification science, development, and 
demonstrations for the purpose of converting unusable waters to useable 
water supplies. The Science and Technology Program addresses the full 
range of technical issues confronting Reclamation water and hydropower 
managers.
    WaterSMART: The WaterSMART Program directly contributes to 
Administration priorities for conservation, climate science, 
adaptation, and resiliency. WaterSMART also serves as the primary 
contributor to the Reclamation/Interior Water Conservation Priority 
Goal. Projects funded through WaterSMART since 2010, including 
WaterSMART Grants and Title XVI projects, are expected to save more 
than one million acre-feet of water each year, once completed. The FY 
2022 budget includes $54.1 million for WaterSMART programs.
    Modernizing and Maintaining Infrastructure: Reclamation's dams and 
reservoirs, water conveyance systems, and power generating facilities 
serve as the water and power infrastructure backbone of the American 
West. Reclamation's water and power projects throughout the western 
United States provide water supplies for agricultural, municipal, and 
industrial purposes. Reclamation's projects also provide energy 
produced by hydropower facilities and maintain ecosystems that support 
fish and wildlife, hunting, fishing, and other recreation, as well as 
rural economies. Changing demographics and competing demands are 
increasingly impacting already strained systems, and the proper 
management of this infrastructure is critical to Reclamation's ability 
to achieve progress on its mission objectives. This budget addresses 
priorities by allocating funds based on objective and performance-based 
criteria to most effectively implement Reclamation's programs and its 
management responsibilities for its water and power infrastructure in 
the West.
    Funding is provided for dam safety and Extraordinary Maintenance 
(XM) of Reclamation facilities. Reclamation manages 491 dams throughout 
the 17 Western States. Reclamation's Dam Safety Program has identified 
364 high and significant hazard dams. Through constant monitoring and 
assessment, Reclamation strives to achieve the best use of its limited 
resources to ensure dam safety and to maintain our ability to store, 
conserve, and deliver water and to generate hydropower. The FY 2022 
budget request includes $207.1 million for the Dam Safety Program. 
Reclamation's XM request is part of its overall Asset Management 
Strategy that relies on condition assessments, condition/performance 
metrics, technological research and development, and strategic 
collaboration to better inform and improve the management of its assets 
and address infrastructure maintenance challenges. Additional XM items 
are directly funded by revenues, customers, or other Federal agencies 
(e.g., Bonneville Power Administration). The FY 2022 budget includes 
$125.3 million for XM related activities.
    Renewable Energy: Reclamation owns 78 hydroelectric power plants 
and operates 53 of those plants that account for 15 percent of the 
hydroelectric capacity and generation in the United States. Each year 
on average, Reclamation generates about 40 million megawatt hours of 
electricity and collects over $1.0 billion in gross power revenues for 
the Federal Government. It would take more than 130 billion cubic feet 
of natural gas or about 7.1 million tons of coal to produce an equal 
amount of energy with fossil fuels; as a result, Reclamation's 
hydropower program displaces over 18 million tons of carbon dioxide 
that may have otherwise been emitted by traditional fossil fuel power 
plants.
    Reclamation's FY 2022 budget request includes $3.5 million to 
support Department energy initiatives through increasing Reclamation 
Project hydropower capabilities. These activities include: policy 
development, oversight, and support services facilitating non-Federal 
hydropower development on Reclamation projects through Lease of Power 
Privilege and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing. These 
actions allow Reclamation to derive additional value and revenue from 
existing public infrastructure and reduce project operating costs 
(e.g., water and power delivery costs). Revenues derived from 
incremental hydropower production are invested in the underlying public 
infrastructure to ensure continued, reliable operations and benefits. 
These investments, in combination with prior year's efforts will ensure 
that Reclamation can continue to provide reliable water and power to 
the American West.
    Water management, improving and modernizing infrastructure, using 
sound science to support critical decision-making, finding 
opportunities to expand capacity, reducing conflict, and meeting 
environmental responsibilities were all addressed in the formulation of 
the FY 2022 budget. Reclamation continues to look at ways to plan more 
efficiently for future challenges faced in water resources management 
to improve the way it does business.
                         account level details
    The FY 2022 budget allocates funds to projects and programs based 
on objective, performance-based criteria to implement Reclamation's 
programs and its management responsibilities most effectively for its 
water and power infrastructure in the West.
    The FY 2022 budget for Reclamation totals $1.533 billion in gross 
budget authority. The budget is partially offset by discretionary 
receipts in the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund ($56.5 million) 
resulting in net discretionary budget authority of $1.476 billion.
              water and related resources--$1,379,050,000
    The FY 2022 Water and Related Resources budget provides funding for 
five major program activities--Water and Energy Management and 
Development ($434.0 million), Land Management and Development ($49.1 
million), Fish and Wildlife Management and Development ($193.2 
million), Facility Operations ($322.0 million), and Facility 
Maintenance and Rehabilitation ($380.7 million). The funding proposed 
in Reclamation's FY 2022 budget supports key programs important to the 
Department and in line with Administration objectives.
    By far, the greatest portion of Reclamation's Water and Related 
Resources budget is dedicated to delivering water and generating power. 
This is accomplished within over 300 congressionally-authorized 
projects. Certain programs are also particularly notable, including Dam 
Safety-described above--and others, due to their unique nature and 
interest to Congress and other stakeholders. In addition to 
infrastructure needs and other overarching initiatives that fulfill the 
President's priorities noted above, a few additional programs that 
directly respond to Administration goals are described below.
    Reclamation's FY 2022 budget of $27.5 million for Research and 
Development (R&D) programs includes both Science and Technology, and 
Desalination and Water Purification Research-both of which focus on 
Reclamation's mission of water and power deliveries.
    The Science and Technology program supports engineering innovation 
that promotes economic growth, supports maintaining and improving our 
water and power infrastructure, and spurs continued generation of 
energy. Program outcomes enable reliable water and power delivery to 
our customers, improve safety, limit the impacts of invasive species, 
and ensure that Reclamation can meet its environmental compliance 
responsibilities. These activities support the Administration's 
priorities for the FY 2022 budget, including job creation by supporting 
technology transfer activities that may lead to new business 
opportunities for private industry. The program also supports 
Administration priorities related to maintaining and improving our 
water and power infrastructure by partnering with the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers to foster research projects to develop technologies that 
extend the operating life and reduce maintenance costs of Reclamation's 
structures. The Administration's priority related to energy from all 
sources is supported by hydropower research that ensures that 
Reclamation is maximizing reliability, reducing maintenance costs, and 
exploring new energy development opportunities. Research on safety is 
ensuring our workers can perform their jobs safely and securely.
    The Desalination and Water Purification Research program priorities 
include development of improved and innovative methods of desalination 
and reducing costs to develop new water supplies. The research and 
testing funded out of this program supports Executive Order 14008 
including job creation, by supporting innovative new solutions that 
spur the creation of new businesses by entrepreneurs and by advancing 
Reclamation's competitive edge in the area of water treatment and 
desalination.
    Reclamation's continued water delivery and power generation cannot 
be accomplished without meeting our environmental responsibilities. 
Reclamation meets these responsibilities associated with individual 
projects, such as the Central Valley Project and the Middle Rio Grande 
Collaborative Program, through a large number of activities. The FY 
2022 budget funds Reclamation's Endangered Species Act recovery 
programs and other programs that contribute towards these efforts, such 
as the Columbia/Snake River Salmon Recovery Program, the San Juan River 
Recovery Implementation Program, the Upper Colorado Recovery 
Implementation Program, and the Multi-Species Conservation Program 
within the Lower Colorado River Operations Program, among many others.
    Including other efforts, Reclamation helps address the West's water 
challenges through the WaterSMART program. Through WaterSMART, 
Reclamation works cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities 
as they plan for and implement actions to address current and future 
water shortages, including drought; degraded water quality; increased 
demands for water and energy from growing populations; environmental 
water requirements; and the potential for decreased water supply 
availability due to climate change, drought, and population growth.
    The Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program is a new program that 
addresses aquatic ecosystems in connection to Reclamation projects. The 
FY 2022 budget includes $1 million for the Aquatic Ecosystem 
Restoration Program. The program provides broad authority for 
Reclamation to fund fish passage improvements and aquatic habitat 
enhancement, including removal of dams or other aging infrastructure if 
such projects are supported by a broad multi-stakeholder group, and if 
it maintains water security for all involved. This new authority aligns 
with the Administration's priorities for climate change and climate 
resiliency.
    Aging Infrastructure Program and Account: Sec. 1101, Title XI of 
P.L. 116-260 amends 43 U.S.C. 510b to establish the Aging 
Infrastructure Account, authorizing an annual appropriation for 
Reclamation to provide for the extended repayment of work by a 
transferred works operating entity or project beneficiary to conduct 
extraordinary operation and maintenance work at a Reclamation facility. 
It is envisioned that the discretionary funds would be from a transfer 
from Water and Related Resources as proposed in FY 2022 appropriations 
language. The FY 2022 Budget includes $1 million. Mandatory funds would 
be appropriated from the receipt account.
    The account would receive deposits from repayment of reimbursable 
costs under a repayment contract. Under the program, Reclamation will 
provide funding to non-Federal partners who rehabilitate infrastructure 
projects that are owned by the Federal government. Those entities would 
repay the funds to the Aging Infrastructure Account over periods of up 
to 50 years. Funds from that account would be available to be spent 
without further appropriation for future projects.
    Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure: A total of $3.5 
million is included in this request to support the DOI Zero Emission 
Vehicle (ZEV) investment strategy that is comprised of three core 
elements: replacing hydrocarbon powered vehicles with ZEVs; investing 
in ZEV charging infrastructure; and integrating ZEV fleet and 
infrastructure management.
      central valley project restoration fund (cvprf): $56,499,000
    This fund was established by the Central Valley Project Improvement 
Act, Title XXXIV of P.L. 102-575, October 30, 1992. The budget of $56.5 
million is expected to be offset fully by discretionary receipts based 
on what can be collected from project beneficiaries under provisions of 
Section 3407(d) of the Act. The discretionary receipts are adjusted on 
an annual basis to maintain payments totaling $30.0 million (October 
1992 price levels) on a three-year rolling average basis. The budget 
was developed after considering the effects of the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Settlement Act (P.L. 111-11, March 30, 2009), which 
redirects certain fees, estimated at $2.0 million in FY 2022, collected 
from the Friant Division water users to the San Joaquin Restoration 
Fund.
           california bay-delta restoration fund: $33,000,000
    The CALFED Bay-Delta Restoration Act (P.L. 108-361), as amended, 
authorized multiple Federal agencies to participate in the 
implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program as outlined in the 
August 28, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) for the CALFED Bay-Delta 
Program Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental 
Impact Report. The legislation directed the implementing agencies to 
undertake a set of broadly described programmatic actions identified in 
the ROD to the extent authorized under existing law. In addition, the 
Act authorized $389.0 million in Federal appropriations for new and 
expanded authorities.
    The FY 2022 budget of $33.0 million implements priority activities 
pursuant to P.L. 108-361. Six Federal agencies--the Department of the 
Interior, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, Department 
of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Council on 
Environmental Quality -work together to ensure that the Federal actions 
and investments the Administration is undertaking are coordinated in a 
fashion to help address California's current water supply and 
ecological challenges. This budget supports actions under the following 
program activities: $1.7 million for Renewed Federal State Partnership, 
$2.3 million for Smarter Water Supply and Use, and $29.0 million to 
address the Degraded Bay Delta Ecosystem.
                 policy and administration: $64,400,000
    The $64.4 million budget will be used to: 1) develop, evaluate, and 
directly implement Reclamation-wide policy, rules, and regulations, 
including actions under the Government Performance and Results Act; and 
2) manage and perform functions that are not properly chargeable to 
specific projects or program activities covered by separate funding 
authority. A new Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance initiative will 
address identified high priority needs in support of Executive Order 
13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities 
through the Federal Government, and Executive Order 13988, Preventing 
and Combatting Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and 
Sexual Orientation. In addition, $1.6 million is requested for 
increased cybersecurity as a sustained response to the SolarWinds 
attack, and to improve future protection and detection capabilities.
             central utah protection completion act (cupca)
    The Department's 2022 CUPCA Program budget of $20 million reflects 
the Administration's commitment to strengthening our climate resiliency 
and supporting conservation partnerships. As authorized, the completion 
of the Central Utah Project (CUP) Utah Lake System pipelines will 
deliver 60,000 acre-feet of municipal and industrial water to Salt Lake 
and Utah Counties. The completed project will provide increased water 
security, helping communities adapt to and increase their resiliency 
under changing climate conditions.
    The request provides funding to continue construction of the 
system; support the recovery of endangered species; and implement fish, 
wildlife, and recreation mitigation and water conservation projects. 
One of the goals of the project is the recovery of the June sucker 
fish, a critical element of listed species recovery efforts.

    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much. We will proceed--if 
there is no objection--with questions.
    Deputy Commissioner Palumbo, more than 72 percent of the 
Western United States is now in severe drought, or worse, which 
is the--this is the most extensive, severe drought in the west 
in recorded history. California is unfortunately worse with 90 
percent of the State in severe drought. So this is a real 
emergency that requires our immediate action. Does the Bureau 
plan to send a reprogramming or supplemental funding request 
for drought?
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Senator. Absolutely; the Bureau of 
Reclamation is currently working on finalizing a reprogramming 
and request to address a variety of factors related to drought. 
I would expect in the next coming weeks you will be seeing that 
reprogramming request with a significant focus on drought 
mitigation and adaptation strategies for the----
    Senator Feinstein. Well, I am glad to hear that. And I 
thank you for it. Can you tell us anything about the type of 
immediate actions which would be permitted under this revision 
that you are sending?
    Mr. Palumbo. Yes. Thank you, Senator. We are looking at a 
variety of tools, the immediate tools that we would deploy our 
water transfers, water purchases, groundwater substitutions, as 
well as salinity barriers to help with salinity in the Delta. 
Another variety of tools that we are looking at are related to 
fish hatcheries, making sure we have cool water available for 
the species that depend on water, as well as humans.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, I am pleased to hear that. I have 
worked hard with my colleagues to develop appropriate funding 
under the WIIN Act to build storage projects, to be able to 
capture precipitation for the dry years. Last year we worked to 
provide an additional $206 million in WIIN Act funding for 
water storage, desal, and water recycling and reuse projects. 
The President's budget recommends no funding for these critical 
projects this year. My question is, why?
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Senator. The Bureau of Reclamation 
as well as the administration places a high emphasis on water 
infrastructure, including storage, desalinization and water 
purification. We are in the process of developing a request 
that we will be sending to the appropriations committees 
through the Secretary of the Interior in the very near future, 
with funding requests for both water storage as well as 
desalinization and water reuse.
    Senator Feinstein. When it is ready, will you please bring 
it to my attention?
    Mr. Palumbo. Absolutely.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much. I have seen that 
the President's American Jobs Plan includes $2.5 billion over 5 
years for reclamation infrastructure, and we certainly need to 
invest more money in our infrastructure. And when can I expect 
the Bureau to provide more details on the President's 
infrastructure proposal?
    Mr. Palumbo. Very soon as well. We are working closely in 
the department to finalize opportunities, to put money to work 
on shovel-ready projects, using alternative delivery methods on 
pencil-ready projects, to get that infrastructure on the 
ground, put that money to work, put people to work. So we are 
working very hard, as we speak, on finalizing our plans.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you. I take you at your word. We 
have 84 dams in California that are in less than satisfactory 
condition and would cause fatalities or significant property 
damage if they failed. In order to repair these dams, I have 
worked with my colleagues to include in last year's Energy and 
Water Bill $12 million to provide low-interest loans to restore 
non-Federal dams under the Water Infrastructure, Finance and 
Innovation Act Program.
    The Corps still needs to finalize the program rules in 
order to finalize a Federal funding opportunity for these 
critically needed grants. So the question is: How quickly can 
you finalize the program rules and get out these funds so we 
can start repairing dangerously deficient non-Federal dams?
    Mr. Pinkham. Madam Chair, if I could take that question, 
please? We are currently working with OMB (Office of Management 
and Budget) on the rule that is on the OMB spring agenda. So we 
are working closely with them. We have been able to model some 
of the rules after something that is already in place to 
Environmental Protection Agency. And so we are trying to move 
that along as quickly as we can.
    Senator Feinstein. Appreciate that. Do you have any time 
zone you can give us, because the temperatures change and the 
water levels change?
    Mr. Pinkham. Yes. Madam Chair, let me work with OMB and see 
if we can get you a more definitive timeline on it; I hate to 
give you something, and prove that I am wrong. And so let me 
get back to you on that, if I might?
    Senator Feinstein. Yes, you can. But please do. I will 
count on that. Thank you.
    Senator Kennedy.
    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Mr. Commissioner, I am probably going to direct most of my 
questions to the Secretary and the General. But I don't want 
you to think that I don't recognize the extraordinary work and 
importance of the Bureau of Reclamation.
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you.
    Senator Kennedy. In my opening statement, gentlemen, I have 
talked about Hurricane Katrina and what we call, HSDRRS, if you 
are familiar with this project, where we built levees, flood 
walls, pumping stations all around the New Orleans metropolitan 
area.
    A miracle of engineering. Thank you. Of course this project 
didn't just happen. The money didn't just fall from heaven. We 
thank heaven for it, but it came out of taxpayers' pockets. The 
Federal Government put up most of it, but the State had to put 
up its share. After Katrina we were flat on our back literally 
and figuratively, especially economically, so we had to borrow 
the money from the American taxpayer.
    In the last water bill, with the help of my colleagues, 
thank you, we restructured Louisiana's debt, and we are about 
to make, our legislature just approved it, about a $400 million 
payment to meet, and I promise you, the check will clear, the 
money has been appropriated. This is going to require perhaps 
some guidelines in implementing this restructuring.
    Have you thought about that, Mr. Secretary General? If you 
are going to issue guidelines, if you could call me and we will 
work together to make sure that we both are on the same page.
    Mr. Pinkham. Senator Kennedy, we would be happy to work 
with you on the process going forward to make sure that the 
commitments are met. And if there are guidelines that need to 
be created, we are happy to work with you and your staff on 
what those guidelines are.
    Senator Kennedy. I will really would appreciate it. 
General.
    General Spellmon. Yes, sir, I appreciate that. And I 
appreciate the guidance. And I believe it was Section 351, in 
WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) 2020, and we are working 
with the Secretary's office on getting the appropriate guidance 
out to the field.
    Senator Kennedy. Good. Well, if you need me, call me, 
because we want to get this back right. And we are going to 
make our payments. And again, I want to thank my colleagues for 
working with me on helping us restructure this debt, because we 
were never going to be able to pay back the interest. It was 
just eating us alive.
    General Spellmon. Yes, sir.
    Senator Kennedy. Let me talk about the Morganza to the Gulf 
Hurricane Protection Project. I know you are familiar with it. 
This project is in Southeast Louisiana, below New Orleans. It 
is hugely important to us. And my people know that. They 
started taxing themselves back in, let's see, early-1990. And I 
know that is rare. And usually everybody comes to the Federal 
Government and says, money, please. My people said, look, we 
are going to put our money where our mouth is. They started 
taxing themselves.
    And of course, we went through the planning for the project 
and worked--working closely with the Corps, and the project is 
on its way. And our last Congress, we actually appropriated a 
little bit of money for it, but we got a long way to go. I 
wanted to get your thoughts about the Morganza to the Gulf 
Protection Project. So what do you think? What are we doing 
right? What are we doing wrong? Because I can assure you, I am 
going to be calling you a lot about it. Mr. Secretary?
    Mr. Pinkham. I will be honest with you. Senator Kennedy, I 
am not familiar with the project----
    Senator Kennedy. Oh, we are going to fix that.
    Mr. Pinkham. Well, I look forward to that, the opportunity 
to visit the site with you, and gather some information.
    Senator Kennedy. I am thinking, you must come--come to 
Louisiana. We are going to take a helicopter tour. We will take 
an airboat. I will show you some alligators. But all kidding 
aside, this is a big project. It is a big deal, and we have 
been working on it since the 1990s, and my people have put up a 
lot of their money and we are on our way. It is authorized that 
we--Congress appropriated a little bit of money, but we need to 
finish this. And I want you to know it as well as I do.
    Mr. Pinkham. Okay. I look forward to the trip.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. General, have you got any thoughts?
    General Spellmon. Sure. I will just add, we understand the 
non-Federal sponsors have put over $400 million against this 
project. We are grateful for the New Start Authority that we 
received.
    Senator Kennedy. Yes.
    General Spellmon. In the fiscal year 2021. Sure, that is a 
good start, and about $12 million to get started on the Federal 
portion. So when we make our recommendation to the Secretary, 
life safety is always at the top of the list, and this is a 
critical life safety project for the people in that region.
    Senator Kennedy. Well, I am glad you mentioned the New 
Start Authority. I want to thank my colleagues again for 
helping me get the New Start Authority. And I want to thank all 
of you, and we will be in touch on this project. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Tester.
    Senator Tester. Thank you, Chairwoman Feinstein, and 
Ranking Member Kennedy.
    I am going to start with you, Mr. Palumbo. I got first 
involved in the state legislature in 1998. I was introduced to 
a lot of water projects back then, and they are still there. 
One of these water projects is the St. Mary's Diversion Dam, 
which, if have not seen, come out to Montana, you need to look 
at it. It is an amazing piece of engineering. It is well over a 
hundred years old now, and it is shot. It was shot 25 years ago 
and it is worse today than it was then.
    At some point in time we have got to figure out whether we 
just shut the dam thing down, and let the Milk River run dry 6 
out of 10 years? Or are we going to fix it? It is not a cheap 
project, $52 million for replacing the dam, $200 million for 
the siphons and pumping stations, $50 to $80 million for Fresno 
Dam, which is downstream.
    This is water that is used for drinking water and 
irrigation. My question is: is we need some serious attention 
to this, because as I said, if Mother Nature has her way, if we 
wouldn't have done this project back in the early, early, early 
1900s, the Milk would be dry. And the Milk basically covers 
Eastern Montana, two-thirds of Eastern Montana, the entire 
Northern Tier.
    The question is: Will you commit to making this a priority? 
To try to figure out how we can get this dam project done? Two 
of the five drops failed last year, they were replaced due to 
some of your good work and the State's good work. Tell me your 
view on this and how we are going to get this baby done? And 
then I am going to get to the other projects.
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Senator. I had the pleasure 
actually of meeting with you up on the Highline in 2016.
    Senator Kennedy. There we go.
    Mr. Palumbo. I have been out at the facilities. I worked 
with the Joint Border Control; wonderful folks.
    Senator Tester. Yeah, you got it.
    Mr. Palumbo. Absolutely, the Bureau of Reclamation is 
committed. We certainly recognized the high capital cost, as 
well as the cost shared, and reimbursability, the struggles 
that we need to work through.
    Senator Tester. Yes.
    Mr. Palumbo. But we are committed to doing that, and 
working closely with you.
    Senator Tester. Okay. Needless to say this budget doesn't 
reflect that. I am hoping we can get Congress to plus that up. 
But, you know, and I am going to tell you, there is some 
frustration here. I think the Chairwoman talked about it, for 
sure, in her opening remarks. That oftentimes I think that you 
guys low ballee is expecting Congress to increase them? And I 
am not being critical. I mean, it is a game that is being 
played. And I don't think if we are looking at infrastructure 
being critical for national security, which I believe it 
absolutely is, then we ought not be playing games. We ought to 
be just telling it like it is. And if it involves having to 
raise taxes to pay for critical infrastructure, we should be 
doing it. That is not for you. That is for us. Okay.
    Indian Water Rights Settlements, these are settlements that 
have been done. We owe the bill, the check hasn't been cut yet. 
The Blackfeet Water Settlement, and this is just one of many, 
expires, enforceability date of 2025. There is about a $172 
million needed to finish that, 2025 that is like day after 
tomorrow. There is, I think there is $40 million--no, no. I 
have got the wrong one; but the bottom line is, is there is not 
near enough in this proposal to deal with that. Do you have any 
suggestions on how we are going to deal with that?
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Senator. We have looked very 
closely at all of our Indian Water Rights Settlements, we 
believe that we are on track with the Blackfeet to complete 
both in terms of our technical capability, as well as the 
funding stream that we have identified through discretionary 
and mandatory appropriations. So we think we are well 
positioned to make that 2025 date.
    Senator Tester. Okay. That is good. We will hold you to 
that. Now we are going to talk about regional water projects 
that fit around those Native American water settlements. One of 
them is where I live, although I don't personally get water 
from it, so I have no conflict of interest. The North Central 
Water Project deals with North Central Montana, a huge area, 
you know, 200 miles by a 100 probably, is what this water 
project does; square miles.
    The question is: Back in '98 it was a hundred-million-
dollar project. Now it is well over 300 million. We pumped some 
money in, but we are still--we kind of lost ground. We are at 
$138 million needed to fix--to finish that project. Can you 
tell me how this budget can be adequate to deal with that 
problem?
    Mr. Palumbo. Thank you, Senator. What we are doing in the 
Bureau of Reclamation is prioritizing all of our funding needs, 
including rural water projects, projects in the State of 
Montana. Again, I think we are well positioned to make progress 
commensurate with our technical capability.
    Senator Tester. Once again, I will hold you to it.
    Just a question for the record, if I might, Madam Chair. I 
would like the Army Corps to give me a list of the ports. 
Montana's a landlocked State, but we need ports to push out our 
product. Could you give me a list of the ports that are in need 
of repair to take on the ships that take a large amount of 
water to get to the port? How many of them are adequate for 
that, and how many need to be rebuilt to deal with that issue?
    As I say, this is more of an issue for Kennedy than it is 
for me, or for Senator Feinstein than it is for me. But the 
truth is all of our drain goes to a port, and if we can't get 
it out, we are done. And so we need to have those export 
opportunities.
    So I would love to know what kind of shape our ports are 
in. And I am sure you have done that for somebody like Lindsey 
Graham before. So you probably have it easy at your fingertips, 
and if I could get those, that would also help make sure we 
have that infrastructure available. Okay?
    General Spellmon. Yes, sir.
    Senator Tester. Thanks.
    Senator Feinstein. Thanks, Senator Tester.
    Senator Hyde-Smith.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
    General Spellmon, you and I have discussed the Yazoo area 
pump--the Backwater Area Pump Project before, on several 
occasions, and I also believe you have flown over, and you have 
looked at it, and you have received briefings from the Corps of 
Vicksburg District, and the local sponsor of the Mississippi 
Levee Board. And as you know, the Yazoo Backwater Area has 
experienced flooding 9 out of the past 10 years.
    In 2019 alone, the flooding caused two deaths, hundreds of 
millions of dollars in damages, destroyed over 600 homes, and 
adversely affected the aquatic and terrestrial environment. And 
on a very cold day, with ice on the ground and snow, very 
unusual for Mississippi, I had to get in a four-wheel drive to 
get there, but the Mississippi Valley Division Commander signed 
a Record of Decision for a new proposed plan on January the 
15th. And the Vicksburg District is currently utilizing $11.2 
million provided for the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus 
Appropriations Bill to carry out the preconstruction, 
engineering and design activities.
    Unfortunately, the Corps' fiscal year 2022 budget request 
fails to mention the Yazoo Backwater Area Project. That is 
despite the fact that the Corps' estimated fiscal year 2022 
total capability for the project is approximately $25 million. 
Those funds could be used to complete the PED (Pre-Construction 
Engineering and Design) phase, continue NEPA (National 
Environmental Policy Act) documentation, and carry out other 
important activities to move this project alone.
    Should Congress provide the necessary funding for the Yazoo 
Backwater Area Project in the fiscal year 2022, Energy and 
Water Appropriations Bill? Are you committed to putting these 
funds to good use, to advance this much needed project?
    General Spellmon. Yes, ma'am, absolutely. We remain 
committed to this project. And as you know, I have had the 
opportunity to visit it several times. You mentioned $25 
million to complete preliminary engineering and design. What we 
would like to see is $7.5 million, if we are offered a work 
plan. That will allow us to complete PED for the first 
construction contract and actually start turning dirt on this 
very important project.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Very reassuring. Thank you so much for 
your work, because you have been committed to this, and it is 
so needed.
    Assistant Secretary Pinkham. I was pleased to read in your 
testimony that one of your Corps' two key objectives in 
developing the fiscal year 2022 budget request was to promote 
environmental justice. Approximately 71 percent of the Yazoo 
Backwater Area population is minority. More than 30 percent of 
the population lives below the poverty threshold right now.
    The medium household income is roughly $31,000, far below 
the national average. And since 2010, the population area has 
declined by more than 10,000 people. People are losing jobs, 
businesses are leaving, the residents most affected don't have 
a safety net, the Corps' Environmental Justice Appendix of 
Company, its final environmental document concluded, ``The new 
proposed plan, as designed, would benefit low income and 
minority populations in the Yazoo study area.'' Is there any 
reason why moving forward with this project would not promote 
environmental justice? And until this project is completed, I 
would consider the perpetual flooding affecting the Yazoo 
Backwater Area to be a tremendous environmental injustice. So, 
is there any reason that we would not promote this moving 
forward?
    Mr. Pinkham. Senator Hyde-Smith, thank you for the 
question. And I have had a chance to look at the information 
you just shared as well in my briefings from the district, for 
the very reasons, this to me has an alignment with 
environmental justice for the facts that you have laid out, in 
the briefings that I have received on it.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you. And again, we so appreciate 
your work on this, and we look forward to making some good 
things happen, and making sure that we have a celebration soon 
to continue this project. Thank you so very much.
    Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. I have another round, and I would like 
to address this to Mr. Pinkham. We have 84 dams in California 
that are in less than satisfactory condition, and would cause 
fatalities, or significant property damage if they--pardon me?
    Well, let me ask this question. Last year, this committee 
provided an additional $7.5 million for the Corps to 
demonstrate the beneficial use of dredged material at existing 
projects.
    Mr. Pinkham, your testimony highlighted $63 million for 
projects to dispose of dredge material. I am interested if any 
of this funding addresses beneficial use. Nationwide 60 percent 
of the material, the Corps' dredges is not reused, and then I 
could talk a little bit about multiple benefits in San 
Francisco Bay. But what if any of the $63 million is for 
beneficial use?
    Mr. Pinkham. Madam Chair, I don't have that direct figure 
in front of me right now, but I would be happy to follow up 
with you. But certainly with just the short time that I have 
been here, looking at some of the challenges that communities 
are facing with disposal around contaminants, but there are 
some great examples where we are seeing beneficial use of 
dredge materials in reclaiming spawning habitat for salmon, and 
Puget Sound, the development of recreational areas in Delaware 
Bay, one I will visit next week.
    So there are some great innovations that are taking place 
with better use of disposable--the dredge materials; the exact 
figure, I will have to look that up and provide a response 
later.
    Senator Feinstein. Okay, if you would. One other quick 
question: regarding Corps assistance for 84 at-risk dams in 
California. How quickly can you finalize the program rules and 
get out these funds, so we can start repairing dangerously-
deficient dams in California?
    Mr. Pinkham. Madam Chair, are you talking about the 
Whittier Dam?
    Senator Feinstein. Yes.
    Mr. Pinkham. Yes. On that one we are--we continue to work 
with OMB on finalizing the rule, it is on OMB's spring agenda. 
I would be happy to work with OMB on trying to get you a better 
timeline of when we can expect that rule to be made.
    Senator Feinstein. Would you do that? And would you keep in 
touch with us? I am really concerned. I mean, 84 is a big 
number of dams to be at reach. It is hard for me to know what 
is serious and what is not. So we really need that help, and I 
wanted to bring it to your attention. So thank you for 
following up. Appreciate it.
    Senator Kennedy.
    Senator Kennedy. I will defer to Senator Hagerty. 
Gentlemen, I am going to send you letter with a couple of 
requests dealing with some important bookkeeping, and of course 
Senator Feinstein and her excellent team will know all about 
it. If you could get back to us on that, I would be very 
grateful.
    Mr. Pinkham. Yes, sir.
    Senator Kennedy. But I don't want to take up any more time. 
I have had my bite at the apple.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Hagerty.
    Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Chairwoman Feinstein. And thank 
you very much Ranking Member Kennedy, for holding this hearing. 
And to our distinguished guests, thank you all for being here 
with us today.
    I would like to specifically talk about border security and 
our border wall. Between April 2019 and April 2020 the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers awarded some $3.6 billion in contracts 
for border wall construction. Specifically for fiscal year 
2021, Congress, in a bipartisan manner, by this committee 
appropriated $1.375 billion for border wall construction.
    My first question to you, General Spellmon, is for the 
border wall, how much of that $1.375 billion that was 
appropriated for fiscal year 2021 has the Department of 
Homeland Security obligated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
to award contracts for border wall construction?
    General Spellmon. Sir, I don't have that figure with me, 
but I can get that to you by the end of the day.
    Senator Hagerty. I would appreciate getting that figure. 
General, do you know now how much of that $1.375 billion has 
been awarded for border wall construction contracts?
    General Spellmon. Of the DHS (Department of Homeland 
Security) appropriation sir, specifically. No, no, sir, can get 
that to you, all those figures for you.
    Senator Hagerty. Well, if we could go to the, $4.5 billion 
that was appropriated between fiscal years 2017 and 2020, how 
much of that $4.5 billion, during that span, has been either 
paused or canceled?
    General Spellmon. Sir, if I can just--sir, let me take it 
from the top. So the total appropriation for border wall 
construction, is about on the order of $15 billion. So this was 
the DHS appropriation, which you specifically asked about, but 
it was also counter-drug funding, and then also deferred MILCON 
funding.
    Sir, we built up on the order of 455 miles with that--with 
those funds, $2 billion--a little bit more than $2 billion has 
been returned to the Department of Defense. These were MILCON 
(Military Construction) funds, sir, that were not going to be 
used on four projects. The remainder of those dollars will be 
used for termination costs. We have 20 contracts that we have 
terminated for the government's convenience, and we are in 
negotiations now with each of those 20 vendors to work through 
what those final bills will be.
    Senator Hagerty. And General, what are the grounds for the 
termination of those contracts?
    General Spellmon. So, sir, a Termination for Convenience 
clause is a standard clause in each of the government's 
contracts. So the guidance that we received from the 
administration, as you said, was to immediately pause work for 
a 60-day period while the administration considered its next 
steps. And so, sir, we are now, as I said, in the negotiation 
phase with each one of those vendors.
    Senator Hagerty. So to be clear, the administration told 
you to pause or suspend. Can you give me the exact direction 
that you received there?
    General Spellmon. So we paused all of that work. We made 
safe each of those construction sites down on the border. So 
what I mean by that, is we marked trenches where we had 
potential for people to fall. We blocked mountain roads that 
were designed for construction. We wanted to make sure that the 
public did not have access up there. We braced and secured a 
lot of steel that we had pre-positioned along the border for 
eventual placement.
    Senator Hagerty. So the funds that this committee, on a 
bipartisan basis, has appropriated have now been paused based 
on the direction that you received from the White House?
    General Spellmon. So we were paused, and then the new 
direction from the administration, and now, as I said, it was, 
we were going through a Termination for Convenience for each of 
those 20 contracts. And as I said, each one of those is a 
separate negotiation with the contractor.
    Senator Hagerty. So the decision to slow down, freeze, and 
otherwise not proceed, has been made based on guidance from the 
White House?
    General Spellmon. This is the guidance that we received 
from the administration. Yes, sir. For my case, through DoD 
(Department of Defense) and the Army.
    Senator Hagerty. Well, I will underscore the fact that this 
committee, on a bipartisan basis, has allocated these funds for 
a specific purpose. And I am very concerned about following the 
rule of law, and the possible impoundment of these funds, which 
I think you know, would be a great concern to me and every 
member of this committee. I appreciate you getting back to me 
with the information on the expenditures that you described. 
And I will yield back the rest of my time. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Heinrich.
    Senator Heinrich. I have a number of questions, but I am 
just going to take a moment to talk a little bit about that 
situation, because I have seen border wall built in some of the 
most insane and unrealistic areas where, frankly, it is the 
wrong solution and for, you know, parts of the border where a 
wall doesn't provide you any additional security because it is 
on such a steep slope in a place where it is, so easy to evade 
that the biggest thing that it actually does is create an 
obstacle for our border patrol agents to actually have 
situational awareness.
    So I would commend this administration for actually looking 
at the details of some of these issues, and making sure that we 
are actually using the right technology on a--to secure our 
border.
    With that, Mr. Pinkham, I want to ask you a little bit 
about the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Program; that 
has been around for quite a few years. It has provided 
irreplaceable data. It has been effective at recovering a 
number of endangered species. It has been effective at 
protecting existing, and future water uses, and since 2010, the 
Corps has been supporting that program allocating upwards of 
$2.5 million per fiscal year.
    However, funding was stripped in 2021 by the previous 
administration. I want to acknowledge, and I want to thank this 
administration for restoring funding in the fiscal year 2022 
budget. And just ask you how we can work together to identify a 
more secure and sustainable funding source for this program so 
that we don't find ourselves in the same position in the 
future.
    Mr. Pinkham. Senator Heinrich, thank you for bringing that 
to my attention. I would like to spend more time learning about 
the project too, and making sure that we meet our ESA 
commitments that have been laid out there, so that we can move 
these pieces towards recovery. So I look forward to working 
with you on a solution.
    Senator Heinrich. We will engage with you on that. And 
credit where credit is due, this is really a work that, Senator 
Domenici and Senator Bingaman started a very effective program 
with a lot of collaboration, and we want to continue that. The 
Tribal partnership program is the only Corps authority that 
specifically targets Tribes as partners, identifying 
opportunities to work with entities that otherwise might not be 
reached.
    Continued support for this program, and the designated 
funding that it provides will allow Tribal communities 
throughout my State and others, to effectively plan for future 
development, as well as protect their land from 
overdevelopment, from flooding. A lot of other issues that you 
are aware of, with a growing awareness of this program an 
increasing number of Tribes have begun to approach the Corps to 
participate in these studies.
    However the 2022 budget only requests $175,000 for this 
program. Can you provide any explanation for why the budget 
request is so low compared to previous years?
    Mr. Pinkham. I can't provide a specific answer to that. 
But, I recognize that you are you are stating is there is that 
growing awareness amongst Tribes and using this for doing 
assessments, some planning work, and I know we have got actual 
construction work that is going on in a Missouri River with the 
Lower Sioux Brule Tribe. So this interest is growing, and I 
think this will speak well to the collaboration between our 
agency and this Congress about what are resources that we could 
bring to bear and put to good use on the ground.
    Senator Heinrich. I do think, given the focus on 
environmental justice from this administration, that this is a 
program that bears some attention and was under-considered in 
the current budget. The last thing for you, I want to ask you a 
little bit about--or at least put on your radar screen, I 
should say. The issue of acequias in the Southwest, these are 
community irrigation systems that have been around for hundreds 
and hundreds of years.
    We have had to fight continually for them to be considered 
the water development structures that they are. Actually back 
in the 1986 the Water Resources Development Act, Congress 
declared that restoration and preservation of these engineering 
works has cultural and historic value and, authorized critical 
funding for acequia infrastructure. And I just want to ask you 
to consider what your agency's plans should be for addressing 
acequia infrastructure in 2022, and how we can work together to 
preserve these assets, because I think it is an area that has, 
not received the attention that it is due, and it is a very 
culturally central issue to the State of New Mexico.
    Mr. Pinkham. Thank you.
    Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Hoeven.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
    Mr. Pinkham, you mentioned the Innovative Financing 
program, and, my first question for you would be, would the Red 
River Valley Flood Protection Project in North Dakota and 
Minnesota be a good candidate for that innovative program?
    Mr. Pinkham. Senator Hoeven, I am not familiar with that 
project yet. Will be happy to look into it and provide you a 
response.
    Senator Hoeven. Okay. It is a public-private partnership. 
It has been authorized. The Federal share is $750 million, of 
which $360 million has already been--roughly has already--has 
been expended. And it fixes the Federal share at about 35 
percent, which is 35 percent of the project, and the locals and 
the State are picking up 65 percent, which, you know, is the 
reverse of what you usually have to pay. So it seems to me like 
it is a heck of a good deal for you, and I would sure hope you 
would look at it and, see if you can't lend some support.
    Mr. Pinkham. All right. Will do. Thank you.
    Senator Hoeven. You are willing to do that? Are you 
willing----
    Mr. Pinkham. Yes. I am willing to take a look at it, 
Senator.
    Senator Hoeven. Okay, thanks. And General--oh. The other 
one is, for Minot which had a terrible flood--Minot, North 
Dakota, had terrible flood in 2011. And there is about a $1.2 
billion project of which we are trying to get $65 million for 
one of the phases of the project. We have broken it into eight 
phases, about $65 million out of it for the Corps. Benefit-cost 
ratio is an issue, but that phase would link together about 
half of the total flood protection for the community, which is 
clearly-roughly-50,000 people.
    But also at the air force base, just north of 12,000 
people, and when that flood occurred, those people couldn't get 
to grocery stores. So there is a national security aspect to it 
in terms of addressing that benefit-cost ratio to qualify for 
funding. And I would ask that you would look at that and 
hopefully help us with it. Is that something you are willing to 
look at?
    Mr. Pinkham. Yes, Senator.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you.
    General Spellmon. Thank you. We appreciate you. Thanks for 
the work that you have done in a number of areas; thank you 
most recently for your work on the Dakota Access Pipeline, and 
for being open and willing to work with us on that. It has a 
huge impact, not only for the State of North Dakota, but for 
three affiliated Tribes. And, so I want to, again, express my 
appreciation to you and your crew for the straightforward way 
you have approached it, and been willing to work with us on it. 
Do you have a status update on the EIS and when you might 
complete EIS?
    General Spellmon. Sir, the technical work is ongoing by the 
Omaha District, as well as Tribal consultation with the--with 
the affected Tribes, and so we remain on a glide path right now 
for a March 2022 Record of Decision to complete that EIS.
    Senator Hoeven. And I also want to thank you for your work 
on the Red River Valley Flood Protection Project, for your 
willingness to come out and see it. We are making real progress 
there. The whole private sector bid is coming up here soon--or 
bid opening, I should say. As you know, that is now a $3.2 
billion project to which the State and locals have stepped up 
to cover 65 percent of it. Of the $750 million Federal 
authorization of which you have funded 360, will you commit to 
make sure that we get funding this year to do the work that is 
scheduled, so we keep this project on schedule?
    General Spellmon. So just a quick, you are aware of the 
$150 million that we did receive, that is going to funding the 
excavation for the Red River control structure, and the bulk of 
the Interstate 29 Raise. Sir, if we are offered a fiscal year 
2022 work plan, I would request $180 million to keep us on 
schedule.
    And, sir, that will fund much of the embankment work, and 
some of the mitigation contracts that follows, and that keep 
us--that sort of--that funding level would do it, would keep us 
on schedule for an operational system for a spring 2027 flood 
season.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you for your help on this multi-
State, very important flood protection project, and innovative 
public-private partnership. And as you know now, we have got 
both States on board, we have resolved the litigation. And so 
your help is really appreciated and we hope to stay on schedule 
with your help. Thank you.
    And my final question is for Mr. Palumbo. Will the Bureau 
of Reclamation continue to work with Congress and our State to 
ensure that the Northwest Area Water Supply Project is funded 
by the Federal Government as is consistent with the Dakota 
Water Resources Act?
    Mr. Palumbo. Yes, Senator, we will. We are very much 
committed to that project.
    Senator Hoeven. Okay. Again, let me express my appreciation 
with these important projects, to all three of you. Thank you.
    Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you. Are there other questions?
    Senator Hagerty. Madam Chair, if you would allow me just a 
few minutes to----
    Senator Feinstein. Yes, of course.
    Senator Hagerty [continuing]. Follow up on a couple of 
items, I very much would appreciate that.
    Senator Feinstein. Of course. Go ahead.
    Senator Hagerty. Mr. Pinkham, I would just like to bring to 
your attention the bridge failure on Interstate 40, between 
Memphis and Arkansas, connecting my State to the State of 
Arkansas, it has created an incredible emergency situation in 
my home State, as I am certain you are aware. It resulted in 
the shutdown of the Mississippi River for several days, 
hundreds of millions of dollars of commodities held up in that 
process, and has created just massive traffic problems because 
that bridge just has to be driven around and avoided.
    And May 15th I wrote a letter to President Biden asking for 
interagency cooperation to make certain that, of course, the 
coast guard that has primary jurisdiction over the waterways, 
the Department of Transportation, you know, had several 
conversations with Secretary Buttigieg on this. We are 
prioritizing this. Our State Departments of Transportation, 
both in Tennessee and Arkansas, are working on it. And I would 
be very interested to know the engagement that you have had, 
that the Corps has had on this project.
    Mr. Pinkham. Senator Hagerty, I have no personal 
engagement, but I would be happy to check with members of the 
staff.
    Senator Hagerty. If you would do that, I would appreciate 
it, Mr. Pinkham. And if you could also let me know if you have 
any sort of contingency plans put in place, or if you are 
working on contingent contingency plans, because this emergency 
situation right now may be a very long-term fix. And so 
understanding the increments to get there I think it will be 
extremely helpful.
    And I would just like to add one bit of thanks, Madam 
Chair, and this is about Chickamauga Dam. My predecessor, 
Senator Lamar Alexander, worked very hard on this. The team 
worked very hard on this for years. I went to visit the dam. 
$191 million has been committed by this subcommittee to 
complete that project. It should be completed, the team on the 
ground told me by April of 2024. It is a huge project, 
massively important, and I want to acknowledge the work of this 
subcommittee in making that happen for my State. And thanks to 
all of you for your support. Thank you very much. Thank you 
very much.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator. And we appreciate 
it.
    Senator Hagerty. Indeed. Indeed.

                          SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS

    Senator Feinstein. And thank you, our witnesses. I think 
your testimony was well received.
    And we will be in recess--or adjourned, I should say.
    [Whereupon, at 11:20 a.m., Wednesday, June 9, the 
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of 
the Chair.]


 
    ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

                              ----------                              


                        WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

                                       U.S. Senate,
           Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The subcommittee met at 10:01 a.m. in room SD-192, Dirksen 
Senate Office Building, Hon. Dianne Feinstein (chairman) 
presiding.
    Present: Senators Feinstein, Murray, Shaheen, Merkley, 
Coons, Kennedy, Hoeven, Hyde-Smith, and Hagerty.

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                        Office of the Secretary

STATEMENT OF HON. JENNIFER GRANHOLM, SECRETARY
ACCOMPANIED BY DR. CHARLES P. VERDON, ACTING UNDER SECRETARY OF ENERGY 
            FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY AND ACTING ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE 
            NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

             OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN

    Senator Feinstein. Good morning, everyone. The Subcommittee 
on Energy and Water will come to order.
    Today's hearing is going to review the fiscal year 2022 
Budget Request for the Department of Energy. And of course that 
includes the National Nuclear Security Administration as well.
    Ranking Member Kennedy and I will each have a brief 
statement, which I am in the process of making. And then we 
will recognize each Senator for an opening statement, if they 
wish to make one. We will then turn to Secretary Granholm to 
present testimony on behalf of the Department of Energy. 
Welcome, Madam Secretary. It is good to see you again.
    At the conclusion of the witness' testimony, I will 
recognize Senators for 5 minutes of questions each, and the 
usual procedure.
    Secretary Granholm, and you, Dr. Verdon, for joining us 
today, thank you again. I am particularly pleased to see the 
Secretary who got her start at the University of California, 
Berkeley, was a Golden Bear, and later returned to the school 
as a faculty member. So your California roots are there, and I 
thank you for them.
    I would like to just quickly begin by a statement--with the 
statement on the fiscal year 2022 request for the Department, 
which totals $46.2 billion. This represents a more than $4 
billion increase over 2021. And that is a lot of money. I 
applaud the administration's resolve to follow California's 
model and act aggressively to combat climate change.
    We are experiencing a climate emergency today, and 
California is on the frontline of this crisis as evidenced by 
worsening droughts and wildfires. So we need to find those 
solutions that can reverse climate change, if that is possible, 
and promptly respond to climate-related disasters.
    The budget request makes investments in the fields of basic 
research and scientific discovery. We face an increasing 
challenge from China, which is seeking to supplant the United 
States as a leader technology. And so this also must be 
addressed. This budget's investment in research and development 
includes a $414 million increase for the Office of Science to 
make certain advances in priority areas that put quantum 
information science, Exascale computing, and artificial 
intelligence, and machine learning; we should, I think, go even 
further in funding these important areas.
    I will put the remainder of my statement in the record, 
but, we would like to proceed.
    So if I can, let me welcome the witnesses. No, let me 
welcome my Ranking Member. Thank you.

                   STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY

    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair. I will try to be 
brief.
    Mr. Under Secretary; welcome Madam Secretary. Welcome. I 
don't know whether to call you Secretary, or Governor, or 
general, as in attorney general, or professor. I think I will 
stick with Secretary.
    I am not going to concentrate as much on the arithmetic 
today, because I think we all know the President, whatever 
President, submits a budget and Congress kind of does what it 
wants. I shouldn't say Congress because I don't know how the 
House works. I have learned a little bit about how the Senate 
works. Senators are like cats. They do what they want. 
Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
    But we are in the process of putting together a budget, and 
I don't think I am going out on the limb by saying it will be 
different than the President's submission. That is not personal 
to President Biden. That is always the case.
    I want to say a word about our energy policy. I know a lot 
of Departments touch on it, but I am pretty much an-all-of-the-
above-energy type guy. I believe in fossil fuels. I believe if 
we can produce wind and so more efficiently, gosh, we ought to 
pursue it. I believe in hydrogen, the potential there, or 
hydroelectric potential, and nuclear.
    And I mean it. I am kind of an all-of-the-above guy. I just 
think we ought to pursue whatever works and whatever is most 
efficient. I will just make two quick points. I get concerned 
about the administration's hostility toward fossil fuels. I do. 
I think, not all, but I think with many members of the 
administration, it is more of an emotional reaction than a 
rational reaction, in my judgment.
    As a result of natural gas, we are one of the few major 
countries that has reduced our carbon emissions. And that is 
just a fact. And we did that because of natural gas. Some 
people who believe that we need to--well, they believe we need 
to start over with our energy policy, and get rid of fossil 
fuels, and if we do that, it is going to be pretty expensive.
    And I think for a fraction of the cost, we can try to make 
our fossil fuels cleaner. And I am talking about carbon 
capture, storage, and utilization. And it makes sense to me to 
pursue that. And I think a rational person will pursue that. 
Now, somebody who sees climate change, I don't mean this in a 
pejorative sense, but somebody who sees the climate change 
issue as a religion, is probably not going to look at that. But 
I don't think that is rational.
    Point two: I think nuclear can be a part of our mix, it is 
expensive but it is clean, and it is much safer. And I hope we 
can talk about that a little bit today. I watched with 
amazement when, Mrs. Merkel in Germany, who I think has done a 
pretty good job running her country. It is not my place to say, 
but I have got an opinion like everybody else; but I looked in 
amazement when she got rid of all of her nuclear and said the 
solution to our energy needs is to buy the gas from Russia. And 
it never made sense to me. But I guess none of us are perfect.
    But I wanted to share those thoughts with you. And I hope 
we can talk about some of them today. And welcome to both of 
you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Senator Hyde-Smith, Senator Hagerty, if you would both like 
to make opening statements. And, obviously the woman first, 
please.

                 STATEMENT OF SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH

    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairman, for that 
opportunity because I would, and I will be very brief.
    Thank you to both the witnesses that are here today that 
will testify. And, Madam Secretary, as you are well aware, 
energy issues continue to dominate the national agenda. And as 
Senator Kennedy spoke, you know, it is very much talked about 
right now, and in a concerning way to me as well, but as 
appropriators, it is our responsibility to find ways to keep up 
with the world's ever-extending energy demands, and while also 
increasing our capacity, and our security here at home.
    And one way that we can expand our power capacity is to 
increase the use of nuclear energy in America, in my opinion. 
And I am proud to highlight that the Grand Gulf Nuclear Site in 
Port Gibson, Mississippi, and I hope nuclear energy will play a 
larger role as clean, efficient energy source. And I have 
always supported energy diversification, and the development of 
energy sources that will expand our supply, but Mississippi has 
a diverse energy portfolio. But I believe it is critical that 
we recognize the important role fossil fuel resources will play 
in meeting the demands of Americans.
    But fossil fuels such as coal, and offshore, and oil and 
gas, they have been a main source of power for this country. 
And it is crucial that we find new ways to increase the 
potential by making fossil fuels cleaner, as Senator Kennedy 
mentioned, and to use them, but to not eliminate them 
altogether. That is a great concern of mine. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
    Senator Hagerty, would you like to make an opening 
statement?

                   STATEMENT OF SENATOR BILL HAGERTY

    Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I appreciate 
the opportunity. Ranking Member Kennedy, thank you as well; and 
I appreciate your comments.
    I would just like to echo, Secretary Granholm, we have 
talked about this, but echo the points raised by my colleagues 
that our energy security is a critical element of our national 
security. As we have discussed before in my previous role as 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I worked very hard to get our allies 
to work with us, to be our partners in energy security. 
America's energy independence is a vital component of our 
national security. And I think that our allies benefit from our 
ability to actually export energy to them so that they are not 
reliant on countries like Russia.
    And as I mentioned to them on numerous occasions in Japan, 
we are not only talking about exporting energy, we are talking 
about exporting freedom. So the national security elements of 
this I think are critically important, and I am very dismayed 
about the posture that the administration has taken against 
fossil fuels.
    The prices at the pumps today have gone up significantly. I 
am from Tennessee. We commute in our State, and the average 
person is seeing prices at the pumps rise more than 30 percent 
since the Biden administration has come into office. This is a 
tax on our middle-class, it is a tax felt by all, and it is 
going to create great economic pain, even if it is not included 
in the CPI (Consumer Price Index), every good has got to be 
transported in America.
    This has inflationary impacts that go well beyond the 
immediate strategy, I think, to make fossil fuels less 
desirable and create an economic subsidy for alternative fuel. 
So I am for all of the above, in terms of energy strategy. I am 
pleased to be from a State like Tennessee that has a great 
background in nuclear energy. And I look forward to talking 
more about Oak Ridge National Lab when I come back to 
questions. Thank you for being here.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Senator Merkley, do you want to make an opening statement?
    Senator Merkley. No, Madam Chair. I think I am happy for us 
to proceed. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. And Senator.
    Senator Shaheen. No. I would like to talk about energy 
efficiency, which I think is one overlooked energy source, but 
I will save that for my questions. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Secretary Granholm, please make your opening statement, and 
we welcome you here.

              SUMMARY STATEMENT OF HON. JENNIFER GRANHOLM

    Secretary Granholm. Great. Thank you so much for inviting 
me to testify. Thank you to Chair Feinstein, and Ranking Member 
Kennedy, and to the other members of the subcommittee. It is 
truly an honor to serve as the 16th Secretary of the Department 
of Energy, and to make comments about the President's 2022 
budget request for the Department of Energy.
    I am very pleased to report that since January 20, we at 
the Department of Energy have taken important steps toward the 
Department's priorities. Our budget request, obviously, would 
help us to further the activities that we have already begun.
    So far we have invested $1.5 billion to strengthen our 
national security, and to accelerate progress toward a net-zero 
economy, and much of that has gone toward improving and 
deploying existing market-ready solutions, setting new goals, 
for example, to cut solar in half yet, again, adding 30 
gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. So, that is 
existing, but at the same time we are supporting breakthroughs 
in clean energy.
    So our new Energy Earthshots Initiative will set a series 
of ambitious, achievable targets for commercializing emerging 
zero-carbon technologies. The first one, Senator Kennedy, you 
will be happy to know is our Hydrogen Shot. And that is setting 
a goal of getting the cost of clean hydrogen down to $1, for 
one kilogram, in one decade.
    And I would also note that last week we announced $12 
million funding opportunity to advance direct air capture 
technologies. And yesterday we announced a new $61 million 
investment on nuclear energy, which was distributed throughout 
the country, 30 States, 99 entities got money to advance 
research in advanced nuclear technology. Both of these are 
priorities that have been outlined in the budget proposal as 
well.
    So, Chairwoman Feinstein, these droughts, and these heat 
waves, and these wildfires that are plaguing the west and 
straining our energy system, remind us yet again, of course, of 
the need to enhance our power grid and expand resiliency on 
that grid, especially to all forms of extreme weather. And that 
is why we announced in April that we are making $8.25 billion 
available in loans to improve our Nation's transmission 
systems, and of course the ransomware attacks on Colonial 
Pipeline underscores the need for investment in cyber security 
on our Nation's energy infrastructure as well.
    We are engaging with the private sector around strategies 
for hardening the critical infrastructure against ransomware, 
and these evolving 21st century threats. We are also 
strengthening our energy security through a multi-agency effort 
to bolster domestic supply chains like for lithium batteries 
that we need for storage, and for electric vehicles.
    We released a report and a series of actions on this exact 
topic a couple of weeks ago. Since January 20th, our Vehicle 
Technologies Office has already made $362 million available for 
projects that advance battery technology, and reduce emissions 
from light- and heavy-duty vehicles.
    So we are proud of our work so far. We are grateful to this 
subcommittee for making this work possible through last year's 
appropriations. And we look forward to building on the 
progress. And let me just say, we know that if Congress were to 
pass the American Jobs Plan, or an iteration thereof, we would 
be able to, exponentially, expand on that work.
    But as the Chairwoman noted, in the meantime, our budget 
request would invest $46 billion in these key priorities, 
including a 65 percent increase in our Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and a record $1.8 billion for 
our nuclear energy program, which will, of course, all help us 
to deploy clean and cheap power on a reliable and resilient 
grid.
    The budget would also support greater research in clean 
energy and carbon reduction at the national labs, and usher in 
greater diversity in the STEM (Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. And here I want to thank 
the Senate for passing the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, 
which authorizes the Department $17 billion in support of our 
efforts to keep the country competitive in a global economy.
    And that funding, coupled with our budget request, is going 
to help the Department, and our 17 national labs put America at 
the forefront of clean energy innovation worldwide. And of 
course the budget would also strengthen the Department's 
nuclear security mission. And I am so glad that Dr. Verdon is 
here to talk about that today. And our Environmental Management 
program, for which we have asked for one of the highest levels 
of annual funding, and that would facilitate progress on our 
cleanup sites.
    All told these all represent a down payment on a cleaner 
and more prosperous future, but one that will not truly be 
fulfilled without that American Jobs Plan. The infrastructure 
bill that you all are negotiating, which would position our 
country to compete in a global clean energy market, and it 
would confront the climate crisis and create millions of good-
paying jobs. And it would also, I would say build--lift up 
disadvantaged communities, including Tribal nations and 
communities of color that have been historically burdened by 
pollution.
    And I would say this, too. It would provide the 
Department--it would bolster our Department's ongoing efforts 
to provide fossil energy workers with real opportunities to 
forge careers in cleaner fossil, and clean energy. And that is 
what it means to build back better.
    So I know the request is large. We do believe the need is 
urgent. DOE (Department of Energy) will use the funding 
effectively, if appropriated, to tackle these big challenges. I 
am humbled by the opportunity to lead the Department.
    And I look forward to working with you all. And happy to 
answer any questions you may have.
    [The statement follows:]
          Prepared Statement of Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm
    Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the 
Committee, it is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the 
President's FY 2022 Budget request for the Department of Energy (``the 
Department'' or ``DOE'').
    It is a privilege to serve as the 16th Secretary of Energy and have 
the responsibility of leading the Department in delivering 
technological advancements, scientific discoveries, and advancing the 
energy, economic, and national security of the United States.
    I am proud to say we have accomplished a lot in my first few months 
at DOE.
    In addition, of course, to continuing to advance our core science 
and security missions, we have jump-started efforts to create jobs and 
build the clean energy economy of the future, an economy that works 
better for American families and an economy that works for all kinds of 
communities with jobs for all kinds of workers. We declared to the 
world that America is back at the table for climate action and followed 
it up with new funding opportunities for technologies ranging from 
carbon capture to geothermal energy to extracting critical minerals 
from coal waste. And we set ambitious new goals to cut solar costs by 
more than half and add 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. 
We will deliver these goals while addressing long-standing and 
persistent racial and environmental injustice and taking action to 
benefit disadvantaged communities.
    We announced over $1 billion in new funding opportunities, grants, 
and awards for projects with the potential to punch through obstacles 
in our way to a net-zero carbon future by 2050. These new funding 
opportunities, grants, and awards for projects include developing 
cutting-edge solar technology, improving vehicle efficiency, 
modernizing water infrastructure, and
    researching everything from microelectronics that can launch the 
next digital revolution, to powerful particle accelerators that can 
help us answer some of our biggest questions about the universe. This 
funding also included $109.5 million in funding for carbon capture, 
critical mineral recovery, and geothermal energy projects that directly 
support job creation in coal communities impacted by changes in the 
energy economy.
    We announced multiple funding opportunities that provided 
demonstration and deployment support to the sustainable transportation 
sector, totaling $224M. This includes funding for bioenergy pre-pilot 
technologies to pilot scale and/or demonstration scale projects that 
support sustainable aviation and marine fuels, CO2 
conversion, waste and underutilized carbon feedstocks. This funding 
will demonstrate efficiency improvement and emission reduction 
opportunities in medium- and heavy-duty trucks and their associated 
freight systems.
    We launched the Energy Earthshots Initiative, an all-hands-on-deck 
call for innovation, collaboration and acceleration of our clean energy 
economy by tackling the toughest remaining barriers to quickly deploy 
emerging clean energy technologies at scale. The first Earthshot 
focuses on hydrogen, sets an ambitious yet achievable cost target to 
accelerate innovations and spur demand of clean hydrogen. We also 
announced new immediate policy actions to scale up a domestic 
manufacturing supply chain for advanced battery materials and 
technologies to accelerate our efforts to decarbonize the economy.
    We kicked off a 100-day plan to address cybersecurity risks to the 
U.S. electric system. And we witnessed Perseverance roving around the 
surface of Mars, powered by tech produced in our National Labs.
    Internally, we held our very first Jobs & Justice town hall, 
spelling out what it means to center job creation and equity in all of 
our work.
    We have kept our country safe by supporting a safe, secure, and 
effective nuclear stockpile, and a continued modernization program. And 
all the while, our labs continued working toward groundbreaking 
discoveries, including in the fight against COVID-19.
    But these investments are really just a down payment on what we 
need to do as a nation. To really build an economy that positions 
American families and American communities to thrive, we need the 
resources the American Jobs Plan and the FY 2022 Budget request will 
provide to take us further.
                         the american jobs plan
    In March, President Biden released the American Jobs Plan. This 
represents the biggest investment in America since World War II and is 
a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's economy. Especially 
in our energy infrastructure and our ability to win the global energy 
market. This plan will put millions of people to work and lay the 
foundation for economic growth for decades to come.
    Globally, there is a $23 trillion market for clean energy products 
and for products that will reduce carbon pollution. This is a massive 
opportunity for this country. Other countries are seeing that 
opportunity as well, and our economic competitors are working to corner 
the market on those opportunities. The question is: Where are those 
products going to be built, and who will build them?
    Through the American Jobs Plan, our country is going to corner the 
market and lead on manufacturing these products, providing good-paying 
jobs to the American people. It's going to take a lot of work, but the 
pay-off will be worth it. It will provide millions of people in the 
United States opportunities to build clean energy technologies, energy 
products and energy infrastructure that not only will make our country 
stronger, but will allow them to support their families and strengthen 
their local economies. And we all know that, in the 21st Century, 
making sure that we have the right infrastructure is critical.
    Infrastructure is roads and bridges, it is the electrical grid that 
keeps the lights on, it is ports, airports, and trains, it is pipes 
that pump water into our homes, and it is the broadband that both 
brings the world and learning to our children and brings opportunity to 
our businesses. Infrastructure is so broad that it creates jobs in all 
pockets of America.
    I want to work with you to make these investments so that together 
we deploy the energy infrastructure that our economy needs now, while 
at the same time advancing cutting-edge clean energy technologies, 
creating millions of good-paying union clean energy jobs, and building 
an equitable clean energy future.
                   fy 2022 president's budget request
    President Biden's proposed FY 2022 Budget request for the 
Department of Energy invests $46.2 billion to advance key priorities 
including creating jobs through clean energy projects, bringing America 
to the forefront of clean energy innovation, tackling the climate 
crisis with the urgency that science demands, investing in communities 
that have been left behind, and ensuring the safety and security of the 
nuclear stockpile.
Creating Jobs through Clean Energy Projects and Energy Efficiency 
        Retrofits-
    The budget request supports the President's vision of achieving 
carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 while creating good-paying 
jobs by investing $1.9 billion in a Building Clean Energy Projects and 
Workforce Initiative at DOE. This investment will support programmatic 
infrastructure for a new energy efficiency and clean electricity 
standard, a new Build Back Better Challenge Grant competition to 
support novel State-, local-, and tribal-level approaches to clean 
energy deployment that provides benefits to marginalized and 
overburdened communities and streamlined transmission investment. These 
investments will develop and deploy technologies that will deliver a 
clean energy revolution resulting in cheap, abundant clean power 
delivered on a modern energy grid that is resilient and reliable.
Spurring Innovation in Clean Energy Technologies
    Within DOE, the budget request invests more than $8 billion for 
applied energy programs with a focus on clean energy and climate 
innovation. From investing in advanced nuclear, electric vehicles, and 
an Energy Earthshots Initiative, to funding innovative approaches to 
air conditioning and refrigeration, the FY 2022 request puts the Nation 
on a path to quadruple clean energy research in four years, emphasizing 
U.S. pre-eminence in innovating the technologies needed to tackle the 
climate crisis.
    Applied energy investments include:
  --$4.732B for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to 
        jump-start progress toward the goal of a carbon pollution-free 
        electricity sector by 2035 and net zero emissions, economy-
        wide, by no later than 2050.
  --$1.851B for the Office of Nuclear Energy, a 23% increase over FY 
        2021 funding levels, to extend the impact of research, 
        development, demonstration & deployment funding by leveraging 
        mechanisms such as competitive awards, technical assistance, 
        and programs targeted to small businesses. This enables the 
        commercialization of climate change and clean energy 
        innovations.
  --$890M for the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Research and 
        Development program to conduct research, development, and 
        demonstration projects for technologies that help to ensure 
        clean and affordable energy for all Americans; facilitate the 
        transition toward a carbon-pollution-free economy, including by 
        addressing the emissions and other environmental impacts of 
        fossil fuel; rebuild a U.S critical minerals supply chain; and 
        retain and create good paying jobs.
  --$327M for the Office of Electricity to lead the Department's 
        efforts to strengthen, transform, and improve energy 
        infrastructure so consumers have equitable access to resilient, 
        secure, and clean sources of electricity.
    The Budget also includes $201M for the Office of Cybersecurity, 
Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), which leads the 
Department's efforts to secure U.S. energy infrastructure against all 
hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cyber events and other 
disruptive events, and assist with restoration activities.
    These investments will leverage the tremendous innovation capacity 
of our 17 National Laboratories, America's universities, and 
entrepreneurs to transform our power, transportation, buildings, and 
industrial sectors to clean, emissions-free power sources and help 
achieve a net- zero emissions economy by 2050. The budget request 
advances us toward these goals by building on the basic science 
breakthroughs at our National Laboratories; and employing the resources 
that turn those science breakthroughs in energy and deployable 
technologies like those supported by the Advanced Research Projects 
Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
    Meanwhile, the Department's energy programs, which run the gamut 
from renewables to efficiency, carbon capture to hydrogen, and grid 
technology to storage are going to make it their mission to bring clean 
energy solutions to life. Building on ARPA-E's success, the budget 
request also includes funding to establish the Advanced Research 
Projects Agency for Climate (ARPA-C), to develop transformative 
solutions for the climate crisis through R&D support for high-impact 
innovative technologies to address adaptation and resilience 
challenges, as well as non-energy emissions mitigation. ARPA-C will 
work with other Agencies to lay the foundation for future climate 
change solutions across the Federal Government.
Revitalizing the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management while 
        Supporting Coal and Power Plant Communities
    The budget request supports increased funding for a revitalized 
Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management that will advance carbon 
reduction and mitigation in sectors and applications that are difficult 
to decarbonize, including the industrial sector, with technologies and 
methods such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and direct air 
capture--all while ensuring the reduction in pollution and cumulative 
impacts to overburdened communities.
    The budget request also helps DOE build the energy economy back 
better in a way that lifts up communities who have not yet seen a 
future for themselves in the energy transition and those who have just 
been left behind for far too long. This includes funding DOE's role in 
supporting the newly established Interagency Working Group on Coal and 
Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization. By supporting the 
POWER+ Initiative, DOE will help communities impacted by the energy 
transition and ensure their success. DOE programs can support fossil 
fuel workers translating their skills to new positions in various 
areas, from extracting critical minerals from coal mine sites and 
upgrading pipelines to reduce methane leakage to building carbon 
capture and hydrogen systems on existing industrial and power plant 
facilities; from building zero-emissions buses and upgrading the power 
grid to drilling for geothermal energy. Their predecessors built the 
U.S. economy of the 20th Century; they will power the economy of the 
21st Century.
    The Department will also support communities of color living with 
the toxic legacy of air pollution, those who are still paying too much 
for their energy, and who are often the first and worst impacted by the 
climate emergency. With targeted investments, DOE will help communities 
impacted by the energy sector and advance environmental justice and 
equity.
Expanding Foundational Research, Emphasizing Climate and Clean Energy 
        Science
    The budget request invests $7.4 billion, an increase of more than 
$400 million over 2021 levels, in the Office of Science to better 
understand our changing climate, identify and develop novel materials 
and concepts for clean energy technologies of the future, advance 
artificial intelligence and quantum science, as well as the world's 
most advanced computing to enhance prediction and decision-making 
across numerous environmental and scientific challenges, and of course 
to support the national research community with cutting-edge scientific 
facilities. This investment in foundational research will support 
America's first-rate scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, who 
develop and deploy technologies that improve our lives and jumpstart 
new industries.
Investing in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority 
        Serving Institutions
    The FY 2022 Budget request creates and enhances research funding 
opportunities and invests in infrastructure such as laboratory 
facilities upgrades for Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). It also 
increases resources for workforce development programs to augment 
pathways to good-paying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math 
(STEM) careers for students attending these schools. New grant awards, 
including a research center focused on climate, will expand research 
capacity, and create new opportunities at HBCUs and other MSIs. The FY 
2022 Budget request will build on the Department's existing 
relationships with HBCUs and MSIs, establish new partnerships with 
these institutions, and include them in our efforts to target 
disadvantaged communities for new clean energy investments, jobs, and 
businesses, while doubling down on our commitments to racial justice.
Cybersecurity Activities
    The FY 2022 Budget Request proposes to invest $642 million in 
cybersecurity activities, an increase of $189 million over the FY 2021 
Enacted level. This will enable the Department to make significant 
contributions toward modernizing cybersecurity defenses by protecting 
federal networks and strengthening the United States' ability to 
respond to incidents when they occur.
    The Department will be guided by the key areas, as identified in 
Executive Order 14028, which include; remove barriers to threat 
information sharing between government and the private sector; 
modernize and implement stronger cybersecurity standards; improve 
software supply chain security; improve investigative and remediation 
capabilities; and improve cybersecurity threat hunting and response 
through improved logging and data analytics.
Sustaining Investment in Environmental Cleanup
    The Office of Environmental Management (EM) supports DOE to meet 
the challenges of the Nation's Manhattan Project and Cold War legacy 
responsibilities. The FY 2022 Budget Request includes $7.6B for EM to 
continue making progress in addressing millions of gallons of liquid 
radioactive waste, thousands of tons of spent (used) nuclear fuel and 
nuclear materials, large volumes of transuranic and mixed/low-level 
waste, huge quantities of contaminated soil and water, and thousands of 
excess facilities.
    Building on past successes, the FY 2022 request supports EM as it 
enters a new era of cleanup. The request includes approximately $2.5B 
for cleanup at the Hanford site in Washington state, and supports 
continued progress to initiate tank waste treatment by the end of 2023 
through the Direct Feed Low Activity Waste approach. The request will 
also enable progress in key risk reduction activities at Hanford, 
including work to transfer radioactive capsules to dry storage and work 
to remediate contaminated soil under the 324 Building.
    The request includes $1.75B for cleanup activities at the Savannah 
River Site in South Carolina, which supports efforts to ramp up tank 
waste treatment, as well as the safe storage, stabilization and 
disposition of EM-owned nuclear materials and other risk reduction 
activities.
    At the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, integral to both 
the Department's legacy cleanup mission and ongoing national security 
work, the request would provide $437M for facility operations and 
continued infrastructure activities. The request would provide $334M 
for legacy cleanup activities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
    At the Oak Ridge site in Tennessee, the request would provide $561M 
to support slab and soil remediation activities at the East Tennessee 
Technology Park, along with work to address high-risk excess facilities 
at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
and continued efforts to disposition the remaining uranium-233 stored 
at the site, among other activities. The request also includes $381M 
for cleanup activities at the Idaho site that will complete buried 
waste exhumation and treatment of contact-handled sludge waste, ending 
a decades-long effort to treat legacy waste at the site.
Strengthening the Nation's Nuclear Security
    The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA) is responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, 
and effective nuclear weapons stockpile; reducing global nuclear 
threats; and providing the U.S. Navy's submarines and aircraft carriers 
with militarily effective nuclear propulsion. The President's FY 2022 
Budget Request of $19.7 billion, maintains the historic level of 
investments in NNSA and includes an increase of $10.8 million over the 
FY 2021 enacted level.\1\ This reflects this administration's 
commitment to maintain and modernize the nuclear stockpile through our 
life extension and alteration programs; make substantial progress on 
maintaining, repairing, and recapitalizing NNSA's deteriorating 
infrastructure; provide policy and technical leadership to address all 
aspects of the nuclear threat reduction mission; and deliver nuclear 
propulsion that meets the U.S. Navy's operational requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ The FY 2021 Enacted level does not include the mandated 
transfer of $91 million from Naval Reactors to Nuclear Energy for the 
operation of the Advanced Test Reactor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Weapons Activities
    The FY 2022 budget request for the Weapons Activities account is 
$15.5 billion, an increase of $139.3 million, or 0.9 percent, over FY 
2021. This request supports stockpile management to maintain our 
existing weapons; design and production work on five programs of 
record; production modernization; and stockpile research, technology, 
and engineering (SRT&E).
    NNSA's major stockpile modernization programs stand at different 
levels of maturity, each one responding to a different Department of 
Defense (DoD) requirement. Some programs, such as the W93/Mk7 are in 
the initial phases of feasibility and design, while others are in 
production phases, such as the B61-12 gravity bomb. Together, these 
programs bolster the United States' long-term commitments to allies and 
partners while ensuring safety and reliability. NNSA continues to focus 
on the production capabilities of nuclear weapons components critical 
to weapon performance and is requesting funds to support the urgent 
need to recapitalize plutonium pit production fabrication at Los Alamos 
and Savanah River. SRT&E covers many critical programs for the nuclear 
security enterprise that allow the nuclear deterrent to be certified 
without the need for nuclear explosive testing. Capabilities include 
the Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments (ECSE), the 
Exascale Computing Initiative (ECI), and the Inertial Confinement 
Fusion (ICF) program. Each of these are needed to support weapons 
design, warhead assessment and certification, and continued development 
of the underpinning science needed to support the nuclear stockpile 
long-term.
            Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
    NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) is critical 
to implementing the President's call to ``lock down fissile and 
radiological materials around the world.'' The FY 2022 budget request 
for the DNN account is $2.3 billion, an increase of $4.0 million, or 
0.2 percent, over the FY 2021 enacted level.\2\ DNN works worldwide 
with our partners to prevent state and non-state actors from developing 
nuclear weapons or acquiring weapons-usable nuclear or radiological 
materials, equipment, technology, and expertise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ The FY 2022 amount does not include the proposed cancellation 
of $330 million of prior year balances from the Mixed Oxide Fuel 
Fabrication Facility project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Complementing the work of DNN is the Nuclear Counterterrorism and 
Incident Response (NCTIR) Program, which includes the Emergency 
Operations and Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation subprograms. 
NCTIR provides capabilities to counter and respond to nuclear incidents 
and accidents worldwide. The FY 2022 request for NCTIR is $370.8 
million, a decrease of $6.7 million, or 1.8 percent below, the FY 2021 
enacted level.
            Naval Reactors
    The Office of Naval Reactors remains at the forefront of 
technological developments in naval nuclear propulsion, with an 
unparalleled record of over 169 million miles safely steamed on nuclear 
power and over 7,300 reactor-years of operation. The FY 2022 budget for 
Naval Reactors is $1.9 billion, an increase of $182.7 million, or 10.8 
percent, over the FY 2021 enacted level.\3\ The budget request supports 
Naval Reactors' three major projects--COLUMBIA-Class reactor plant 
development, the refueling overhaul of a research and training reactor 
in New York, and the construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling 
Facility in Idaho.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ The FY 2021 Enacted level does not include the mandated 
transfer of $91 million from Naval Reactors to Nuclear Energy for the 
operation of the Advanced Test Reactor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            NNSA Workforce
    To manage this broad portfolio, NNSA depends upon recruiting, 
training, and retaining a highly technical Federal and M&O workforce. 
The FY 2022 budget request for Federal Salaries and Expenses (FSE) is 
$464.0 million, an increase of $20.8 million, or 4.7 percent, over the 
FY 2021 enacted level.
                               conclusion
    In conclusion, I am humbled to reaffirm my commitment to lead the 
Department of Energy. I look forward to our continued partnership to 
achieve these ambitious yet necessary goals.
    Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I am happy to 
answer your questions.

    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Dr. Verdon, my understanding is that you are here today to 
answer questions. If you wish to make a brief statement, we 
will entertain that now.
    Dr. Verdon. That is okay. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Okay. Thank you very much.
    Let me then begin the questions. Madam Secretary, this 
budget puts a heavy emphasis on deployment of climate 
solutions. There is $2.5 billion or a 45 percent increase in 
funding across the Department's applied energy programs 
compared to fiscal year 2021, and a $400 million request to 
create a new office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
    Could you please explain to us, with as much detail as you 
can; how these new funding requests will translate into more 
clean energy development?
    Secretary Granholm. Sure. Thank you for the question. You 
know, we know that there are a lot of technologies that are on 
the shelf and that can be deployed. And so your question about 
a deployment is a key one, as well as demonstration. Those are 
the latter two stages, obviously, in the development of these 
clean energy technologies, and we should be really doing 
everything we can.
    So, for example, in the budget, you will see an almost 1000 
percent increase in the Federal Energy Management Program. And 
that of course helps to guide and ensure that all of our 
Federal agencies are deploying the best solutions for reducing 
our Federal carbon footprint. And that is a significant 
priority of the Biden administration, to make sure we lead by 
example, and make sure that our procurement also creates a 
market for clean energy products that are made in America. So 
that is a big example of deployment that we intend to do.
    Second, we see a significant increase as well in the 
Weatherization Assistance Program. That is a deployment 
strategy as well. We will be able to weatherize thousands more 
homes using again, we hope, products that are made in America, 
again creating markets for American businesses to be able to 
provide for weatherization of homes.
    In the budget as well, we have a component that is 
providing grants, State-based energy grants to States, and 
those energy grants will be tied, again, to making sure that 
demand is created in those States for clean energy products 
made in America, but also to help them achieve higher 
standards, whether it is on clean energy standards, or on 
building, building codes, et cetera.
    So we want to reward the States and localities for taking 
action. And that is also a deployment component that is in this 
budget. Bottom line is you will see this big plus-up in all of 
these lines. We have a whole deployment strategy for each of 
them. That is just three examples.
    Senator Feinstein. One other quick question, if I may? 
Congress included $20 million in last year's appropriations for 
consent-based siting of nuclear waste. This is something that 
concerns me a great deal. And I would like to ask if you can 
briefly elaborate on how you intend to break the stalemate on 
nuclear waste disposal, and what you plan to do in the near 
term to move that forward.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. As I know you are aware, there was 
a 2012 commission on nuclear waste, and that that Blue Ribbon 
Commission recommended a consent-based siting strategy. And we 
are beginning that process this summer, we will be issuing a 
Request for Information, obviously, the States or localities 
that are willing, because we want to work with them, who are 
willing to be able to house this waste, it will----
    Senator Feinstein. I don't mean to stop you.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Feinstein. But what I am asking for is: What is the 
administration's plan to deal with nuclear waste?
    Secretary Granholm. That is the plan is to get another 
site, not Yucca Mountain, but to get another place that is 
willing to be the home of nuclear waste. Obviously it will 
require some compensation for that local entity to be able to 
do that. There is some interest out there. We just have to make 
sure we complete this consent-based siting process and, 
hopefully, near term rather than long-term.
    Senator Feinstein. And when will that be developed into a 
proposal?
    Secretary Granholm. Well, the Requests for Information are 
going out within the next month. And so, hopefully, in the fall 
we will have a sense of what the landscape looks like, but this 
year we want to solidify the strategy.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
    Senator.
    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair. As you could 
probably guess from my opening comments, Madam Secretary, I see 
the climate as a discrete scientific issue. I think it is a 
mistake to approach it with too much emotion. Passion is good, 
but not when it interferes with your judgment. I have got a 
couple of 30,000-foot--feet questions.
    How much money in public and private dollars does the 
Department think it would take to make the world carbon 
neutral?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't have a number for that, but 
probably a lot.
    Senator Kennedy. Yes. Hundreds of trillions of dollars, do 
you think?
    Secretary Granholm. It would be a lot, for sure.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. How much money in public and private 
dollars does the Department think it would take to make the 
United States carbon neutral?
    Secretary Granholm. Again, it would be a lot.
    Senator Kennedy. Hundreds of trillions?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't know about hundreds of 
trillions, but it would be a lot of money.
    Senator Kennedy. It would be in the trillions?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Kennedy. Mid-trillions?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't know.
    [Laughter.]
    Senator Kennedy. I understand. Here is my question, to make 
the United States carbon neutral based on the administration's 
plans, I think it would be fair to say it is going to cause 
displacement, major displacement. Now, I don't use that in a 
pejorative sense. I think it is just an accurate description. 
It is going to change our economy dramatically. Many people are 
going to gain, and many people are going to lose. And that is 
what I mean by displacement.
    If we, today, spent these, to be fair, tens of trillions of 
dollars that I think many members of the administration would 
like to spend, and make the United States of American carbon 
neutral, and nobody else has our aggressive--adopts our 
aggressive approach, and they only make modest gains in 
CO2 emissions. How much is it going to lower the 
world temperature, and how much of it--how much are we going to 
reduce carbon emissions?
    Secretary Granholm. I want to say that the administration 
has a really firm commitment to communities to be able to take 
advantage of that economic opportunity and in energy that means 
the----
    Senator Kennedy. I know, Madam Secretary, forgive me for 
interrupting, but we both know--now I really want to try to 
probe your mind here--we both know this is going to cause major 
displacement, let us don't kid each other. You are not going to 
turn coal miners into coders overnight, and you are not going 
to turn fossil fuel workers into solar experts overnight, and 
there are not as many solar jobs as in oil and gas. So I don't 
want to get off into that. And I am not trying to be critical 
of the administration, but these are important questions.
    If we become carbon neutral, and we don't get cooperation 
from China and India, what have we accomplished?
    Secretary Granholm. The goal is to get cooperation from 
China and India.
    Senator Kennedy. I know, but what if they don't?
    Secretary Granholm. Well----
    Senator Kennedy. What if we go spend these tens of 
trillions of dollars and President Xi Jinping--the people of 
China are wonderful people, by the way--President Xi, lies like 
he breathes. We know that. The Communist Party, they are 
gangsters. What if they--I mean, they have probably built a 
coal power--a coal-powered power plant while you and I have 
been talking. What have we achieved?
    Secretary Granholm. The administration has a strategy to 
make sure that all of our--all of the people who have signed on 
to this Paris Agreement meet the goals that they have 
articulated. And that means working with allies, and that means 
the strategy, and amount that----
    Senator Kennedy. I get it. I get it, but I am asking a very 
practical question. My son, who I love dearly, has a strategy 
to have his dad buy him a 911 Targa Porsche. It is not going to 
happen. And I am raising a very legitimate question I think. If 
we spend these trillions of dollars, and we go through all this 
displacement, and we don't get cooperation from China and 
India, what--is the pain worth the gain? And how do we know?
    Secretary Granholm. I would say, we have a strategy to get 
those countries on board. And if we don't pursue this strategy, 
what then? Then you have climate disasters that are upon us. 
California is now--could be on fire again this summer. And if 
we don't take action, then where are we with respect to the 
other disasters? So we have to approach our allies with the 
strategy----
    Senator Kennedy. Let me ask you one last question.
    Secretary Granholm [continuing]. And do our own.
    Senator Kennedy. I get it. I get it. Yes.
    If you can indulge me, Madam Chair? If we spend all the 
money that the Biden administration wants to spend, let's take 
in its current infrastructure bill to reduce CO2 
emissions, what percentage of the increase in carbon emissions, 
worldwide, not the United States, is going to be reduced?
    Secretary Granholm. All of these countries have signed on, 
all of them have.
    Senator Kennedy. No. I am talking about--I know when you 
are trusting----
    Secretary Granholm. No, verified.
    Senator Kennedy. But I believe in metrics.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Kennedy. If you spend a lot of taxpayer dollars, 
you ought to know, first of all, what you expect to get, and 
realistically assess whether you are going to get it. I don't 
want a go to--let me ask you one last question. How come your 
budget doesn't request any funding for the Yucca Mountain 
licensing?
    Secretary Granholm. The President's--the administration 
doesn't support Yucca Mountain as a solution for nuclear waste.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
    Senator Shaheen.
    Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
    And thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here today, and 
for all of your hard work. And Dr. Verdon, we are delighted to 
have you here as well.
    As I said I really want to talk about energy efficiency, 
because I think it is the stepchild of energy use. It gets 
short shrift, and yet it is the cheapest, fastest way to deal 
with our energy needs. I was really glad to hear you talk about 
reducing the Federal carbon footprint, because the Federal 
Government is the biggest user of energy in the country. And we 
have got to do a better job.
    I would start with the Architect of the Capitol and see if 
he can't get climate controls in all of the rooms on Capitol 
Hill, because it is ridiculous that we can't control the 
temperature in the rooms, in this building, and throughout The 
Capitol. So that is just an aside.
    But one of the things that I would urge you to look at is 
the scoring for Energy Savings Performance Contracts, ESPCs. 
When I was Governor, we were able to significantly reduce the 
cost of heating our buildings and save on carbon emissions 
because we used ESPCs, and yet the way we score those here is a 
cost, not a savings. It is nuts that we don't recognize that we 
can bring in private contractors to do that and save us 
significant dollars. And yet when we do it, the scores charge 
us for that rather than looking at savings. And that is why it 
is so difficult to get done.
    But I want to go to the budget, because this budget calls 
for $16 million for building codes within the Building 
Technologies Office, and we know that our buildings use about 
40 percent of energy use in this country. Percentage-wise, that 
number is a big increase from the $10 million provided in 2021, 
but it is still a relatively small program. And when we know 
there are substantial energy savings being left on the table, 
it seems to me that that is an area that we ought to really 
take a hard look at. So can you talk about what we could do if 
we can increase that amount in terms of energy savings?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. Thanks so much for that question 
and for your leadership in this energy efficiency space. This 
is a plus-up for this, and we want to be able to take it to the 
next level with respect to not just the Federal buildings, but 
State and local buildings, and assist those State and local 
entities in how they can achieve greater efficiency with new 
building codes, upgraded building codes, which we are in the 
final process of putting out through our Building Technologies 
Office.
    But you are right that it is a drop in the bucket, and if, 
for example, we were able to achieve the kind of investment 
that is seen in the American Jobs Plan, for example, that would 
allow us to really push this much further providing incentives 
to States, to really up their game on building codes and 
allowing us to up our game on advising and giving the technical 
assistance that is necessary to all of these local units of 
government to do the same.
    And as we know, I agree with you on your ESPCs, but this 
whole thing is such a big job provider upgrading the building 
envelope footprints.
    Senator Shaheen. Absolutely.
    Secretary Granholm. A huge opportunity for putting people 
to work.
    Senator Shaheen. And as you point out, building codes are 
really a low hanging fruit that we ought to be taking a look 
at. And it is disappointing to me that we have seen efforts in 
Congress blocked, Congress after Congress, by the home builders 
who don't want to spend a small additional amount, which over 
the lifetime is going to really provide savings to consumers.
    I want to talk about appliance standards also, because the 
appliance standards program has saved consumers, tens of 
billions annually on their utility bills. By 2030, it will have 
avoided a cumulative 7.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide 
emissions. That is an amount in excess of a year's worth of 
emissions for the entire U.S. economy. So going forward, 
updating standards could save an additional 1.2 to 2.9 billion 
metric tons, and achieve cumulative utility savings of another 
1.1 trillion by 2050. That is according to the American Council 
for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
    Unfortunately we saw the previous administration did not 
keep pace with the statutory deadlines to update appliance 
standards. So can you talk about what the status is of your 
review of that, and where you expect to go to make sure we get 
back on track with respect to appliance standards?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. I agree a thousand percent on this 
as well. We have, I think, so far filed over 50 notices in the 
Federal Register of rolling back the rollbacks, essentially, 
and continuing the progress that was made. You listed a number 
of statistics in terms of savings. And for the average family, 
just on the basics, it is about $400 per year. And then you add 
another $400 perhaps for LED lighting. You can see significant 
savings from these on a very granular basis as well. We are 
completely committed to progressing significantly on the 
appliance standards issue.
    Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you. I look forward to working 
with you, and the Department on improving support for energy 
efficiency in the country.
    Secretary Granholm. Thank you.
    Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Hyde-Smith.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
    Madam Secretary, the Gulf of Mexico is one of the Nation's 
most important regions for energy resources and accounts for a 
large portion of our crude oil, our Federal, offshore, natural 
gas production. What efforts are being taken by the Department 
to advance cleaner technologies for domestic fossil fuel 
resources?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. We have a program that really 
works with the private sector to ensure that the existing 
production is both efficient and clean, as clean as it can be, 
including making sure that there is integrity at the wellbore, 
making sure that produced water is clean, et cetera. And we are 
going to--that is under our Fossil Energy Office, and we will 
continue to work with the private sector on making sure that 
that happens even as we transition to more, not just fuel 
efficient, but electric vehicles, et cetera.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you for that answer. And I am 
addressing my next question to both of the witnesses. And as I 
mentioned earlier, Mississippi is home to the largest U.S. 
nuclear power reactor, in terms of generating capacity, and 
with the administration's heavy agenda on cutting carbon 
emissions, what do you believe are the most promising nuclear 
efforts in our Nation right now?
    Secretary Granholm. First of all, I agree with everything 
that has been said about nuclear. That nuclear must be a part 
of our strategy to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and 
that we also should be doing everything we can to keep existing 
nuclear plants online. And we also need to be doing research 
into advanced nuclear demonstration projects, which we are. Our 
nuclear request in the budget is significantly more than last 
time. I want to say, it is maybe 28 percent, or something like 
that, above last year's effort, because we want to continue to 
work on these advanced nuclear designs.
    The modular reactors, the small modular reactors, as well 
as making sure that we can assist in whatever way possible to 
keep these plants online. Let me say, our budget doesn't 
subsidize existing nuclear plants that are already running, 
but, you know, if in the infrastructure package that is being 
negotiated, there is, or at least in the American Jobs Plan, 
there was a provision to help keep existing plants online, and 
as well as making sure that nuclear is part of the clean energy 
standard which would----both of which would be significantly 
for ensuring that we continued to keep the existing fleet 
operating as well as create new.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. And Dr. Verdon.
    Dr. Verdon. The Secretary covered it. There is nothing more 
to add.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
    Senator Feinstein. Senator Merkley.
    Senator Merkley. Thank you. And it is so good to have you 
here, Madam Secretary. Following up on my colleague from New 
Hampshire's point about energy efficiency, the fiscal year 2020 
Appropriations Bill required a study to lay out the investments 
needed in energy efficiency, and conservation to give us kind 
of a comprehensive view to help us guide legislation. And we 
have not received that report. The Trump administration dropped 
the ball. We have been in contact with your Department about 
it. Can you pick up that ball and, and help us get that clear 
understanding?
    Secretary Granholm. It was an energy efficiency study?
    Senator Merkley. Yes.
    Secretary Granholm. I have not--read in on it, but I will 
definitely get back to you on it.
    Senator Merkley. And conservation. Thank you.
    Secretary Granholm. And conservation.
    Senator Merkley. Second, my colleague from Louisiana talked 
about displacement. I saw displacement first-hand last year 
when we had fires sweep through the west side of the Cascades, 
and town after town was burned to the ground, and it was like 
walking in on the towns that had been firebombed in World War 
II, or something. It was just incredible. And we are seeing a 
huge impact on our rural communities from the impact on 
forests, on farming, and on fishing.
    And, so I just wanted to note that displacement is real 
right now, and not just from the fires in Oregon, but also from 
all kinds of other economic effects that are taking place, and 
more severe storms. So those costs are going to be 
extraordinary and it is only by the U.S. setting an example, 
and then working in partnership with the world that we have 
some way of turning the curve on this.
    I was very disturbed at the increasing pace of carbon 
saturation in the atmosphere. We hit a record last month of 419 
parts per million, way up from the 180 to 280 parts that 
characterized the last 800,000 years. We haven't been this 
level for 8 million years. The planet is in big trouble. I just 
want to keep emphasizing that. I know you understand that.
    Secretary Granholm. Thank you for that.
    Senator Merkley. Thank you. Turning to a piece of that 
clean electricity standard, do you think natural gas should be 
included in that standard?
    Secretary Granholm. I think that if you combined natural 
gas with carbon removal so that it really was clean and that 
you had zero carbon emissions, then it could be.
    Senator Merkley. But only under that condition?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Merkley. The condition is that it is not carbon 
capture just to redeploy in gas fields where it will leak out, 
but true absolute capture?
    Secretary Granholm. And sequestration, yes.
    Senator Merkley. Yes. Thank you. And I doubt the costs of 
that are going to be less than the costs of renewable energy 
from solar and wind, plus battery storage, if you will. So I am 
certainly hoping that we don't create some false solution, 
research on it, great, pursue it if it is economical, and it is 
truly effective. But that is my concern.
    I am excited that Oregon is pioneering the use of electric 
tractors, we have three of them in operation. I invite you to 
come out and see them, see them in operation. And I am trying 
to figure out how electricity can start to be used in places 
where diesel has been used, is another piece of this frontier 
of conversion. And can DOE support efforts like that on new 
uses of electricity?
    Secretary Granholm. Of course, a thousand percent, that is 
what we do. In fact, as I speak, I think we have a funding 
opportunity request out for off-road vehicles, tractors would 
qualify for electrification.
    Senator Merkley. I think you are going to see a request in 
that regard from my State. Turning to plastics: plastics are 
not reduced, reused, recycled; they are burned, buried, and 
borne out to sea with huge environmental consequences. Because 
plastics are primarily a stream of natural gas, because a 
natural gas system leaks enormous amounts of methane, because 
methane is an incredibly powerful global warming gas, plastics 
are a climate problem, as well as a direct problem for human 
health, and great problem for ecosystems. I just wanted to 
raise this and see if you have some thoughts on that topic.
    Secretary Granholm. We are--the administration is looking 
at this methane issue very seriously. You are probably aware 
there was a vote, and a reversal of a rule that was lessened in 
the last administration on methane. Obviously this is in the 
EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) jurisdiction in terms 
of the regulatory side. But in terms of the technology side, we 
want to be partnering to make sure that, oil and gas companies, 
one, do monitoring of methane leakage, and two, do closing of 
methane leakage. And this whole issue of methane is extremely 
high on the priority list, both of the Department of Energy, 
and of the EPA, and of the Biden administration as well. So 
stay tuned on that for more.
    Senator Merkley. Thank you very much. Because I think it is 
an under-recognized part of the challenge and is inherent in a 
system with millions of miles of joints in pipes, as well as 
abandoned wells, the leak never properly sealed, and so forth. 
And I know the administration is working on that. So thank you.
    I will just close by shifting to nuclear weapons. People 
forget that nuclear weapons are a huge part of energy 
portfolio. And we haven't had the nuclear evaluation, the 
Nuclear Posture Review, yet. But the administration has put 
forward in its budget funding for the W76 low-yield warhead, a 
warhead President Biden called a bad idea because of its impact 
on potential nuclear war.
    And also on the B83 mega weapon, if you will, and we are 
not talking about small dollars, we are talking about the 
administration proposing $100 million to fund the program. I 
hope that many of these projects, which seemed to have, kind of 
a nuclear industrial complex momentum, get evaluated very, very 
carefully, both because of their costs, and because of their 
risk.
    Secretary Granholm. Well, clearly then, because as you have 
noted, the Nuclear Posture Review is just starting. That will 
be looked at, they will be looked at, but I am wondering if Dr. 
Verdon has any follow-up on the two specific programs that you 
mentioned.
    Dr. Verdon. Yes, both programs will be looked at for a 
posture review, but right now we had to put forward----
    Secretary Granholm. You have to turn on your mic, I think.
    Dr. Verdon. Is it on?
    Secretary Granholm. There you go.
    Dr. Verdon. Both will be looked at as part of the posture 
review, and we put forward the budget that was required by the 
current program or record, to support the weapons that the 
STRATCOM commander identified were necessary. So that is why, 
you know, they are in the budget right now, but they will be 
examined. The whole portfolio will be looked at.
    Senator Merkley. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. I believe the next few names, based on 
arrival, Senators Hagerty, Coons, Murray, and probably there is 
more.
    But Senator Hagerty.
    Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Madam Chair. And again, thank 
you Under Secretary Verdon, and Secretary Granholm. I 
appreciate your being here today.
    As I mentioned in my opening remarks, I would like to turn 
our conversation Oak Ridge National Lab, which is the largest 
multipurpose energy and research laboratory that the Department 
of Energy supports. It is a true gem of Tennessee, $5.6 billion 
of economic impact every year is the estimate, and some 34,000 
jobs are supported by Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee, 
touching 50 of the 95 counties in my State.
    So it has an incredible economic impact. And I think a 
tremendous impact on advancing our Nation in terms of basic 
research. Beyond the great work that happens in Tennessee on 
nuclear energy, which I look forward to working with you on, I 
would like to talk for a moment about supercomputing.
    And one of the critical missions of Oak Ridge National Lab 
is the Summit supercomputer. It is the second fastest 
supercomputer in the world. And I am very pleased at Oak Ridge 
is going to unveil this year, an exascale computer called 
Frontier, which will be the fastest in the world, right in my 
home State of Tennessee.
    And we have talked about this before Madam Secretary, but I 
would like to join with my colleagues, Senator Blackburn and 
Congressman Fleischmann, to invite you to come and visit us at 
Oak Ridge National Lab, to see what is happening there, and to 
deepen our working relationships so we can continue to make 
these advances. So I hope you will be able to find time in your 
schedule soon to join us there.
    Secretary Granholm. I would very much like to do that, 
especially with the unveiling of the exascale computer. And I 
know that that is scheduled for early fall, and I am excited 
about seeing the incredible complex that is there.
    Senator Hagerty. Well today the fastest computer in the 
world is in Japan, and I have a fondness for that nation, but 
also a highly competitive nature. So I am delighted that we are 
going to retake the high ground on this, and given where the 
world is headed in computing, I think it is more than fitting 
that we be a leader in the world, and that Tennessee be at the 
forefront there.
    Speaking of Tennessee, I would like to share with you some 
insights from my predecessor, Senator Lamar Alexander, I know a 
good friend of the Chair, and many people on this committee. He 
has talked with me at length about what he has called the Oak 
Ridge Corridor. It is a way to capture the tremendous brain 
power that exists in Oak Ridge and the surrounding area.
    In fact, when you land at the Knoxville Airport near Oak 
Ridge, it welcomes you as the gateway to the Smokey's and to 
the Oak Ridge Corridor. It is something I think that we should 
market as an innovation hub. We have such incredible 
technologies. We draw from the Federal Government, we draw from 
my alma mater, Vanderbilt University, from the University of 
Tennessee, from the Tennessee Valley Authority, State and 
private industry.
    What I would like to ask you, is what role you see, 
Secretary Granholm, the Department playing as we recreate 
innovation hubs like the Oak Ridge Corridor, in a way that will 
support economic growth in underserved communities?
    Secretary Granholm. That is a great question. In fact, I 
was just on call with all of the lab directors yesterday, on 
this very subject.
    Senator Hagerty. Perfect.
    Secretary Granholm. Is how the labs--and some are doing 
more of this, and some are working on it. But how the labs can 
really connect, whether it is--you have talked about this as 
being a geographic hub, there may be some communities that are 
slightly outside of the immediate adjacency that are also 
underserved that could benefit.
    So one of it, one strategy of course, involves workforce 
development. A lot of these labs are looking to develop that 
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) 
pipeline and really want to be in the community to talk about 
the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math, 
both, you know, starting in high school, through college, 
partnering with local colleges and certainly partnering with 
the universities that are already there.
    So pipeline issues are one, economic development, 
technology transfer from the labs to--you know, to perhaps sort 
of technology hubs that are related to lab, but could be 
commercial--using products that could be commercialized outside 
of the lab. So we have a fantastic new leader of our Office of 
Technology Transfer, who is really focused on what are those 
opportunities to create, perhaps, incubators, either inside the 
lab structure or outside in adjacency, to be able to create a 
whole cluster of dynamic innovation, creating an innovation hub 
in an area that may be seen as often cloistered because it is 
inside of, perhaps, fencing, et cetera.
    Senator Hagerty. Well, may I extend our invitation to your 
head of Office of Technology Transfer to join us as well?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Hagerty. Because we are working very hard in 
Tennessee to try to create just that type of innovation hub.
    Secretary Granholm. Oh.
    Senator Hagerty. Bringing the private sector together, 
transferring technology more efficiently. It is hard to do, and 
it always has been hard to do, but if we can find ways to make 
it more efficient, more effective, I think it has a great, 
great potential in terms of leveraging the massive investment 
we are making in basic research and translating that into 
applied results that can make a real difference for our economy 
and keep America at the forefront of innovation.
    Secretary Granholm. So, with your permission, I will have 
her reach out to your office to do a briefing and discussion 
with you.
    Senator Hagerty. Perfect.
    Secretary Granholm. Her name is Vanessa Chin.
    Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Madam Secretary.
    Secretary Granholm. All right. Thank you.
    Senator Hagerty. Thank you. Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Senator Murray.
    Senator Murray. Thank you very much, Chairman Feinstein. 
Good to see you, thank you for being here today.
    Secretary Granholm, let me start with, no surprise to you, 
the Hanford Site in Central Washington. As you know, the 
Federal Government has both a legal and a moral obligation to 
clean up the Hanford Site, and to work in partnership, of 
course, with my State of Washington in doing so.
    I was really pleased to see this year's request, which is a 
rejection of some of the dangerous cuts that were proposed in 
the last administration. And I think this year's request is, is 
much more realistic and closer to current year enacted levels. 
So thank you.
    But that being said, there is a laundry list of projects to 
be done at RL (Richland Operations Office) and ORP (Office of 
River Protection), not to mention the Tri-Party Agreement 
milestones already in place that require substantial funding 
and prudent financial stewardship. I remain concerned about the 
long-term projections for this site. A 2019 DOE report 
estimated that the lifecycle cleanup costs could be up to $677 
billion. And the work would not be completed until 2078. If 
those numbers are accurate, it would mean an average annual 
appropriation over $11 billion a year for the next 57 years. 
That is a long ways off the roughly $2.5 billion is funded out 
right now.
    Do you have any thoughts for us on, if there are 
opportunities to bring down these lifecycle costs while still 
safely, and effectively, and in compliance with the Tri-Party 
Agreement, and other legal requirements, to completing this 
cleanup?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. This is a great question because, 
obviously, as we progress in our research and development, new 
strategies become available that we might not know of right 
now. There is a lot of being done at the labs, as I am sure you 
are aware, on how to best contain, how to reduce, how to 
mitigate, et cetera. And we are looking at that all the time.
    Right now I don't have the silver bullet that would bring 
it, you know, down to a much lower funding level at a much 
shorter time. What I can tell you is that we--and I appreciate 
you acknowledging that this is in fact the highest amount we 
have ever asked for cleanup at Hanford, but we have got a lot 
of work to do. I am glad we have been able to achieve some 
milestones. I look forward to coming to celebrate some of those 
milestones.
    Senator Murray. Great.
    Secretary Granholm. But milestones are just that. It is not 
the end goal. And so it is our desire as well to accelerate. It 
is our desire to find solutions that are less costly, but also 
safe. The point is we will continue to work with you and the 
community, which is really important to us that we do it in 
partnership and not in opposition with the community so that we 
can achieve our mutual goals.
    Senator Murray. Well, thank you for that. And of course we 
will be working with you on that goal. Let me turn to a related 
Hanford question. The payment in lieu of taxes, PILT: This 
year's request specifically propose to eliminate PILT funding, 
and just for the Hanford and Savannah River DOE sites. PILT 
funding is intended to compensate local governments for taxes 
they cannot collect because the land is Federal property. And 
they use that money to support their schools, and their 
hospitals, their libraries, emergency services, things like 
that.
    I have heard a lot of great things about your, and the 
Department's support for communities adjacent to DOE sites, so 
that was really surprising to me, and just not acceptable. PILT 
funding has long been an issue here, and I want to be clear, it 
cannot be eliminated or cut back in any way. The Tri-Cities 
really rely on that funding, and they are owed this funding, as 
a result of the sacrifices and commitments that community made 
during World War II, it is simply not their fault that hundreds 
and hundreds of square miles in Washington State are not 
taxable, lowering their ability to fund basic services.
    So can you explain to me what DOE's rationale for proposing 
to eliminate PILT payments, and why were Hanford and Savannah 
River specifically targeted?
    Secretary Granholm. I would say that, I know that 
historically the Department presents a budget that doesn't 
include PILT, and that Congress, that your leadership insists 
that it is included. And all I want to say is, I look forward 
to working with you on that.
    Senator Murray. Okay. And we would like to see it in the 
budget.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Murray. Let me just finish by saying, I really want 
to thank you for spending some time with Pacific Northwest 
National Lab during your virtual visit.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Murray. I hope you can come and visit in person 
someday. They are really a leader in climate science, and I was 
pleased to see the robust funding increases to the Biological 
and Environmental Research Program. As well as the--final year 
funding for the Grid Storage Launchpad. They are a leader 
nationally in the fight against climate change, and I really 
look forward to working with you on that. So thank you for 
that.
    Secretary Granholm. Okay. Thank you.
    Senator Murray. And Senator Coons, thank you for graciously 
allowing me to go ahead of you. Thank you.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Coons.
    Senator Coons. I believe it is Senator Hoeven's turn.
    Senator Feinstein. Yes. Senator Coons.
    Senator Coons. Fine. Senator Hoeven, thank you. I am happy 
to take the opportunity. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Feinstein, and absentia Ranking Member Kennedy. 
Thank you, Senator Granholm, and Dr. Verdon for testifying.
    And Madam Secretary, it is great to be with you in person. 
And I am so grateful for the job you have been doing as part of 
the Jobs Cabinet. Helping the American people understand the 
connection between combating climate and creating good, high-
paying jobs.
    I enthusiastically support the President's vision, 
particularly with regards to the Department's budget and look 
forward to making sure that it is adequately funded to meet the 
challenges of this century. Just a few things I might, first on 
carbon capture utilization and storage. I was encouraged to see 
a revitalized Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 
CCUS, as a critical part of our strategy for moving forward.
    I have a bill with Senator Cassidy, the SCALE act, which 
would support wide-scale CCUS deployment by connecting sites of 
carbon dioxide capture to places where it can be stored and it 
would create thousands of jobs. Could you briefly discuss: the 
importance of carbon dioxide, transport, and storage 
infrastructure for both meeting our climate and job creation 
goal?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. Thank you for asking this because 
I think it is--I agree with you. It is very important. It is 
important for the U.S., and I would say it is important around 
the globe. There is a lot of our allies across the world who 
want to know how they can take this kind of technology and 
affordably use it.
    So it is one of the reasons why the American Jobs Plan had 
in it these 10 projects, demonstration projects, for carbon 
capture use and sequestration, because the point is you can use 
it on a variety of different carbon sources, whether it is 
heavy industry, whether it is power plants. And we want to be 
able to show that it can be done, that it can be taken to 
scale, that it is affordable, and that it solves the problem.
    So, thank you for your leadership in it. Our Fossil Energy 
and Carbon Management Office currently has five demonstration 
projects running; one of them, Project Tundra, one of them--we 
want to make sure that we continue to demonstrate that ability. 
The five is great, but we need more to be able to take this 
to--and we need it quickly. We need to, because these are big 
projects.
    And let me just say one other thing is, American Jobs Plan 
is called ``Jobs Plan'' for a reason, which is that this kind 
of technology, especially with the pipelines that need to be 
installed, et cetera, is a huge job creator. So it is a win-
win, and it makes sure that fossil communities are not left 
behind.
    Senator Coons. Senator Cassidy had an interesting 
perspective on it. He said: I have got lots of folks in 
Louisiana today working on building and maintaining and 
servicing pipelines that pull things out of the ground and put 
them into our economy. Why can't the same folks have jobs 
building and maintaining and servicing pipelines that take 
carbon dioxide and put it back out, under the ground and stored 
permanently? A simple, but powerful insight I think.
    Let us move towards one of the things that I think is a key 
component of a clean energy economy, hydrogen. The Department 
recently announced its Hydrogen Shot Initiative to bring down 
the cost of clean hydrogen. You traveled to Texas to visit an 
Air Liquide facility there. Their, I would say preeminent 
research facility in North America happens to be in Newark, 
Delaware. We would love to have you come visit there as well. 
And Air Liquide is teaming up with Bloom Energy and Chemours in 
Delaware, to look at the future of clean hydrogen. Could you 
just talk about your vision for the role of hydrogen, 
particularly in decarbonizing the hard to abate sectors, like 
industry and transportation?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. I can't emphasize this enough, is 
that this technology is a technology that can be the game 
changer for the toughest areas, but also generally, I mean, we 
want to be able to, for example, right now we can't export 
renewable energy. We have to use it here. But clean hydrogen 
could do that. It could convert hydrogen into green ammonia, 
and be able to transport it. And the ammonia distribution 
system globally is already in place.
    So this is another reason why all of these other countries, 
I mean, if Senator Hagerty were here, he would know Japan, for 
example, shutting down their nuclear facilities, they have no--
they don't have a whole lot of options. And so they are super-
interested in hydrogen. We have been talking to Australia who 
is also doing a lot of experimentation in hydrogen. The 
American Jobs Plan has 15 demonstration projects that it would 
fund in clean hydrogen, that is very exciting, whether it is 
green, or blue, and the blue ends up being sequestered--the 
CO2 ends up being sequestered from natural gas.
    I am just--there is a huge opportunity here for us to 
create jobs and to lead the world in the solution that could 
actually allow all of these countries, especially those who 
have significant fossil communities, to be able to be net 
carbon zero.
    Senator Coons. Well, in terms of net carbon zero base load, 
I think next-generation nuclear is also an important part of 
the suite of approaches we need to take. Right at the end of 
last year, something big happened in energy policy. It didn't 
get much notice because there were other things going on with 
the election, but Chair Murkowski, Ranking Member Manchin, at 
the time of the Energy Committee, finally got passed the Energy 
Act of 2020. It had a lot of different bills in it.
    One of them that I had worked on for years, was a 
Modernization of the Weatherization Assistance Program, another 
was the Nuclear Energy Renewal Act, to sustain our nuclear 
fleet, but also invest in R&D (research & development) and 
advanced nuclear. Could you just discuss briefly the role of 
nuclear energy in ensuring the balance of decarbonizing base 
load power generation and our economy as a whole, and ensuring 
energy security for the United States?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. We have to do--I was mentioning 
before you arrived, I think Senator Hyde-Smith had a similar 
kind of question, which was, we have got to do both research 
and development on next generation, nuclear, advanced, modular, 
et cetera. And we have to make sure that we keep our existing 
fleet operating, because the existing fleet provides such a 
significant part of our clean electricity today. And if we take 
it offline, it is going to be that much more difficult to get 
to the goals of net-zero, as well as 100 percent clean 
electricity.
    In the American Jobs Plan, as you are aware, the clean 
energy standard includes nuclear. And that would be one way to 
help the existing fleets maintain their status. A second thing 
would be to help to subsidize those who are ready to go offline 
so that they stay up. Those are both important, so both 
research for the future, as well as helping the existing 
nuclear fleet. Those are both really important aspects of what 
the clean energy mix must entail.
    Senator Coons. Well, and our national labs are an 
absolutely critical part of doing this R&D. I look forward to 
supporting the appropriations request for the national labs, 
both in nuclear technology, and in clean energy technology, 
more broadly.
    I appreciate the indulgence of the chair, and, very much 
look forward to working with you both. Thank you, Madam 
Secretary.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Senator.
    Senator Hoeven.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you. Madam Chair. And I am actually, 
Madam Secretary, going to pick up right where Senator Coons 
left off, and that is referencing the Energy Act of 2020. And 
you actually have touched on some of the things in your 
responses to him that I wanted to go into for just a minute.
    That legislation actually included six carbon capture 
projects, including two retrofits of coal-fired plants. You 
have mentioned one, which is the Minnkota Plant and Project 
Tundra, where DOE has already provided, I think, more than $43 
million. The company has put in a lot, and the State of North 
Dakota has put a lot of money in, and they are effectively 
moving forward on large scale carbon capture.
    And so I just want to ask if you support those carbon 
capture demonstration projects, and are committed to seeing 
them through, because it is a huge endeavor, a huge 
undertaking. And in fact, Matt McLennan, the CEO of the 
company, will be here today, because in our Energy Subcommittee 
of the full Energy Committee, he is testifying on carbon 
capture and talking about Project Tundra. Of course, that is 
one of the projects we want to take and show you, you know, in 
August when you come to visit.
    Secretary Granholm. Great, great. Well, yes, I support 
that. The CarbonSAFE (Carbon Storage Assurance Facility 
Enterprise), which is where the demonstration projects come out 
of----
    Senator Hoeven. Yes.
    Secretary Granholm [continuing]. For Fossil Energy and 
Carbon Management, we are asking for a 48 percent increase in 
that budget to be able to continue and further those 
demonstration projects, and add to them. But I will say, you 
know, if we were able to get this funding in the infrastructure 
American Jobs Plan, that there would be a significant more 
funding for carbon capture, which I fully support. And I think 
would be enormously helpful to getting, not just to net-zero, 
but to also making sure that these communities are able to 
continue to function.
    Senator Hoeven. Right. And the key pieces there are, I 
mean, it is the frontend investment, like we are talking with 
CarbonSafe, and Project Tundra, those kinds of things, it is 
the loan guarantees, which you have, and also Rural Utility 
Services have, and then it is enhancements to 45Q and 48A.
    Secretary Granholm. Right.
    Senator Hoeven. So I agree that, very much, we can include 
those things in our infrastructure/energy packages, I think 
that really advances the ball on carbon capture.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. I agree.
    Senator Hoeven. The other thing is, that you answered, 
could you just talked about, is the CO2. So we have 
projects like we are talking about fossil-based projects, but 
we also have biofuels projects that are stripping 
CO2, and they need these pipelines. For example, in 
North Dakota, we can put the CO2 down hole, but in 
Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, you can't because you don't have 
the EPA regulatory regime in place. So they want to build 
pipelines to bring CO2 up to North Dakota, and put 
it down hole. So how do we get more of these pipelines built? 
You know how challenging that is to move CO2.
    Secretary Granholm. Another opportunity to make sure that 
the pipelines for CO2, and I would say pipelines 
eventually for hydrogen are in the infrastructure American Jobs 
Plan that you are negotiating, that too is a huge jobs creator, 
that too provides solutions, and you--obviously North Dakota 
has a unique geology that is----
    Senator Hoeven. Right.
    Senator Hoeven [continuing]. Positioned to be able to take 
a lot of that. And I think it is a big opportunity for the 
State. It is a big opportunity for employment as well.
    Senator Hoeven. Right. I mean, you need the geology.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Hoeven. You need to have the regulatory and legal 
regime in place. So we are going to have to have those 
pipelines to move that, the CO2.
    Secretary Granholm. Right.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Madam Secretary.
    And then, Dr. Verdon, as far as the, W80-4, and also the 
W87, one of which goes on the LRSO (Long Range Standoff), the 
other which goes on the new GBSD (Ground Based Strategic 
Deterrent). Update me on the schedules. And are you going to be 
able to--are the labs going to be able to keep up? Because, as 
you know, they are developing the rocket systems, the LRSO is 
progressing quite well. Are you going to be on track with the 
warhead piece?
    Dr. Verdon. Right now we are on track with both the W80-4, 
and the W87-1. But we do recognize that we have COVID impacts 
on the 80-4 that we are working with the Air Force, so there is 
no near-term impacts with that, but there could be a schedule 
adjustment, but we have a lot of margin if we have to do that. 
But we haven't reached a final conclusion yet. We are still 
working with external vendors who have--we stay in constant 
contact with about potential delays, and due to COVID issues in 
our institutions, as well as our own. So we are studying that. 
No final answer. But right now everything is on target, and we 
are supporting the services as required.
    Senator Hoeven. Both for the W80-4 and the W87-1?
    Dr. Verdon. For both systems. Yes.
    Senator Hoeven. Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. 
Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much. I believe we have 
another round coming. So, Madam Secretary, please bear with us. 
I wanted to talk with you just a little bit about the 
increasing temperatures, the intense heat waves, and western 
wildfires, really becoming very, very dangerous. Last year in 
California, 4 million acres burned, 10,000 structures, 5,000 of 
them homes, burned. And one out of ten wildfire ignitions in 
our State is related to energy equipment. A lot of which, as we 
know, is decades and decades old, and it is big State, 40 
million people, big geography.
    What role do you see micro grids, renewables, and 
distributed power in making power grids more resilient? And I 
don't know what we do about those things that hit them and 
spark fires. And maybe you have some thoughts on that too.
    Secretary Granholm. Well, thank you for that. I think 
microgrids are an important piece of resilience. And so making 
sure that we have them, especially in areas where we know we 
continually see problems with the major distributed system--the 
major system, is important. And our Grid Modernization 
Initiative, a funding that you all have appropriated for that, 
microgrids are a piece of what we are doing. I also think that 
it is really important in States like California, States that 
are above sea level, that we consider undergrounding these 
wires.
    Senator Feinstein. I am sorry. I missed it. That we 
consider a?
    Secretary Granholm. Undergrounding the wires to the extent 
possible. It is expensive to underground transmission wires. 
However, other countries are doing it, we are doing research on 
it. And we are also doing research on how best to identify, in 
these old grids, where the weaknesses are.
    Senator Feinstein. So you think--if we could just have a 
bit of a back and forth.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Feinstein. If you think a State as big as 
California, geographically, as well as population, can have a 
sufficient new grid structure, I don't see that happening 
statewide for a long time. There may be some of it. So what I 
am looking for are those things that can solve these problems, 
and really prevent fire from happening, if at all possible.
    Secretary Granholm. I agree a hundred percent. And I think 
that microgrids are one piece in some areas. Obviously there is 
not a one-size-fits-all solution for a State like California 
that is so diverse, but you do--you know where the pockets of 
intense fire problem are. And so in those areas, if we could 
look at solutions like microgrids, like undergrounding the 
wires, so that they are not exposed to create those sparks and 
that danger, the solutions like the--there are AI (Artificial 
Intelligence) drones that can identify where the weak spots are 
on the grid that are the most, have the most fire danger. These 
are all things that our Office of Electricity and our labs are 
working on, but we need more investment to make sure that this 
grid is resilient, and particularly targeted to areas where we 
know we have great problems.
    Louisiana, we have got a different kind of problem, right? 
We need to make the grid resilient from hurricanes, we need to 
make the grid resilient in both places. And in Louisiana, in 
New Orleans it is below sea level. So you wouldn't consider 
undergrounding, so a different kind of solution. But the bottom 
line is in the bill that is being negotiated, the American Jobs 
Plan, or the Energy Infrastructure Plan, there is a component 
that has a grid deployment authority that would be under the 
Department of Energy, where we could really target solutions in 
a granular way to areas where we know we have the biggest 
problems, both transmission, capacity, resilience, and I would 
say cyber issues as well. All of them could be, if we 
centralized, at least how these decisions are being made and 
the technologies to help to address them.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, would you be willing to let some 
of your people take a look at our State?
    Secretary Granholm. Oh, yes.
    Senator Feinstein. In terms of the grid structure.
    Secretary Granholm. Absolutely.
    Senator Feinstein. And make some recommendations. Now 
obviously the big problem is cost, and how do you redo an old 
structure that is huge? And I would certainly welcome any help 
that we could get from the Federal Government by way of advice 
and consultation. And so I am taking the opportunity of this 
hearing just to ask if you would be willing to take a look at 
it.
    Secretary Granholm. Of course, absolutely.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate 
that?
    Senator.
    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair. Put that up real 
quick.
    Madam Secretary, does the administration support, if you 
know, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. We have got a lot of vacancies at 
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And if you look at the 
website, I know this isn't your--you just got there, but the 
website says this page was last updated on December 15, 2017.
    Secretary Granholm. Oh.
    Senator Kennedy. Could you take a look at that for me?
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. I certainly will.
    Senator Kennedy. My understanding is that they are--they 
are understaffed there. I have watched you, Madam Secretary, 
for years on television, before you became Secretary, and you 
are very intelligent. And even though I don't always agree with 
you, you make very cogent arguments. Does your proposed budget 
include money for geoengineering?
    Secretary Granholm. No.
    Senator Kennedy. How come?
    Secretary Granholm. Well, it has not been a solution that 
we--I am not--I don't think it does. No? No, it does not. I 
think we want to address and mitigate as best we can, adapt 
where we can but we don't have geoengineering as part of our 
budget.
    Senator Kennedy. But if there is--I mean, geoengineering, 
my understanding of it, it is global cooling. There are things 
we can do to cool the earth that had--based on science. And 
cloud whitening, for example, that is just one--I mean, it 
would just seem to me, and there is a whole science out there. 
There is a lot of private dollars in R&D being spent on 
geoengineering. And if there is a way to cool the earth 
without, let's say, destroying the fossil fuel industry, why 
wouldn't we want to pursue that, if the objective is to reduce 
temperatures?
    Secretary Granholm. We are interested in all kinds of 
technologies to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and 
to reduce our warming. But I will say, and I wanted to say this 
to you when you had the first engagement with me, that this 
administration is interested in carbon capture use and 
sequestration, is interested in hydrogen, is interested in 
direct air capture, and is interested in controlling or 
managing the emissions off of fossil fuels. So I just want you 
to understand that we are there with you on that.
    Senator Kennedy. Yes. And I know, you are being truthful 
and accurate, but there are a lot of members of the 
administration, I think, that don't see the climate as a 
discrete scientific problem, they see it as a religion, and 
they see it as a vehicle through which they can remake American 
society. And I think they are approaching the issue with more 
zeal than wisdom.
    I believe in metrics, I believe in the prudent allocation 
of scarce resources. You know what I am talking about. 
Governors have to balance their budgets. And I believe in 
metrics, and if we are going to spend, I don't know how many 
squillion dollars the President lately wants to spend on--that 
we don't have even 5 percent of--on the environment. And I 
believe in the environment, we all do. We all want clean air 
and bright water, but at some point you have to ask--you have 
to judge the expenditure of taxpayer dollars with metrics.
    And what I worry about is that we are going to turn the 
American economy upside down. We are going to turn a lot of 
American lives upside down. We are going to make them a bunch 
of promises, just like we made them with--made them promises 
with globalization. ``Don't worry. Your life will be better.'' 
And think about that when you are in the unemployment line. 
That is what we tell a lot of Americans.
    That we are going to do this without a big picture in terms 
of where we are going to end up. Toward that end, let me ask 
you this question. If you know, and maybe the Under Secretary 
knows if you don't, because I know you can't know everything. 
Tell me five concrete steps that India is taking today to 
reduce its CO2 emissions.
    Secretary Granholm. Well, I know--I mean, India is looking 
at wind, looking at solar, looking at hydrogen, looking at 
carbon capture, and is trying to replace its coal with natural 
gas.
    Senator Kennedy. I know they are looking at all that stuff. 
President Xi, says they are looking at it too, as he 
continually builds----
    Secretary Granholm. I know they are deploying--excuse me 
for a minute. I don't mean to interrupt you.
    Senator Kennedy. That is okay.
    Secretary Granholm. But they are deploying those methods, 
including distributed strategies, like we were discussing where 
they don't have to have the grid, but some kind of distributed 
microgrid.
    Senator Kennedy. How much money did Modi spend last year in 
India?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't know.
    Senator Kennedy. To reduce CO2 emissions?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't know, sir. I don't know the 
answer to that.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. It was under a billion, was not it?
    Secretary Granholm. I don't know the answer.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. What you do is what you believe, 
everything else is just conversation. And, that is what worries 
me about this whole approach. Of course, President Xi, and Mr. 
Modi are going to say the right things. But you have to judge 
people by what they do. And I asked our EPA Administrator a few 
weeks--a few months ago, maybe weeks ago, time kind of runs 
together; I said, if we pass the President's infrastructure 
bill, only 5 percent of which is true traditional 
infrastructure, the rest is the Green New Deal and other 
things. How much is it going to reduce CO2 emissions 
in the world?
    And he couldn't answer that question. So we are going to 
spend, you know, how many trillions of dollars, and we don't 
know what the end game is. That is my problem.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. We spent, I believe, $90 billion 
last year, cleaning up after these extreme weather events.
    Senator Kennedy. Mm-hmm.
    Secretary Granholm. So if we don't take action, it will be 
far more expensive as these events escalate. I would also say 
that there is a $23 trillion global market for the products 
that reduce CO2 emissions, $23 trillion.
    Senator Kennedy. Right.
    Secretary Granholm. And the question is, are we going to 
take advantage of that? Can we create economic opportunity for 
the people who work in the fossil fuel industry to be able to 
create energy 2.0?
    Senator Kennedy. Yes.
    Secretary Granholm. By managing the emissions.
    Senator Kennedy. And look. You made very good points, but 
here is my point. I am going to say it again, President Biden, 
what is the latest cost of his infrastructure bill, $2.5 
trillion?
    Secretary Granholm. $1.3, I think, is what we are 
negotiating.
    Senator Kennedy. Let's call it $2 trillion, to be fair. 
President Biden says, spend $2 trillion, a big chunk of that is 
the Green New Deal, and my question is very simple: If we spend 
this money to reduce CO2 emissions, how much is 
going to be reduced worldwide? Doesn't matter in the United 
States, it matters the world wide. And we don't have an answer 
to that.
    Secretary Granholm. The entire world has signed on to the 
agreement in the----
    Senator Kennedy. The entire world is not spending $2 
trillion.
    Secretary Granholm. The entire world is spending more than 
that.
    Senator Kennedy. But the entire world is not--most of this 
is lip service. You and I both know it.
    Secretary Granholm. Well, that is not what we are seeing. I 
agree that we have to verify, and that we have to make sure 
that people are living up to their commitments. And that is 
what these agreements are all about. But I understand your 
skepticism because you have to verify.
    Senator Kennedy. Yes, ma'am. And what I have verified is, 
that we are being asked to spend $2 trillion. And the world's 
biggest emitter of CO2 is China, third biggest is 
India and their attitude seems to be: Go get them. We will hold 
your coat while you do that. Meanwhile, President Xi keeps 
building power plants fueled by coal. And he has been known to 
reside on the scarce side of being honest.
    I went way over. I am in big trouble. I am sorry.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Madam Secretary, I want to thank you for your forbearance. 
I want to just ask one thing that perhaps we might be able to 
talk about a little bit, and that is the $2.6 billion in 
funding for the ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency--
Energy) area, and included in the budget is a new request for 
another ARPA focused on climate. And it is unclear exactly how 
that would work and why it is needed. And so I just like to put 
that on your agenda. I am very interested in what the answer 
is, and if I could get that answer, I would appreciate it very 
much.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes. Just briefly, there is $200 
million in our budget for this proposed ARPA-C (Advanced 
Research Projects Agency--Climate), and $300 million in other 
agencies. There are six other agencies that would be involved. 
So it would be a cross-departmental effort, housed at DOE in 
partnership with ARPA-E, but the C part means that they would 
be looking at technologies that impact climate, that are not 
necessarily energy.
    So, for example, the items that we were discussing about 
how to identify ways to mitigate wildfires, how to make 
communities more resilient, and the technologies associated 
with that, that is what ARPA-C would be looking at, in 
partnership with ARPA-E. We want to negotiate this and work on 
it with Congress, with the Senate, and the House. And it could 
be that there is a dotted line to both, so that they work in 
tandem with one another, because obviously they are related. 
But the C part, as we are seeing on a regular basis, is really 
necessary given the increasing amount of these energy events.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, let me just say thank you for 
that. Perhaps we could meet, and with some of your staff, 
develop that a little bit further. I am very worried about what 
the weather brings for the West Coast.
    Secretary Granholm. Yes.
    Senator Feinstein. And obviously, particularly the biggest 
State there, and 40 million people, and a lot of old 
infrastructure, very little of which in this area is new, I 
find. What do we do for the future? So that is long range. And 
I would not ask you to respond to that now, but if you would 
ask your people to look at that, and if we could have a meeting 
and discuss it, I would be very grateful.
    Secretary Granholm. Great. You got it.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you. And thank you for being here; 
and your staff as well.

                     ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS

    The hearing record will remain open for 10 days. Senators 
may submit additional information or questions for the record 
within that time, if they would like. And the subcommittee 
requests that all responses to questions for the record be 
provided within 30 days of receipt.
    [The following questions were not asked at the hearing, but 
were submitted to the Department for response subsequent to the 
hearing:]
             Questions Submitted to Hon. Jennifer Granholm
              Questions Submitted by Senator John Kennedy
           renewable fuel standard//small refinery exemptions
    Question. There is growing bipartisan consensus that the Renewable 
Fuel Standard (RFS) is broken. The 2005 law mandates an increasing 
percentage of transportation fuel be renewables, but as fuel economy 
drastically improved and refiners ran into the ``blend wall'' the 
mandates became untenable.
    As part of the RFS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
assigns refiners annual quotas for ethanol they must blend into 
gasoline or diesel fuel. The businesses get tradeable credits known as 
renewable identification numbers (RINs) for each gallon of renewable 
fuel. Those that don't meet their quotas have to buy RINs from other 
parties to comply.
    Ethanol RINs alone this year have hit their highest price in 
program history nearing $2 a gallon. Gasoline across the country is 
hitting 6-year highs and this is in no small part due to the broken 
RFS.
    It is estimated the ethanol mandate is adding about 30 cents a 
gallon to the cost of gas--Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents. In fact, many 
small and independent refiners --refiners that support vital east coast 
and rural Midwest markets-- spend more on compliance and RINs credits 
than on payroll, electricity and utilities.
    What is the Department of Energy doing to address the skyrocketing 
compliance costs associated with the RFS?
    Answer. DOE supports research in the production of renewable fuels 
to lower the cost of the ethanol and biodiesel that is blended into the 
transportation fuel pool.
    Additionally, DOE consults with EPA in determining which small 
refineries qualify for hardship relief through small refinery 
exemptions (SREs). SREs can influence the Renewable Identification 
Number (RIN) price and therefore the cost of compliance for refineries.
    DOE works with EPA to provide technical input into their efforts to 
set the renewable volume obligations (RVO). Mandated renewable fuel 
blending volumes should be achievable by the refining industry and 
continue to support renewable fuel producers.
    Question. Is the Department of Energy concerned that the volatile 
RIN market is forcing the closure of refineries that are vital to 
getting fuel to markets?
    Answer. RIN price volatility adds to the difficulty refineries have 
in controlling their RIN costs. The rising price of RINs has increased 
purchase cost of RINs for both small and large refineries.
    Question. Will the Department of Energy commit to working with the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to reign in the 
cost of RINs?
    Answer. DOE is committed to working with the EPA Administrator and 
staff to use the tools we have available to ensure that the price of 
RINs is fair and equitable both to refiners and bio-fuel producers.
    The RFS allows small refineries to receive an exemption from the 
RFS, if they can prove compliance would subject them to 
disproportionate economic hardship. There is no statutory definition 
for disproportionate economic hardship, and a small refinery may apply 
for an exemption at any time. When deciding whether to grant an 
exemption, EPA is to consult with the Secretary of Energy.
    Question. Now that the Supreme Court has affirmed the fact that 
small refineries may receive extensions of their RFS exemptions even if 
their earlier exemptions had lapsed, will the Department of Energy 
commit to supporting small refineries showing hardship?
    Answer. EPA is required by the Clean Air Act, as amended, to 
consult with DOE on small refinery exemption petitions. Additionally, 
DOE was required to provide EPA a study to determine whether compliance 
with the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Program would impose a 
disproportionate economic hardship on small refineries.
    DOE prepared a February 2009 Small Refinery Exemption Study and a 
subsequent March 2011 Small Refinery Exemption Study (2011 Study), 
which is the basis for determining disproportionate economic hardship, 
as required by statute. EPA uses the DOE's findings based on the 
metrics set forth in the 2011 Study in adjudicating the small refinery 
petition. DOE is committed to continue to provide EPA the findings from 
its disproportionate economic hardship analysis, as contemplated by the 
Clean Air Act, in the future.
    Question. The hack and subsequent shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline 
highlighted the importance of regional refining capacity. A number of 
refineries have shut down over the past few years with many of those 
directly reporting compliance costs associated with the RFS as being a 
leading factor in their shuttering. Does the dwindling refinery 
capacity as a result of the RFS concern the Department of Energy?
    Answer. In January 2020, ethanol RIN prices were below 20 cents per 
RIN. By March 2021, ethanol RIN prices increased to about $2.00 per 
RIN, greatly increasing RFS compliance costs. During the COVID-19 
pandemic, refineries faced high RIN prices as well as reduced gasoline 
and diesel demands. This placed financial stress on the refining 
industry due to lower refining margins and higher than usual RFS costs.
    Question. As the average lifespan of a vehicle in the United States 
is anywhere from 13-17 years, in addition to a recent Energy 
Information Administration (EIA) report indicating a year-to-year 
gasoline reduction of 14 percent, what is the Department doing to work 
with the EPA on making sure American vehicles are protected from 
increasing renewable fuel mandates?
    Answer. DOE works with EPA on setting the renewable volume 
obligations (RVO) for the current year as well as in setting the RVO 
for future years (2023 and beyond, when Congress has not set renewable 
fuel mandates). DOE works with EPA with the aim that the RVOs and 
renewable mandates that EPA recommends are achievable by the refining 
industry, provide appropriate fuel for the Nation's transportation 
fleet, and support renewable fuel producers per the original intent of 
the statute.
                                 ______
                                 
            Questions Submitted by Senator Susan M. Collins
                             energy storage
    Question. I appreciate for the conversations we have had regarding 
the importance of energy storage research and innovation and was 
pleased to see that the Department's budget request includes funding 
for a multi-year series of competitive solicitations to conduct 
technology neutral commercial-scale energy storage demonstration 
projects.
    As you and I have previously discussed, my legislation to support 
energy storage research and development--the Better Energy Storage 
Technology, or BEST, Act--became law in December 2020 and authorized 
three commercial-scale energy storage demonstration projects. While I 
understand funding is critical to get these demonstration projects 
going, it is important that the Department has the necessary 
infrastructure to solicit proposals once the funding is available.
    What actions has the Department taken to ensure that when the 
funding is available that the energy storage demonstration projects 
will be able to get off the ground as quickly as possible?
    Answer. The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to conduct 
stakeholder outreach to better understand technology readiness and 
where energy storage demonstration projects would be most beneficial. 
These efforts have been undertaken in close collaboration with the 
Office of Electricity (OE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
(EERE), as well as other offices with a role in the demonstration and 
commercialization of energy storage. For example, DOE, via Sandia 
National Laboratories, hosted a ``Priorities and Pathways to Long-
Duration Energy Storage'' workshop on March 9-10, 2021. Via Pacific 
Northwest National Laboratory, DOE hosted an ``Energy Storage for 
Social Equity Roundtable'' on June 28-29, 2021.
    DOE has also conducted energy storage workshops with utility 
regulators, including those from New Jersey, Iowa, Utah, Maryland, 
Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the New England Conference 
of Public Utility Commissioners. In addition, on July 14, 2021, DOE 
announced the second target within DOE's Energy Earthshots Initiative, 
``Long Duration Storage Shot,'' which sets the goal to reduce grid 
storage costs by 90 percent for systems that deliver 10 or more hours 
of long duration energy storage by 2030. Finally, the fiscal year 2022 
Budget Request proposes new funding opportunities in OE, EERE, and the 
new Office of Clean Energy Demonstration.
                             cybersecurity
    Question. I appreciate your response to the letter I sent with 
Senator Risch and others regarding the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy 
Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). As you are well aware, our 
adversaries are seeking to access and undermine our critical 
infrastructure, including our electric grid. The Colonial Pipeline 
cyber-attack by Russian-based hackers was one in a serious of 
significant cyber operations against our country this year. Foreign 
cyber operations against critical infrastructure, however, have been an 
ongoing problem. Russia's cyber-attacks against Ukraine's power grid in 
2015 and 2016 are an example.
    Given the cyber-attacks that have occurred this year, what is the 
Department of Energy doing to strengthen cybersecurity through CESER 
across our country's critical energy infrastructure and national labs?
    Answer. The Department of Energy (DOE)'s fiscal year 2022 Budget 
Request proposes to invest $201 million in the Office of Cybersecurity, 
Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). As the office 
responsible for executing DOE's Sector Risk Management Agency and 
Emergency Support Function #12--Energy responsibilities, CESER works 
closely with energy sector partners and across all levels of government 
to prepare for and respond to growing and evolving cyber threats and 
attacks to U.S. energy infrastructure.
    The fiscal year 2022 Budget Request will strengthen CESER's ability 
to execute its energy and national security mission by enhancing the 
office's risk management, situational awareness and emergency response 
capabilities. Specifically, the fiscal year 2022 Budget Request will 
advance policies, technologies, and initiatives, including work with 
DOE national labs, to increase the visibility of physical and cyber 
threats in the operational technology environment, mature the 
cybersecurity supply chain, and support exercises and partnerships with 
states and other public and private sector organizations that will 
bolster the nation's energy security and resilience.
    CESER will also lead crosscutting cyber-R&D and ensure that 
cybersecurity is incorporated into the research and development 
activities for all of DOE's technology program offices.
                             offshore wind
    Question. In 2020 alone, Europe added 2,918 megawatts of offshore 
wind power, bringing their total offshore wind capacity to more than 
25,000 megawatts. By comparison, only 30 megawatts of offshore wind has 
been installed in the U.S. I am pleased the Department is making 
offshore wind development a priority, with the goal of deploying 30,000 
megawatts of offshore wind by 2030, and has already acted on this 
commitment through recent approvals for offshore wind projects located 
off the costs of New York and New Jersey.
    A world-class consortium, led by the University of Maine, is 
pioneering a new era of energy independence by harnessing powerful 
deepwater offshore winds in the U.S. through one of DOE's offshore wind 
demonstration projects. When installed, Aqua Ventus will deploy the 
nation's first floating, deepwater offshore wind turbines off the coast 
of Maine. In my state alone, the offshore wind industry has the 
potential to support an annual average of more than 2,000 jobs through 
2030.
    Given UMaine's demonstration project, I encourage the Department to 
focus on floating deepwater offshore wind turbines technology, in 
addition to conventional offshore wind.
    How is the department prioritizing the advancement of domestic, 
innovative clean energy technologies through R&D, specifically in the 
deepwater, floating offshore wind space?
    Answer. The President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request proposes an 
increase in funding level for the Wind Energy Technologies Office's 
(WETO) Offshore Wind subprogram that reflects the prioritization of 
research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) 
innovations to drive U.S. offshore installations to contribute to the 
achievement of the Administration's goals of 100 percent clean 
electricity by 2035 and a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.
    Targeted funding will support a wide range of RDD&D activities, 
specifically including a focus on:
  --Innovative offshore wind environmental and siting solutions.
  --Cost-effective offshore wind floating platform design development.
  --Domestic offshore wind advanced manufacturing, supply chain 
        development, and recycling.
  --Offshore wind storage hybrids and hydrogen production.
  --Acceleration of cost reductions to offshore wind system 
        manufacturing, installation, and operations through technology 
        innovations and industrialization.
                         advanced manufacturing
    Question. Advanced composite materials and manufacturing methods, 
including large-scale additive manufacturing and the manufacturing of 
bio-based composites, have the potential to revolutionize our 
manufacturing sector.
    Starting in fiscal year 2019, DOE awarded $20 million in funding to 
support an innovative collaboration between the University of Maine and 
Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Through this partnership, the University 
of Maine has secured the world's largest 3D printer and recently 
printed the world's largest 3D-printed boat at 25-feet, 5,000-pounds. 
According to Habib Dagher, executive director of UMaine's Advanced 
Structures and Composites Center, UMaine hopes to print with 50 percent 
wood products at 500 pounds per hour, producing materials with 
properties similar to aluminum. This ongoing initiative between UMaine 
and ORNL will provide needed opportunities and support job growth in 
the forest products, manufacturing, composites, wind, and boatbuilding 
industries.
    Would you elaborate on how the Department plans to maintain and 
foster these research collaborations between the National Labs and 
universities that will help us maintain American leadership in advanced 
manufacturing?
    Answer. DOE continues to support the innovative collaboration 
between the University of Maine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to 
deliver novel, low-cost, low-impact bio- based materials for 3D 
printing and other applications. The partnership fosters accelerated 
place-based innovation and collaborative research by linking two 
regional centers of industrial and research expertise together to solve 
shared technical problems and accelerate research and development.
    Current and future research focus areas include: reducing cost and 
energy of cellulosic material refinement methods, development of next-
generation large-format deposition strategies to achieve 500 lbs. per 
hour deposition, development of advanced molecular dynamic modeling and 
other simulation tools, and targeted technical demonstrations for high 
impact applications in wind, buildings, and marine applications. In 
addition to these long-term projects, the partnership allows for direct 
and fast industrial engagement through short, targeted research 
projects that support the technical portfolio.
                                 ______
                                 
              Questions Submitted by Senator Bill Hagerty
    Question. Nuclear power accounts for 60 percent of the U.S. carbon-
free electricity and nuclear power plays an important role in providing 
clean, cheap, and reliable power, especially for important national 
security facilities.
    However, the cost to build and operate today's large nuclear 
reactors is too high. Advanced reactors have the potential to be 
smaller, cost less, produce less waste, and be safer than today's 
reactors. The Department of Energy currently operates an important 
program that allows the Department to partner with industry to build 
two advanced reactors in the next 7 years. While this investment is 
important, one of the crucial aspects that has been overlooked by the 
two existing projects is a partnership with a utility. As the future 
owner-operator of new nuclear plants, utilities will be critical in 
deciding which technology design has the highest chance of success to 
actually be deployed onto the electrical grid and ultimately supplied 
to customers. The Tennessee Valley Authority currently has the only 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission early site permit for a Small Modular 
Reactor.
    Secretary Granholm, can you provide an update on the two Advanced 
Reactor Demonstration Projects currently ongoing at the Department of 
Energy? Are you concerned about them meeting the required seven-year 
time window given that neither has an NRC Early Site Permit, which as I 
understand means they have about 2 years' worth of work compared to 
sites which currently hold that permit?
    Answer. The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has completed 
negotiations and finalized awards to both of the selected Advanced 
Reactor Demonstration Project (ARDP) demonstration awardees; the X-
energy Xe-100 high temperature gas reactor and the TerraPower Natrium 
sodium-cooled fast reactor. NE is now actively supporting and 
overseeing the Federal investment in these projects. While it is still 
early in the project lifecycles, the two lead companies are already 
making significant progress in the design, engineering, and licensing 
of these important technologies and have met initial scheduled 
milestones established within their respective awards.
    The seven-year timeline to commercial demonstration established by 
Congress is very ambitious. To ensure that we selected the 
demonstration applicants best prepared to meet the program goal, the 
Department considered a range of views by subject matter experts 
experienced in the licensing and operation of nuclear plants in our 
evaluation process. The Department also entered into an agreement with 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to obtain their independent expertise 
and consultation on licensing options and pathways, including 
feasibility of advanced reactor licensing timing and schedules. While 
an Early Site Permit provides a schedule advantage in licensing a 
reactor demonstration, it should be noted that the ARDP demonstration 
project selection process considered many factors besides licensing, 
including technology innovation, design diversity, and capabilities 
that exceed that of the existing fleet, as well as potential for future 
sales and fleet-level deployment.
    Question. Secretary Granholm, have you considered partnering 
directly with a utility with experience building and operating nuclear 
reactors, as your Department works to increase opportunities for new 
nuclear deployment? What would be the central factors of that 
consideration?
    Answer. Initial demonstration projects under the Department's 
Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) are being executed via a 
Funding Opportunity Announcement that solicited project proposals that 
could potentially result in the commercial operation of the reactor in 
five to 7 years.
    The merit review and selection process employed to evaluate 
proposals included an assessment of the applicant's ability to meet 
specific criteria such as the technical feasibility and likelihood that 
the demonstration reactor could be designed, licensed, constructed, and 
operational within the seven-year window, the robustness of the 
applicant's project management processes, the affordability of the 
design and competitiveness in the commercial market, and the technical 
abilities, qualifications and commitment of the project team. 
Applicants generally teamed with architect and engineering firms and 
utilities that had experience in the construction of nuclear reactors. 
The ultimate demonstration selections under the ARDP were made based on 
a combined scoring of all the above factors.
                                 ______
                                 
              Questions Submitted by Senator Patrick Leahy
    Question. In some areas of Vermont, vermiculite affects 10 percent 
of households eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). 
The fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 appropriations bills included 
language directing the Department of Energy to make $500,000 available 
to current WAP grant recipients via the Weatherization Innovation Pilot 
Program to develop and implement strategies to treat harmful 
substances, including vermiculite. The set-aside for this work 
increased to $1,000,000 in the fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 
bills. It is my understanding that much of this money has been spent on 
developing strategies to remediate vermiculite, rather than the 
implementation of those strategies.
    Please provide the details of how the Department of Energy has 
issued this money to current Weatherization Assistance Program 
recipients specifically to implement solutions, rather than develop 
those solutions.
    Answer. DOE's approach to addressing vermiculite was discussed with 
Senate Energy and Water Subcommittee staff in July of 2018. DOE has 
tasked the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to perform a field 
study to measure the effects of current approaches used by Grantees and 
Subgrantees to weatherize homes with vermiculite insulation. The study, 
which is currently on-going, will include research elements that will 
identify any mitigating actions that may be applicable in performing 
such retrofits.
    DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) envisions the project 
will monitor 50-100 dwellings from 3-5 Grantees, including Vermont's 
(VT) Department for Children and Family's (DCF). Indoor quality testing 
will be done both before and after weatherization activities are 
performed, and any homes that require asbestos or vermiculite 
mitigation will receive it. VT's DCF has agreed to participate in the 
ORNL project to help ORNL better assess current approaches to 
remediating vermiculite in homes, and ORNL will issue contracts 
directly to the Subgrantees, in concert with the VT WAP.
    This field study is focused on data collection that includes, house 
occupant and weatherization worker exposures to asbestos before, 
during, and after the weatherization of the houses containing 
vermiculite insulation using four identified approaches:
  --Weatherizing the house as normal after testing reveals that the 
        vermiculite insulation contains less than 1 percent asbestos by 
        weight.
  --Avoiding areas of the house where vermiculite insulation is 
        installed and weatherizing the remaining areas of the house as 
        normal.
  --Blowing cellulose or other insulation over the existing vermiculite 
        insulation.
  --Weatherizing the areas of the house where vermiculite insulation is 
        installed using unique/alternative approaches developed 
        specifically for that house.
    Completed activities to date for the field study:
  --Initial interview of Grantees and identification of approaches 
        being taken by various states, narrowing down the Grantees of 
        interest based on their approaches
  --Development of the detailed Experimental Plan and its iterative 
        improvement
  --Identification of necessary equipment, sampling procedures, and 
        analytical methods
  --Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response 
        Act- certified asbestos sampling training of project Principle 
        Investigator
  --Communication and discussions of the Experimental Plan with 
        Weatherization Grantees (States) and Subgrantees (private non-
        profits and local units of government)
  --Institutional Review Board (IRB) review completion.
    Currently, the project is 6-8 months behind schedule based on the 
submitted 2020 Experimental Plan. This is due to two factors. First, 
the IRB full board review required several modifications to the 
procedures outline in the Experimental Plan. Moreover, the 2019 novel 
coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19) pandemic has also delayed 
progress in moving forward due to the stoppage of weatherization work 
at the beginning of the pandemic.
    The remaining tasks to complete the study and their expected 
deadlines are:
  --Identify subcontractors formally and implement a bidding process
    --Completion by late September 2021
  --Subcontracting with asbestos sampling firms or contractors, 
        Subgrantees, and analytical laboratories
    --Completion by November 2021
  --Training of subcontractors based on the standard operating 
        procedures developed for the study
    --Completion by December 2021
  --Data collection
    --Completion by December 2022
  --Sample analysis
    --Completion by June 2023
  --Final Report
    --Completion by September 2023
    Question. How does the Department of Energy plan to build off of 
the vermiculite remediation strategies it has developed to directly 
assist homeowners seeking assistance through state Weatherization 
Assistance Programs?
    Answer. Once the field study referenced above is finalized, Oak 
Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will issue a final report on the 
effects of Grantees' current approaches on weatherized dwellings 
containing vermiculite. The study results will be used by DOE to 
develop additional guidance on existing and potential strategies 
identified during the process to address asbestos contamination in 
vermiculite insulation (i.e., how to better approach and complete 
weatherization of dwellings with vermiculite insulation, including 
precautions needed, avoidance criteria, etc.). Appropriations bills 
from fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2021 have included report language 
encouraging the Department of Energy, while administering the Clean 
Cities program, to prioritize projects in States where the 
transportation sector is responsible for a higher percentage of the 
State's total energy consumption and is its largest source of 
greenhouse gases. This emphasis is particularly important for rural 
states like Vermont, where transportation accounts for nearly 40 
percent of total emissions--almost 10 percent more than the national 
average--and where progress on vehicle emissions reduction provides a 
significant opportunity to achieve State and national climate goals.
    Question. Can you provide an update on how the Department 
prioritizes projects within Clean Cities, and whether recent funding 
cycles have emphasized States with higher transportation sector fuel 
consumption and emissions?
    Answer. Clean Cities competitive funding opportunities are designed 
to implement and facilitate education, outreach, and training projects 
focused on helping to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels and 
other advanced vehicle technologies. Funding applications for 
deployment projects include scoring criteria that address impacts on 
fuel consumption and emissions. In addition, a national network of more 
than 75 active coalitions covering nearly every state and 80 percent of 
the U.S. population, brings together stakeholders in the public and 
private sectors to use alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction 
(IR) measures, fuel economy improvements, and new transportation 
technologies as they emerge.
    In 2019 these collective efforts resulted in a cumulative impact in 
energy use equal to 1 billion gasoline gallon equivalents and prevented 
nearly five million carbon dioxide equivalent tons of emissions. An 
analysis of the eight states where transportation accounts for 50 
percent or more of emissions shows that for fiscal year 2018-fiscal 
year 2020, there have been 30 Clean Cities projects funded in those 
states representing $22 million of Federal funding. Projects seeking 
funding for fiscal year 2021 are currently being reviewed.
    Appropriations bills from fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2021 have 
included report language encouraging the Department of Energy, while 
administering the Clean Cities program, to prioritize projects in 
States where the transportation sector is responsible for a higher 
percentage of the State's total energy consumption and is its largest 
source of greenhouse gases. This emphasis is particularly important for 
rural states like Vermont, where transportation accounts for nearly 40 
percent of total emissions--almost 10 percent more than the national 
average--and where progress on vehicle emissions reduction provides a 
significant opportunity to achieve State and national climate goals.
    I appreciate your focus and commitment to achieving widespread 
national deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) as a cornerstone of the 
President's climate agenda, represented in both the fiscal year 2022 
budget request and in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. In some parts 
of the country where colder temperatures reduce battery range, many 
buyers are apprehensive about purchasing an EV as their primary mode of 
transportation, even as the costs of EVs continue to decrease and 
become more accessible. Particularly in largely rural and car-dependent 
communities, like those in Vermont, reduced battery range during the 
winter poses a significant obstacle for many drivers. Importantly, EV 
charging infrastructure is especially critical to facilitate EV 
adoption in these areas. I am also concerned that a lack of 
standardization in EV charging technology across the sector--including 
unique and proprietary features--remain an obstacle for widespread 
adoption and deployment.
    Question. How will the Department of Energy work with other 
Departments and agencies to ensure that EV charging infrastructure 
funding is appropriately disbursed geographically to allow the most 
car-dependent communities--specifically in colder and rural areas--to 
transition to zero emission transportation?
    Answer. The Department will work with other Federal agencies and 
state offices to ensure that Federal EV charging funding is disbursed 
equitably and across the entire nation to provide access to convenient 
charging to all Americans based on nationwide detailed analyses of 
charging needs and infrastructure placement and on roadmaps built in 
coordination with local stakeholders. A national charging system will 
need to include high-power charging along highways and a combination of 
low and high-power charging in communities to ensure equitable access 
to EV charging for residents who do not have access to private 
charging. This includes investing in workplace charging, curbside 
charging, and public-access locations such as transportation hubs, 
commercial destinations, libraries, and government buildings.
    The department is also studying how to address barriers to 
installing EV charging for residents of multi-family housing through 
innovative charging and management technology, outreach and education 
efforts targeting developers and property managers, and finance models. 
Ensuring equitable access to charging for rural communities will 
require coordination with utilities on electric service capacity and 
demand charges as well as investments in distributed energy resources. 
These are all areas the department will work on as it seeks to expand 
EV charging for all Americans.
    Question. As the Biden administration works to achieve its goal of 
500,000 EV charging stations across the country by 2030, what efforts 
are underway to encourage industry standardization of charging 
infrastructure and systems to ensure access for all communities and 
widespread adoption?
    Answer. The Department believes a seamless charging experience for 
all electric vehicle (EV) users and effectively integrating EV charging 
with the grid will be important for the success of EVs. This requires 
physical interoperability, accessible payment, and open data protocols 
both to provide station data to users and for back-end communication 
between the charging equipment, network operators, and the electric 
utilities. We are ready to work with other agencies and industries to 
develop solutions tackling all these elements. On physical 
interoperability, in particular, we recognize the challenges that are 
created by the existence of two EV Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) 
connector standards, SAE Combined Charging System (CCS) and CHAdeMO (a 
charging standard for EVs), and one non-standardized, proprietary 
connect, Tesla. Tesla has not announced specifics yet. At this point, 
DOE would still stress a seamless and interoperable charging 
environment and it's possible that the Supercharger network could 
provide this in the future.
    Today, in the United States the automakers selling EVs using non-
proprietary connectors are converging on the use of the CCS connector 
and the non-proprietary charging networks are predominantly installing 
DCFC with CCS connectors, with only a small number of CHAdeMO equipped 
DCFC to support legacy CHAdeMO EVs. While these advances are 
encouraging, physical interoperability is only one element and the 
Department will be working with EV stakeholders to develop a National 
EV Charging Technical Roadmap to identify the key system enablers and 
technologies that will allow for a reliable, resilient, and convenient 
charging network that will support the widespread adoption of EVs in 
all communities.
                                 ______
                                 
               Questions Submitted to Dr. Charles Verdon
              Questions Submitted by Senator Bill Hagerty
    Question. The Uranium Processing Facility in Tennessee is one of 
the Federal Government's largest construction projects. Over the past 7 
years, this Subcommittee has provided significant funding for this 
project, including $750 million in fiscal year 2021.
    The President's budget proposes $524 million to continue 
construction of the Uranium Processing Facility. However, I understand 
that $620 million is needed to keep this project on schedule.
    Dr. Verdon, is the Uranium Processing Facility still on track to be 
completed by 2025 at a cost of no more than $6.5 billion?
    Answer. NNSA completed an independent review the week of February 
22-25, 2021, which identified that the staffing and material 
improvements over the past 6 months have been insufficient to maintain 
a December 2025 completion date. However, multiple opportunities exist 
over the next 4 years to improve schedule performance and potentially 
complete on-time. Since that review, NNSA has increased staffing and 
material deliveries and appears to have improved performance, making 
the December 2025 completion date and the total project cost 
potentially more attainable. We believe that available carryover and 
the $524 million in the President's Budget will address planned work in 
fiscal year 2022.
    Question. Dr. Verdon, has the pandemic had an effect on 
construction and on-budget ability to finish this project?
    Answer. UPF project construction continued throughout the COVID-19 
pandemic, and suppliers were notified that their deliveries to the UPF 
project were part of NNSA's critical infrastructure work and should 
continue. Additionally, enhanced cleaning, staggered shifts, masks, and 
an increase in the bus fleet used to transport personnel to the job 
site limited the overall impact to UPF construction.
    The project continues to take mitigation measures as some 
deliveries have been impacted, and construction execution experienced 
some decrease in efficiency at peak COVID cases during the past holiday 
season.
    It is too early to determine COVID cost impacts as we are still 
operating with pandemic related protocols.
    Question. Dr. Verdon, what lessons have we learned from the Uranium 
Processing Facility that are being applied to the other big 
construction project at the Department of Energy? Specifically, the 
Lithium Processing Facility--another multi-billion-dollar construction 
project slated to begin at Y-12.
    Answer. NNSA will continue to use lessons learned from UPF and our 
entire portfolio to improve early project planning and requirements 
development. For example, NNSA recently started assigning project 
directors immediately after Analysis of Alternatives are complete. NNSA 
also will institute a rigorous change control program to limit scope 
growth.
    NNSA's fiscal year 2022 budget request also asks for appropriate 
staff to ensure that NNSA has the right numbers of qualified 
acquisition and project management specialists to oversee our growing 
portfolio. Finally, NNSA will complete designs before baselining, 
procure long lead materials as early as practicable to optimize cost 
and schedule performance, and break large projects into subprojects to 
better manage scope.
                         conclusion of hearings
    Senator Feinstein. So, Madam Secretary, it is wonderful to see you. 
Thank you for being here.
    Thank you so much. And the meeting is adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 11:29 a.m., Wednesday, June 23, the hearings were 
concluded, and the subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to 
the call of the Chair.]

    ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

                              ----------                              

                                       U.S. Senate,
           Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                    Washington, DC.

                       NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES

    [Clerk's note.--The subcommittee was unable to hold 
hearings on nondepartmental witnesses. The statements and 
letters of those submitting written testimony are as follows:]
             Prepared Statement of Aclara Technologies, LLC
    As a leading technology provider to electric, gas and water 
utilities, Aclara Technologies, LLC--a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Hubbell Incorporated \1\--respectfully urges you to prioritize 
modernization of the nation's electric distribution systems and funding 
to improve the performance, efficiency, and safety of our nation's 
energy and water distribution infrastructure in the Fiscal Year (FY) 
2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. We thank you for this 
opportunity to express our support for this funding and appreciate your 
consideration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Hubbell Incorporated is an international manufacturer of high 
quality, reliable electrical and utility solutions for a broad range of 
customer and end market applications. With 2020 revenues of $4.2 
billion, Hubbell Incorporated operates 70 manufacturing facilities in 
the United States, employing over 9,550 Americans, and has additional 
facilities and employees around the world. The corporate headquarters 
is located in Shelton, CT. Hubbell Inc. acquired Aclara Technologies in 
2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Aclara Technologies, LLC (``Aclara'') provides smart infrastructure 
technologies to electric, gas and water utilities, with offerings in 
advanced metering, utility automation, methane sensing, device 
networking and communications, data management, analytics, and customer 
service. Over 1,100 utilities in thirty-six countries rely on proven 
Aclara solutions. There are currently 1,000 Aclara clients located in 
all 50 states and Aclara employs over 1,500 staff in the United States 
and over 195 internationally. Companies like Aclara prove that smart 
technologies mean jobs, not just at Aclara, but also at utilities in 
the form of installation and monitoring jobs.
    Aclara offers its strong support for the advancement of 
technologies that can improve our nation's energy and water 
distribution networks by providing enhanced monitoring, detection, and 
control capabilities. These technologies are an important and cost-
effective way to increase reliability, efficiency, and safety of our 
ageing infrastructure. Supporting the advancement of these technologies 
will be crucial as the country's energy and water distribution networks 
continue to age and as the risks for utilities and network operators 
rise.
                 electrical distribution infrastructure
    The U.S. currently has over 500 million above-ground utility poles 
with over 5 million miles of overhead distribution conductors fed from 
greater than 62,000 distribution substations. Aclara understands that 
electric utilities must divide their collective attention between many 
priorities including maintaining the vast distribution infrastructure 
mentioned above and adapting the infrastructure to the deployment of 
distributed energy resources such as solar, wind, and storage. The 
technology to verify the health of the distribution assets such as the 
position and orientation of utility poles and the attached conductors 
is in development to enable utilities to sense, for example, a car has 
collided with a utility pole or an overhead conductor has dropped from 
the utility pole. Other key analytics about clusters of these 
conditions, as when windstorms or ice buildups cause cascade failures 
of conductor support systems, enable utilities to respond in real time 
to failure events as well as better estimate resources required for 
large scale recoveries. The technology in development is also very 
cost-effective, as it can be installed on new distribution system 
construction and easily retrofitted to existing distribution 
infrastructure. In addition to ensuring funds are dedicated to the 
advancement of distribution infrastructure, we also urge you to support 
appropriations for technologies to make our electrical distribution 
asset monitoring systems ``smarter,'' particularly when failure of 
these systems presents a safety risk to the public.
    Specifically, for FY22, we urge support for two important 
demonstration projects to be carried out within the DOE Office of 
Electricity's Resilient Distribution Systems Grid Sensors and Sensor 
Analytics program. The first demonstration project should focus on 
utilizing data from advanced distribution sensors that are deployed on 
existing distribution lines to predict and/or detect vegetation contact 
in order to mitigate wildfires and wildfire impacts.The second 
demonstration project should focus on measuring the condition of 
utility poles in terms of their position, impacts, and presence of high 
temperatures. Data from the sensors should be utilized and visualized 
from these devices to provide useful and immediate analytics to improve 
the safety of the general public and improve electrical distribution 
network performance indices.
    Also of importance in discussions about electric grid 
infrastructure is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For 
decades, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has been used as a dielectric 
insulator in gas insulated systems. One pound of SF6 has the same 
global warming potential as 22,800 pounds of CO2. 
Additionally, since it is such a stable compound, it has a life of 
3,200 years in the atmosphere vs 200 years for CO2. The US 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a voluntary 
program in which partner companies agree to reduce SF6 emissions 
through technically and economically feasible actions. Although SF6 
designs have been commercially available and have functioned reliably 
for the past 30 years, new available technologies have emerged at 
comparable prices that offer superior performance and a greatly reduced 
carbon footprint. These alternatives should be strongly promoted in 
grid devices operating under 72kV. Unfortunately, there has not been a 
good alternative found for SF6 for grid equipment above 72kV. As such, 
we urge DOE to advance safe and effective capture and reuse 
technologies for SF6 in grid equipment above 72kV.
                          water infrastructure
    Although many of our nation's water and wastewater systems have 
been around for more than a century, water infrastructure spending has 
received a significantly smaller and decreasing share of total 
infrastructure investment. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) estimates a needed investment of $750 billion over the next 20 
years to maintain the nation's drinking water and wastewater 
infrastructure. Without the necessary federal funding to close the gap, 
communities across the country will continue to face rate increases 
that disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities.
    Water leaks cost many cities as much as 10 to 30 percent loss of 
their water, leaks that also waste a lot of energy. The EPA estimates 
that drinking water and wastewater systems account for 30 to 40 percent 
of total energy consumed by municipalities. As much as 8.4 billion 
kilowatts is wasted each year moving water nationwide. Due to ageing 
infrastructure, significant energy savings are possible through the use 
of leak detection and pressure monitoring technologies to improve 
operational efficiencies and reduce water loss.
    Water system efficiency and smart water networks should be a 
clearly stated goal of any investments made in our nation's water 
infrastructure. Water distribution systems should be modernized in a 
way that increases water and energy efficiency and enables customers 
and utilities to interact with it as never before. This will require 
smart water networks that facilitate the collection of data via sensors 
along distribution networks, advanced analytics, and the incorporation 
of communications technologies to optimize performance, preempt 
problems, and allow for rapid response.
    The utilization of infrastructure solutions such as distribution 
network leak detection, pressure monitoring, and sanitary and combined 
sewer monitoring technologies during upgrades to water and wastewater 
systems help optimize water delivery performance, reduce energy usage, 
limit water waste in distribution systems, and enhance modeling of 
sewer collection networks. This will help to improve operations, 
maintenance, and capital expenditure in planning and budgeting, and 
increase spatial and temporal monitoring data available on U.S. water 
quality and quantity.
    One key aspect of smart water networks is advanced metering 
infrastructure (AMI). AMI can offer communities multiple advantages to 
improve their management of water, reducing water and energy waste, and 
decrease costs for distributors, operators, and consumers. Detailed 
consumption data provided by AMI can help reduce water use in many 
ways, including:
  --Detects system leaks--Non-revenue water costs utilities $4.9 
        billion per year. AMI can help drastically reduce water leaks 
        and associated costs by creating a continuous flow of 
        information from advanced meters, combined with advanced data 
        analytics, that enables water suppliers to rapidly and 
        precisely identify water losses and conservation opportunities.
  --Helps consumers save water (and money)--AMI allows for hourly data 
        to be made available to end consumers. Providing this kind of 
        detailed water use information to consumers through an 
        associated consumer engagement application or customer portal 
        is proven to increase conservation, thereby saving consumers 
        money on their monthly water bills.
  --Provides resilience during and following natural disasters--for 
        example, Aclara's system in New York City, which serves more 
        than 9 million people, weathered Hurricane Sandy with minimal 
        disruption. Aclara's water meter transmission units have a 20 
        year battery life and its data collectors offer a rugged, 
        weather-proofed design that stores 28 days of data with a 14 
        day back up battery life. Deployments offer redundancy so that 
        if an individual data collector is disabled, another collector 
        can continue to obtain meter data for that area, offering 
        resiliency critical after earthquakes, floods or other 
        disasters.
                       natural gas infrastructure
    The U.S. currently has 2.4 million miles of natural gas pipeline 
infrastructure and approximately 400 storage fields, which combined 
carry around 25% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. The low cost 
and relative abundance of natural gas is driving the aggressive 
expansion of new pipeline infrastructure. It is also causing increased 
use of existing infrastructure, putting pressure on an ageing system. 
As our reliance on natural gas continues to expand, so will the 
pressures on our natural gas infrastructure. As such, it is imperative 
that adequate funding be provided for both pressure management--which 
increases the efficiency of natural gas distribution networks--as well 
as methane detection technology, which can reduce the occurrence and 
severity of methane leaks which cost utilities money and can present a 
significant risk to public health.
    Continuous gas pressure monitoring enhances early leak detection by 
recognizing and interpreting gas line pressure fluctuations. A sudden, 
unexplained drop in pressure could be a burst pipe or a gas leak. 
Utilizing an AMI supported gas pressure monitoring system will provide 
utilities with a constant stream of data to alert them to these 
potential issues. Smart pressure monitoring requires a wireless 
communications system including sensors that measure pressure at 
critical points, software that analyses the pressure status at such 
points and calculates responses to achieve a desired pressure, and a 
controller device to prompt smart valves whose use can save energy. 
Smart gas pressure management will allow utilities to better monitor 
and control system gas pressures according to demand. While reducing 
potential leaks, it can also reduce operating cost associated with site 
visits and ``linepack''.
    Advanced leak detection technologies are crucial to curbing methane 
emissions from natural gas pipelines and storage fields and decreasing 
the risk of major gas leaks and accidents. Take, for example, the Aliso 
Canyon methane leak in California, which lasted over four months and 
released approximately 97,100 metric tons of methane into the 
atmosphere (more than the estimated total annual emissions from the 
entire U.S. pipeline infrastructure). Leaks like the one in Aliso 
Canyon demonstrate that the magnitude of risk faced by the natural gas 
industry is great, and that even more substantial risks exist for 
citizens living in the surrounding area and the environment. The key to 
reducing methane leakage--and associated environmental, safety, and 
economic impacts--from natural gas distribution networks is being able 
to locate and close leaks quickly and effectively. While traditional 
infrastructure replacements, upgrades, and periodic monitoring 
technologies do not allow utilities to do this, innovative technology 
is being developed that does.
    Some of this new technology is already on the market. For example, 
Aclara offers several technology-based solutions and pipeline safety 
enhancements for natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution 
companies. Aclara's technologies enable continuous remote monitoring 
via infrared point sensing with automatic reads and near real-time 
alarms, which allow utilities to proactively identify potential issue 
areas in their network and significantly reduces the chances of a small 
leak and/or disturbance turning into a catastrophic burn hole. The key 
to this technology is a focus on early detection, which is the most 
essential aspect of effective, proactive risk management and safety 
practices. The technology is also very cost-effective, as it can be 
easily fitted to existing AMI networks and the data it generates can be 
transmitted by existing utility communications networks, thus 
eliminating the high operational costs of data communication charges 
with cellular modems or other cost intensive communication 
technologies.
    We urge Congress to encourage increased coordination with industry 
and U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration on methane leak detection technology--
particularly in regards to deployment--and to support investment in 
smart pipeline sensors and controls, internal pipeline inspection and 
repair, and composite and advanced material science technologies. We 
support the expanded use of gas pressure monitoring, both real time and 
hourly, in distribution systems to improve system integrity and safety, 
as further deployments of methane detection sensors closer to the 
consumer would add to overall safety. We also urge Congress to consider 
mandatory use of gas pressure monitoring, both real time and hourly, in 
distribution systems to improve system integrity and safety.
    We urge you to ensure that FY2022 appropriations, as well as any 
potential infrastructure package put together during this congress, 
includes funds for the advancement of technologies that will make our 
electric, water and natural gas distribution networks smarter, safer, 
and more efficient. Again, thank you for providing this opportunity to 
submit testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Kumi Premathilake, Senior Vice 
President, 
Division Vice President, AMI and Services at Hubbell Utility 
Solutions.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the American Geophysical Union
    The American Geophysical Union (AGU), a non-profit, non-partisan 
scientific society, appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony 
regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations request for the 
Department of Energy (DOE). AGU, on behalf of its community of 130,000 
in the Earth and space sciences, respectfully requests that the 117th 
Congress appropriate the following:
  --$7.7 billion for DOE Office of Science
  --$500 million for DOE Advanced Research Project Agency--Energy
                          department of energy
    AGU requests that Congress appropriate $7.7 billion for DOE's 
Office of Science, which represents a 9.6% increase over FY2021 
spending levels. Additionally, we request $500 million for DOE's 
Advanced Research Project Agency--Energy (ARPA-E), which is in line 
with the bipartisan Energy Act of 2020. These funding levels will 
ensure that DOE is able to continue its work to preserve U.S. 
leadership in scientific discovery by developing new cutting-edge 
technology, fostering innovation, and training the nation's future 
scientific workforce.
                           office of science
    As the primary funder of basic research in the physical sciences, 
DOE's Office of Science is at the forefront of scientific discovery, 
innovation, and the shaping of our nation's energy future. The Office 
of Science oversees a breadth of programs and technical infrastructure 
essential to the nation's economic growth, energy and national 
security, future scientific and engineering talent, and the development 
of innovative technologies.
    The Office of Science is playing a crucial role in our nation's 
fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has it previously funded 
mRNA research used to develop the vaccine, but it is harnessing its 
supercomputing capabilities to advance our understanding of the 
coronavirus and its spread and creating and distributing better 
personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
    Through competitive grants awarded to national laboratories, more 
than 300 universities and colleges, and other organizations in all 50 
states and the District of Columbia, the Office of Science fosters 
collaboration between sectors that helps contribute to our nation's 
strategic priorities.
    DOE's Office of Science also supports more than 34,000 researchers-
including Ph.D. scientists, engineers, graduate students, 
undergraduates, and technical and support personnel--who 
collaboratively work on high-risk, high-reward research projects that 
foster cutting-edge energy technologies. The Office of Science provides 
essential resources and opportunities, including access to 
sophisticated scientific capabilities, beyond those offered by industry 
and academic institutions. The Office of Science has also been critical 
in the creation of industrial breakthroughs and annually partners with 
about fifty Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses.
    In addition, DOE's Office of Science supports exploration of both 
the frontiers of science such as quantum science and technology, 
artificial intelligence, and genomics and advances energy research such 
as solar energy, bioenergy, and batteries that will be the bedrock of 
the country's move to clean energy. With a 92% rate of timely 
completion of projects within budget, researchers supported by the 
Office of Science are making key advances in energy and safeguarding 
our nation's security by leading us towards energy independence.
    Sustained and robust federal investment in scientific research is 
essential if the U.S. hope to remain globally competitive, especially 
as other countries like China aggressively increase their investments 
in scientific research. Moreover, as our nation recovers from the 
pandemic, the opportunities provided by the Office of Science to 
students, researchers and businesses are critical to help our country 
regain our economic strength and advance our energy security. Overall, 
the DOE Office of Science has been proven to be a smart investment now 
and for the future.
                advanced research project agency-energy
    The Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) was 
established to surmount the barriers posed to high-risk, long-term 
energy technology development. In its short ten-year history, ARPA-E 
has supported more than 1,000 projects, 177 of which have attracted 
over $4.9 billion in private-sector follow-on funding, and 88 of which 
have gone on to form new companies. Additionally, ARPA-E is making 
significant contributions to advancing U.S. leadership in cutting edge 
energy science and technology. ARPA-E projects have submitted more than 
4,614 peer-reviewed journal articles and been issued 716 patents by the 
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ARPA-E has also shown itself to be a 
responsible steward of taxpayer resources by ceasing funding for 
projects that fail to meet milestones.
    We are at a moment when other nations, especially China, Korea, and 
Russia, are making significant investments into advanced energy 
technologies and are poised to seize the economic and geopolitical 
advantages afforded by technological supremacy in this field. With 
global demand for energy projected to increase by almost 30% by 2040--
combined with the often decade long development cycles for energy 
technologies--those nations making commitments to dominate this 
economic opportunity today will be the ones to reap the rewards in the 
years to come. The U.S. is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize 
on key advantages, including the work of cutting-edge agencies such as 
ARPA-E, but only if they are adequately funded.
    Significantly, the transformative clean energy research and 
development funded by ARPA-E is critical to our nation's efforts to 
combat climate change. Additionally, ARPA-E 's investment in scaling up 
transformative solar, geothermal, battery, biofuels and advanced 
surface coating technologies has the potential to drastically alter our 
clean energy landscape.
    Overall, ARPA-E projects create jobs and innovation, enhance our 
national energy security, and boost economic activity in communities 
across the country. Continued and stable investment into this 
transformative program is necessary to ensure its success and bolster 
our nation's science and technology leadership.

    [This statement was submitted by Brittany Webster, Program Manager, 
Science Policy & Government Relations.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
                            request summary
    On behalf of the nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) 
that collectively are the American Indian Higher Education Consortium 
(AIHEC), we thank you for this opportunity to share our recommendations 
regarding the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security 
Administration's (NNSA) Minority Serving Institutions Partnership 
Program (MSIPP).
    Department of Energy (DOE): National Nuclear Security 
Administration--Minority Serving Institutions' Partnership Program--
Tribal Education Partnership Program (NNSA-MSIPP-TEPP): TCUs urge the 
Subcommittee to continue funding for the newly established Tribal 
Education Partnership Program, a TCU-specific sub-program within the 
NNSA-MSIP, at $5,000,000 for FY2022. With funding from NNSA-MSIPP, the 
TCU Advanced Manufacturing Network Initiative (TCU AMNI) was created 
with a pilot cohort of five TCUs in collaboration with AIHEC. Since 
2015, each of the participating TCUs has established a basic advanced 
manufacturing facility that offers training and education programs with 
support from NNSA National Laboratory partners. TCUs are uniquely 
positioned to catalyze economic transformation in Indian Country, 
because they have the capacity to train a specialized workforce and 
develop critical research and development partnerships with NNSA 
National Laboratories as well as major national companies such as 
Boeing Company and Ford Motor Company.
    The TCU AMNI program provides an important partnership model for 
the Department of Energy and the nation's TCUs. The program creates a 
career pipeline for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, 
beginning with the development of technical skills required to operate 
advanced manufacturing systems, which are coming to dominate the global 
manufacturing sector. Students completing technical training at TCUs 
are also prepared to pursue engineering programs, which are in demand 
at all stages of manufacturing. The TCU AMNI program contributes to the 
growth of a well-trained Native workforce: technicians, engineers, 
designers, and entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, TCUs are in a 
strong position to help tribes develop advanced manufacturing 
enterprises, which, in turn, generate significant economic activity and 
create high-skilled jobs for their young people. These efforts will 
contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty that has plagued tribal 
communities for generations.
    TCU efforts in advanced manufacturing have direct economic impacts 
on tribes and have even proven impactful in the field of public health. 
During the current coronavirus pandemic, the Bay Mills Indian Community 
Chairman asked Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) to produce personal 
protective equipment (PPE) for the tribally operated Bay Mills Health 
Center and nearby War Memorial Hospital in the Upper Peninsula of 
Michigan. BMCC collaborated with Lake Superior State University and the 
local school district to 3-D print face mask headgear using a design 
developed by BMCC. BMCC also 3-D printed venturi valves, a component of 
medical ventilators, which were also in short supply, for War Memorial 
Hospital. BMCC worked with the other four ANMI TCUs to produce 3-D 
printed PPEs and other needed medical equipment for their local tribal 
health services providers and the Indian Health Service.
MSIPP TCU Report Language Needed for Funding
    TCU AMNI represents a model for a partnership between the DOE and 
the nation's 37 TCUs that can help address the need for a more diverse 
STEM workforce within the NNSA National Laboratory system while 
promoting economic growth in Tribal communities. Historically, the 
competitive MSIPP grant program lacked distinct support for TCUs and 
Tribal communities. In the FY2020 DOE budget, $5 million was explicitly 
provided for a separate TCU program; however, a program was not 
initially established. Instead, the funds were added to the 
competitively awarded MSIPP grant program broadly available to 
Historically Black College and Universities and other Minority Serving 
Institutions. In conducting the FY2020 MSIPP grant competition, NNSA 
did not include provisions specifically for TCUs, nor was an outreach 
strategy implemented to solicit TCU grant applications to ensure that 
TCUs would receive the $5 million in Congressionally directed funding. 
Due to the lack of outreach by NNSA, few TCUs submitted proposals. 
After extensive feedback from AIHEC, NNSA released a new TCU-specific 
sub-grant program under MSIPP entitled: Tribal Education Partnership 
Program. While NNSA eventually took steps to administer Congressionally 
directed TCU funding, we respectfully request that report language and 
funding be included to ensure continuity in the newly established 
Tribal Education Partnership Program.
Success of the TCU Advanced Manufacturing Network Initiative
    The TCU AMPI is creating very promising and exciting projects on 
five TCU campuses. Below are summaries from the five participating 
TCUs.
Navajo Technical University--Crownpoint, NM
    The Center for Digital Technology at Navajo Technical University 
(NTU) in Crownpoint, NM has established an advanced manufacturing 
program with a state-of-the-art facility including metal 3-D printers, 
computer numerical control (CNC) machines and high-tech inspection, and 
validation instrumentation. Students at NTU are developing knowledge 
and skills in design engineering, manufacturing processes, and 
performance analysis. The Navajo Nation is making a significant 
investment in this program and has recruited major industry partners 
for manufacturing contracts resulting in employment for NTU graduates. 
This program provides a model for how TCUs and Tribes can join the 
global manufacturing supply chain ecosystem, generate significant 
economic activity, and train students to join the technology and 
engineering workforce.
Bay Mills Community College--Brimley, MI
    Bay Mills Community College (BMCC), located in the Upper Peninsula 
of Michigan, operates the Great Lakes Composites Institute, a wholly 
owned subsidiary of the college that functions as a Tier II/Tier III 
manufacturing supplier. It has established a technical leadership 
position as a supplier of composite materials and products focusing on 
thermoplastic fiber reinforced polymeric innovations and next-
generation thermoplastic fiber-reinforced products. Industry partners 
include the Army Tank Research, Development, and Engineering Center 
(TARDEC), Ford Motor Company, and the Chrysler Corporation.
Cankdeska Cikana Community College--Fort Totten, ND
    Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC), located in rural North 
Dakota, has developed an advanced manufacturing certificate program 
that builds on an existing engineering program partnership with North 
Dakota State University. CCCC is partnering with the University Centers 
for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) on the design of environmental 
monitoring systems specifically to support local Tribal resource 
management requirements.
Salish Kootenai College--Pablo, MT
    Salish Kootenai College (SKC) has established an Advanced 
Manufacturing Prototyping Lab (AMPL) used for both lab courses and open 
hours for students interested in exploring additive manufacturing 
projects, following the FabLab model. SKC faculty are implementing an 
underwater drone project, similar to that at CCCC, focusing on drones 
capable of carrying instrumentation needed to monitor hydrology, 
biology, and lake sedimentology of Flathead Lake, the largest 
freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.
Turtle Mountain Community College--Belcourt, ND
    Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC), located 10 miles from the 
Canada-U.S. border, is expanding their partnership with North Dakota 
State University. The partnership was developed through a collaborative 
engineering program in which students complete their first two years of 
engineering at TMCC and continue on to complete their degree at NDSU. 
The engineering program integrates the college's advanced manufacturing 
program, providing students the opportunity to carry out engineering 
design projects and research using the college's advanced manufacturing 
facility.
                               conclusion
    Struggling economies are endemic in Indian Country. We ask that 
Congress join us in bringing Tribal nations into the evolving global 
manufacturing community; transforming Tribal economies while addressing 
national energy technology challenges. TCUs provide quality higher 
education opportunities to thousands of AI/ANs and other rural 
residents, as well as essential community programs and services to 
those who might otherwise not have access to such possibilities. The 
modest federal investment in TCUs have paid great dividends in terms of 
employment, education, and economic development. We greatly appreciate 
your previous and your continued support of the nation's Tribal 
Colleges and Universities and your careful consideration of our FY2022 
appropriations requests.
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the American Society for Microbiology
    The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is a leader in 
advancing critical industries of the future, including quantum 
information science, artificial intelligence, high performance 
computing, advanced communications networks, future energy 
technologies, and engineering biology. As we rise to meet the 
challenges of the 21st Century, microbial science funded by the
    DOE Office of Science remains vitally important. ASM urges Congress 
to fund the DOE Office of Science at $7.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 
2022, an increase of 9.6% over FY2021. ASM also encourages Congress to 
continue to fully fund the Bioenergy Research Centers at $100 million, 
and the National Microbiome Database Collaborative (NMDC) at $10 
million in FY2022.
    The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) appreciates the 
opportunity to submit outside witness testimony for the Fiscal Year 
2022 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies appropriations 
bill in support of increased funding for the Department of Energy 
Office of Science. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is one 
of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences 
and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's 
mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
    Funding from the DOE Office of Science through the National 
Laboratories, universities, and other programs has generated some of 
our most economically important innovations and is the primary driver 
of basic research in the physical sciences, as well as critical areas 
of genome scale, quantitative analysis of microbial research. This 
support has enabled researchers to use microbes to solve energy and 
environmental problems, and to bring those solutions to scale by 
developing empirical, computational, and mechanistic modeling tools. 
Office of Science funding led to the creation of the Bioenergy Research 
Centers, which support research into viable and sustainable domestic 
biofuel and bioproducts industries. Each of the four Centers is led by 
a DOE national laboratory or university, and each take an innovative 
approach to improving and scaling up advanced biofuel and bioproduct 
production processes. Recent investments in the National Microbiome 
Data Collaborative, an open-source database, will lead to more 
effective analysis of microbiome data and better coordination of 
multidisciplinary microbiome research across the federal government. In 
addition, DOE National Laboratories were effectively deployed in the 
fight against COVID-19, using their supercomputing and modeling 
capabilities to both understand components of the virus and to find 
drug compounds to treat it.
      microbial research is needed to face 21st century challenges
    Our society faces several large, complex, and interconnected 
challenges, many of which can be addressed through microbial research. 
Inexpensive renewable sources of energy, fuels, and chemicals are 
essential for continued economic growth, but the environmental 
tradeoffs of increased energy production must also be considered. 
Microbial science funded by DOE Office of Science can lead the way in 
developing sustainable strategies to feed an ever-growing population by 
increasing plant and agricultural productivity and quality; by 
providing strategies to ensure that future US citizens enjoy clean air, 
water, and a high standard of living; in transforming human health by 
providing everything from new pharmaceuticals, reagents for precision 
medicine, and next generation antibiotics; and by producing cost-
competitive fuels, chemicals, and materials from abundant renewable 
resources. These and other advances in decarbonization, the production 
of biomaterials or bio-based polymers, and others based on new 
microbial catalysts will only happen with strong, stable investments in 
the Office of Science.
    Discoveries in targeted areas such as quantum science and 
technology, genomics, microelectronics, and machine learning have 
potential far-reaching impacts that spawn the creation of new 
industries. For example, DOE has also taken the lead on bio-based 
energy, fuel and chemicals innovation. The Office of Science currently 
funds four Bioenergy Research Centers (BRC), which support research 
into viable and sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproducts 
industries. These four Centers are developing viable and sustainable 
domestic biofuels and bioproducts derived from non-food plant biomass, 
such as poplar, switchgrass, and sorghum. This research will lead to 
lower greenhouse gas emissions, bring jobs to rural areas, and boost 
our energy security, and we strongly encourage Congress to continue 
fully funding the BRCs at $100 million in FY2022.
            doe-funded microbiome research spawns innovation
    In its stewardship of innovation at DOE's National Laboratories, 
universities, and other programs, the Office of Science is a critical 
partner in advancing areas of national need, supporting research in key 
emerging areas including artificial intelligence and microbiome 
research. Thousands of projects funded by NIH and NSF utilize DOE 
facilities each year, and more than fifty Fortune 500 companies and 
many small businesses use these facilities to conduct the underlying 
research required to develop new technologies and products that drive 
the economy, including the growing bioeconomy.
    Microbiome science aims to advance understanding of microbial 
communities (microbiomes) for applications in areas such as health 
care, food production, and environmental restoration to benefit 
individuals, communities, and the environment. Understanding of the 
microbiome has evolved significantly since the concept of the human 
microbiome emerged roughly two decades ago. Today it is understood that 
microbial communities exist on, in, and around people, plants, animals, 
soil, oceans, and the atmosphere, making the microbiome relevant to all 
living things. The rapid pace of discovery has led to greater 
technology needs and data sharing infrastructure.
    The Interagency Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research, FY2018-
2022, developed by the Microbiome Interagency Working Group (MIWG), 
provides recommendations for improving coordination of microbiome 
research among Federal agencies and between agencies and nonFederal 
domestic and international microbiome research efforts. The five-year 
Strategic Plan coordinates microbiome research activities across 21 
government agencies, describing the interagency objectives, structure 
and operating principles, and research focus areas and provided three 
recommended areas to transform microbiome discoveries to solutions:
    1. Supporting interdisciplinary and collaborative research to 
enable a predictive understanding of the function of microbiomes in 
diverse ecosystems to enhance public health, food, and environmental 
security and grow new bioeconomy product areas.
    2. Developing platform technologies to generate critical insights 
and to improve access to and sharing of microbiome data across 
ecosystems.
    3. Expanding the microbiome workforce through educational 
opportunities, citizen science, and public engagement.
    Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have increased our 
awareness of the complexity and diversity in networks of 
microorganisms. Yet there remains much to discover regarding how 
microbiomes function as communities, interact with their hosts and 
environment, and how they can be leveraged to improve health and 
ecosystems. As noted in the Interagency
    Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research, microbiome data is ``Big 
Data'', which requires consistent and reliable database and resource 
coordination to facilitate data collection, analysis, interoperability, 
and data sharing. The NMDC is aimed at empowering this type of 
microbiome research. Spearheaded by Lawrence Berkeley National 
Laboratory, in partnership with Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Pacific 
Northwest national laboratories, the NMDC is leveraging DOE's existing 
data-science resources and high-performance computing systems to 
develop a framework that facilitates more efficient use of microbiome 
data for applications in energy, environment, health, and agriculture. 
In support of these ongoing efforts, ASM requests continued funding of 
$10 million for the National Microbiome Database Collaborative (NMDC) 
for FY2022.
    Our nation's ability to make significant advances in solving energy 
and environmental problems depends on advances in the microbial 
sciences. This will only be possible if Congress continues its 
commitment to robust and sustained funding increases for the Department 
of Energy's Office of Science.

    [This statement was submitted by Allen Segal, Director of Public 
Policy and 
Advocacy, American Society for Microbiology.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the American Society of Plant Biologists
    On behalf of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), we 
submit this written testimony to support $7.7 billion for the 
Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science in fiscal year (FY) 
2022. Within this amount, ASPB supports proportional increases in 
funding for the Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Office of 
Biological and Environmental Research. ASPB also supports at least $500 
million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in FY 
2022. ARPA-E has proven to be an innovative and valuable program that 
advances high-impact energy technologies, including biotechnology, 
imaging, carbon capture, and sustainable crop systems that are 
important to the plant science community and to the nation.
    The following testimony highlights the importance of biology-
particularly plant biology, which is a necessary backbone of efforts to 
enhance bioenergy production-as the nation seeks to address energy 
security and other vital issues. We thank the Subcommittee for its 
consideration of this testimony and for its support for the basic 
research mission of the DOE Office of Science. ASPB recognizes the 
difficult fiscal environment our nation faces but believes investments 
in scientific research will be a critical step toward economic 
recovery.
    ASPB, founded in 1924 as the American Society of Plant 
Physiologists, was established to promote the growth and development of 
plant biology, to encourage and publish research in plant biology, and 
to promote the interests and professional advancement of plant 
scientists in general. ASPB members educate, mentor, advise, and 
nurture future generations of plant biologists; they work to increase 
understanding of plant biology, as well as science in general, in K-16 
schools and among the general public; they advocate in support of plant 
biology research; they work to convey the relevance and importance of 
plant biology; and they provide expertise in policy decisions world-
wide. Overall, ASPB members, as representatives of the society, work to 
disseminate information and excitement about plant sciences, especially 
through ASPB's advocacy, outreach activities, conferences, and 
publications.
    fuel, food, environment, and health: plant biology research and 
                            america's future
    Plants are vital to our very existence. They harvest sunlight, 
converting it to chemical energy for food and feed; they take up carbon 
dioxide and produce oxygen; and they are essential to life on Earth. 
Indeed, plant biology research is making many fundamental contributions 
in the areas of domestic fuel security and environmental stewardship; 
the continued and sustainable development of better fuels, foods, 
fabrics, pharmaceuticals, and building materials; and in the 
understanding of basic biological principles that underpin improvements 
in plant growth and home-grown energy sources for all Americans.
    In particular, plant biology is at the center of numerous 
scientific breakthroughs in the increasingly interdisciplinary world of 
alternative energy research. For example, researchers at National 
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) just published research that 
demonstrates the ability to convert wet waste carbon (food waste 
derived from fatty acids) to sustainable aviation fuels-highlighting 
the potential to simultaneously and synergistically address aviation 
needs and environmental challenges. Similarly, with the increase in 
plant genome sequencing and functional genomics, the interface of plant 
biology and computer science has become essential to our understanding 
of complex biological systems, ranging from single cells to entire 
ecosystems. This research is critical for our future bioenergy 
production.
    Despite the fact that foundational and mission-oriented plant 
biology research-the kind of research DOE funds-underpins vital 
advances in practical applications in energy, health, and the 
environment, plant scientists have had to maximize and leverage modest 
federal funding to understand the basic function and mechanisms of 
plants. Sustained strong investments in plant biology research are 
important considering the significant positive impact crop plants have 
on the nation's economy and in addressing some of our most urgent 
challenges, like energy and food security. For example, continued basic 
and applied research in fields like synthetic biology will enable the 
creation and production of more energy dense, carbon neutral fuels and 
expand the production of energy-efficient biomass.\1\
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    \1\ https://roadmap.ebrc.org/energy/.
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    Nearly 10 years ago, ASPB organized a two-phase Plant Science 
Research Summit with support and funding from DOE, the National Science 
Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Howard Hughes 
Medical Institute. The Summit brought together representatives from 
across the full spectrum of plant science research to develop a 
research agenda and resulted in a report-Unleashing a Decade of 
Innovation in Plant Science: A Vision for 2015-2025.\2\ This vision has 
helped guide our community towards significant gains in foundational 
and applied plant science. Importantly, novel crop varieties and 
precision agriculture technologies are producing more food per acre 
with less exogenous inputs. However, as climate change continues to 
threaten our agriculture systems, the work of the plant science 
research community is more pressing than ever. Additional significant 
progress is possible, but will require a bold commitment of resources 
from the federal government. As a research community, our continued 
vision is to create plant systems that are flexible and adaptable to 
both new and existing challenges by increasing the predictive and 
synthetic abilities of plant biology. In achieving these goals, the 
plant science research community will make significant contributions 
to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ plantsummit.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/
plantsciencedecadalvision10-18-13.pdf.
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  --Exploring, conserving, and utilizing our natural resources;
  --Protecting, maintaining, and improving energy crop productivity;
  --Creating new plant-inspired bioproducts, companies, and industries; 
        and
  --Reducing the environmental impact and energy footprint of 
        agriculture.
               securing the plant science talent pipeline
    As discussed above, many of the challenges that come with our 
changing world must be addressed specifically by plant scientists. A 
significant--but sustainable--increase in crop productivity will be 
needed to match the demand for food expected from the rate of 
population growth. At the same time, climate change will present new 
trials for crops and other plant ecosystems. These challenges will 
require efforts to increase productivity beyond current practices, 
including improvement in crop water use efficiency and enhanced crop 
photosynthesis efficiency and performance, to name just a few 
approaches. More knowledge and innovation will be needed to replace 
chemicals from non-renewable sources (from fuels to biomedical 
applications) with plant-derived metabolites. These types of 
innovations will require contributions from basic and applied plant 
science fields and collaboration with other sciences, computation, and 
engineering.
    To tackle these challenges, a strong and diverse community of plant 
scientists, with increased involvement from women and marginalized 
scientists, will be needed. However, the current training pipeline does 
not appear prepared to ensure the availability of this workforce. 
Overall, the number of Ph.D. degrees awarded in the US in biomedical 
sciences in the last two decades has increased at an unsustainable 
rate, even triggering warnings from members of the National Academy of 
Sciences; however, this trend has not been paralleled by increases in 
plant-related Ph.D. degrees. In fact, plant science doctoral degrees, 
both basic and agronomy-related, have remained stagnant during this 
time period. Clearly, a strong investment in plant science research, 
both basic and applied, renewed efforts to transform public perceptions 
of plant biology and plant biologists, and a push to increase the 
number of students entering the pipeline leading to plant science 
degrees are necessary to change these trends. Developing the workforce 
that will contribute the solutions to future challenges is urgent.
    With this need in mind, ASPB applauds the awards DOE has made in 
training the next generation of scientists. Most recently, DOE has 
invested $20 million at the Oak Ridge Institute with the goal of 
training 150 Ph.D.s in energy related fields in the next five years. 
More investments like this, including outreach to women and individuals 
in marginalized groups, is vital for the US to maintain its energy 
leadership.
                          doe recommendations
    Because the ASPB membership has extensive expertise and 
participation in the academic, industry, and government research 
sectors, ASPB is in an excellent position to articulate the nation's 
plant science priorities as they relate to fundamental plant biology 
and, specifically, with regard to recommendations for bioenergy 
research funding through DOE's Office of Science.
    Within the Office of Science, the programs in Biological and 
Environmental Research (BER) and Basic Energy Sciences (BES) are 
crucial to understanding how basic biological processes operate. 
Sustained funding for these programs is vital, because the discoveries 
made in these areas will ultimately be the foundation for the next 
fuels and technologies we use in our daily lives.
    Support from ARPA-E is critical to advancing plant synthetic 
biology technologies, and ASPB implores the committee to include 
sustained, targeted funding for synthetic biology research in the 
program.
    In addition:
  --We commend the DOE Office of Science, through its programs in BES 
        and BER, for having funded the Bioenergy Research Centers and 
        the Energy Frontier Research Centers. These centers provide a 
        model for collective science innovation that complements DOE's 
        essential investment in individual investigator and small group 
        science. ASPB strongly encourages additional funding for the 
        DOE Office of Science that would specifically target funding at 
        individual and small-group grants for bioenergy and plant 
        growth research.
  --Considerable research interest is now focused on the processing of 
        plant biomass for energy production. Fundamental discoveries of 
        the genes that control plant growth and enable plant growth in 
        response to stresses, including drought, are needed to secure 
        our energy future. If biomass crops, including woody plants, 
        are to be used to their full potential, extensive effort must 
        be expended to improve our understanding of their basic biology 
        and development, as well as their agronomic performance and 
        conversion efficiency in processing to fuels and high-value co-
        products. Therefore, ASPB calls for DOE to support research 
        targeted at efforts to increase the utility and agronomic 
        performance of bioenergy feedstocks, both in the field and for 
        their end users in the bioeconomy.
    Thank you for your consideration of our testimony on behalf of the 
American Society of Plant Biologists. For more information about the 
American Society of Plant Biologists, please see www.aspb.org.
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply 
               System and Dry Prairie Rural Water System
                    fiscal year 2022 budget request
    The Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Dry Prairie 
Rural Water System respectfully request FY 2022 appropriations of 
$17.760 million, part of the Bureau of Reclamation Rural Water Program 
(Table 1).
    The FY 2022 federal funding request is $7.021 million for the 
Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System (ASRWSS) and $10.739 
million for the Dry Prairie Rural Water System (DPRWS) to fully 
complete project construction. The combined request leaves a projected 
appropriation of $548,000 in FY 2023 to account for final indexing and 
any adjustments for non-federal cost shares or other.


    The project expresses the greatest appreciation to the Chairman and 
Subcommittee for its unwavering support during the construction of this 
vital infrastructure in a vast area of Montana.
    FY 2022 funds will be used to construct all remaining important 
elements of the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System, Montana, (PL 
106-382, October 27, 2000). The request is within the capability to 
spend funds in FY 2022. Design, cultural resource surveys, wetland 
surveys, and easements related to all proposed project features will be 
completed by the ASRWSS and Dry Prairie and approved by Reclamation in 
advance of the use of FY 2022 funds. Those activities are already 
underway on most FY 2022 projects.
                    project status and funding needs
    As shown in Table 2, the overall project will be 94% complete at 
the end of FY 2021. ASRWSS will be 97% complete, and DPRWS will be 89% 
complete. ASRWSS has built the regional intake, water treatment plant 
and all main transmission interconnections that serve both ASRWSS and 
Dry Prairie.
    Construction funds remaining to be spent after FY 2021 total 
$17.759 million within the current authorization, including a projected 
federal overrun on Dry Prairie of $4.285 million (in October 2020 
dollars). FY 2022 appropriations at the level requested will leave a 
projected need for $548,000 in FY 2023 to adjust for inflation at the 
rate experienced over the last 5 years (3.72%), for final adjustment of 
non-federal cost shares and for other adjustments necessary to complete 
the project.


    The ASRWSS project features to complete its Reservation portion of 
project are currently under budget by $726,000. The ASRWSS portion of 
the project can be completed if appropriations cited above are 
available in FY 2022. The funds currently under budget will be spent on 
beneficial and federally approvable projects within the authorized 
construction ceiling.
    Congress has authorized three amendments of PL 106-382 to extend 
the project completion most recently to December 31, 2026. The project 
funding will be completed in FY 2022 unless there are significant 
reductions in appropriations for the rural water program in FY 2022.
                            project history
    The project has reached 94% completion over a period of 20 years 
(averaging about 4.7% completion annually). Continued Congressional 
support is needed for the Reclamation Rural Water Program to complete 
our currently authorized project funding in FY 2022. Fixed annual 
overhead costs have reduced funding that can be allocation to 
construction of project features because the project was required to 
build over twice the number of years anticipated at authorization. 
Despite the additional overhead costs, the project will be completed 
within budget, subject to a current federal project cost overrun on Dry 
Prairie of $4.285 million that resulted unexpectedly due to lower 
indexing in FY 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The expected indexing 
based on historic trends was not enough to cover actual increases in 
unit prices for construction. Dry Prairie is working with Reclamation 
to reduce the overrun.
    ASRWSS and DPRWS have worked extremely well and closely with the 
Bureau of Reclamation since the authorization of the project in FY 
2000. The Commissioner, Regional, and Area Offices of the Bureau of 
Reclamation have been consistently in agreement with the need, scope, 
total costs, and the ability to pay analysis that supported the federal 
and non-federal cost shares. There have been no areas of disagreement 
or controversy in the formulation or implementation of the project.
                                 ______
                                 
                   Prepared Statement of Aurora Water
    I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. 
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for 
these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Marshall Brown, General Manager, 
Aurora Water.]
                                 ______
                                 
                   Prepared Statement of Aurora Water
    I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. 
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for 
these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Marshall Brown, General Manager, 
Aurora Water.]
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the Building Performance Association, 
          E4TheFuture, and the Building Performance Institute
    As leaders in the residential energy efficiency industry, the 
Building Performance Association, E4TheFuture, and the Building 
Performance Institute respectfully urge your support, through the 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, 
to provide robust funding to advance programs at the Department of 
Energy (DOE) that invest in residential energy efficiency and whole-
house initiatives. The President's FY 2022 budget request makes 
significant investments in the Weatherization Assistance Program, State 
Energy Program, and Building Technologies Office. For the many reasons 
detailed below, we urge Congress to continue support for these programs 
and work to ensure that sub accounts within the DOE Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy are robustly funded so that their 
important work may continue and expand. On behalf of our stakeholders 
and members, we thank you for this opportunity to express our support 
for these important programs and initiatives that pay for themselves 
many times over and are a wise and modest investment that help 
Americans save money, improve energy security, and live and work in 
safe and comfortable buildings.
    The Building Performance Association (BPA) is a membership-driven 
501(c)6 industry association dedicated to advancing the home and 
building performance industry by delivering improved energy efficiency, 
health, safety, and environmental performance of buildings through our 
key stakeholders. With over 9,500 member companies operating in every 
state, BPA supports home performance contractors, weatherization 
agencies and training centers, product manufacturers and distributors, 
program sponsors and implementers, building scientists, and non-profits 
focused on residential and commercial energy efficiency.
    E4TheFuture is non-profit 501c(3) organization which collaborates 
with industry stakeholders to provide expert policy solutions, 
education, and advocacy to advance residential clean energy and energy 
efficiency solutions on the federal, state and local level.
    The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is the nation's premier 
building performance credentialing, quality assurance, and standards 
setting organization. Approved by the American National Standards 
Institute, Inc. (ANSI) as an accredited developer of American National 
Standards and as a certifying body for personnel credentials, BPI 
develops technical standards and professional certifications that help 
raise the bar in home performance contracting.
    BPA, E4TheFuture, and BPI offer their strong support for DOE's 
residential efficiency programs and initiatives, as they are critical 
to the continued growth of the energy efficiency industry across the 
country. Public programs that support the energy efficiency industry 
are vital as it continues to develop and, as evidenced by a grassroots 
letter from U.S. taxpayers \1\ to House and Senate Energy and Water 
Appropriations subcommittee leadership, there is tremendous public 
support for these programs. The grassroots letter includes signatures 
from over 1,160 U.S. taxpayers from 48 states plus the District of 
Columbia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FY22-
Appropriations-Sign-On.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Energy efficiency equals jobs--it is the largest employer and 
fastest growing sector in the energy industry. The 2020 ``Energy 
Efficiency Jobs in America'' \2\ report from E4TheFuture found that the 
energy efficiency industry employs nearly 2.4 million Americans and, 
prior to the pandemic, was adding more jobs than any other energy 
sector. Through 2019, the energy efficiency industry featured twice as 
many workers as the entire U.S. fossil fuel industry and led the 
nation's energy economy in new job creation. The industry was expected 
to see another 3% growth in 2020. Instead, over 18% of the energy 
efficiency workforce (430,000 workers) lost their jobs in the initial 
months of the COVID-19 pandemic.\3\ While other sectors experienced 
robust recoveries in the second half of 2020, energy efficiency did 
not: In December 2020, over half of energy efficiency workers laid off 
in the spring (230,000) were still out of work. A significant portion 
of the energy efficiency jobs in the U.S. are in the residential 
sector, and approximately 56 percent of energy efficiency jobs involve 
construction and repairs. These are the contractors--the ``boots on the 
ground''--installing energy efficiency products and technologies and 
working to reduce energy waste in homes and buildings across the 
country. These local, family-sustaining jobs exist all across the 
country. In fact, 99.9% of U.S. counties have energy efficiency jobs 
and nearly 400,000 of these jobs are in rural areas.\4\ Residential 
energy efficiency jobs were hit particularly hard by the pandemic and 
statewide lockdown orders. Supporting these jobs as part of our 
nation's recovery will be critical.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/
EE_Jobs_America_2020.pdf.
    \3\ https://e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Clean-Energy-Jobs-
December-COVID-19-Memo-Final-Revised.pdf.
    \4\ https://e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/E2-2021-Clean-Jobs-
America-Report-04-19-2021.pdf.
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    Dollar for dollar, investments in energy efficiency create more 
jobs than investment in the utility sector or fossil-fuels,\5\ and 
investments in DOE programs that support energy efficiency--like the 
Building Technologies Office, Weatherization Assistance Program, and 
State Energy Program--lead to job creation and economic growth. For 
example, investment in weatherization creates direct jobs in sales and 
installation and indirect jobs in equipment manufacturing and 
distribution.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ ACEEE. N.d. Energy Efficiency and Economic Opportunity. 
Retrieved from http://aceee.org/files/pdf/fact-sheet/ee-economic-
opportunity.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition to economic and jobs benefits, residential energy 
efficiency also plays a key role in public health. A DOE report on the 
Weatherization Assistance Program \6\ found that home improvements 
focused on energy efficiency can improve indoor air quality, which 
reduces respiratory illness and sick days, and improves mental 
alertness and productivity for both children and adults. Two additional 
reports from 2016--E4TheFuture's ``Occupant Health Benefits of 
Residential Energy Efficiency'' \7\ and the U.S. Department of Energy's 
``HomeRx: The Health Benefits of Home Performance'' \8\--also found 
that residential energy efficiency upgrades can help to address asthma 
triggers and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), 
leading to reduced healthcare costs. Under the pandemic, these health 
co-benefits from residential energy efficiency have grown even more 
vital.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ https://energy.gov/eere/wipo/downloads/weatherization-
assistance-program-national-evaluation.
    \7\ https://e4thefuture.org/occupant-health-benefits-of-
residential-energy-efficiency/.
    \8\ https://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/home-rx-health-
benefits-home-performance-review-current-evidence.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Promoting building efficiency is also vital to achieving carbon 
reduction goals. Buildings are responsible for 31% of all U.S. 
greenhouse gas emissions,\9\ and are therefore critical to any 
emissions reduction strategy. A recent report from ACEEE found that 
energy efficiency alone can cut energy use and U.S. greenhouse gas 
emissions in half by 2050, and buildings deliver 33% of the total 
emissions reductions in the report's model.\10\ The residential 
buildings sector in particular remains largely untapped. Residential 
buildings account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption,\11\ use 
more electricity than any other sector,\12\ and are the largest 
contributor to peak demand.\13\ Addressing this sector is essential 
from a carbon emissions reduction standpoint.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\ Total combined emissions from the residential and commercial 
sectors with electricity-related emissions distributed. https://
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-04/documents/us-ghg-inventory-
2019-main-text.pdf.
    \10\ https://aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/
researchreports/u1907.pdf.
    \11\ https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/mer.pdf.
    \12\ https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_01_02.html.
    \13\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f61/bto-
geb_overview-4.15.19.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The below programs at the Department of Energy deserve the support 
of the American taxpayer as these programs are proven to provide a 
significant return on investment. When funded they will continue to 
provide energy cost relief to households, support American-based 
industry and American jobs, ameliorate issues with the aging electrical 
grid, and support national security goals. We also urge additional 
funding either through regular appropriations or supplemental funding 
in the event an energy/infrastructure package is considered. In the 
event that opportunity presents itself, we would urge:
    1. Title VI of the House-passed, FY21 House Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Bill as a starting point to fund the State 
Energy Program (SEP) ($730 million--$3.8 billion if adjusted for 
inflation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA]) (for 
base, formula funds), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) ($3.25 
billion--$6.2 billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA) ; and
    2. the HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce training and 
residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's Budget 
Request ($2 billion in FY22).
                  regular fy22 appropriations requests
    $80 M for Residential Buildings Integration program within the 
Building Technologies Office (BTO), which has the capacity to 
fundamentally transform the performance of homes and greatly improve 
the energy efficiency in the 115 million existing residential buildings 
throughout this country. As mentioned above, residential buildings 
account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption, use more electricity 
than any other sector, and are therefore an essential (albeit often 
overlooked) part of the carbon reduction equation. RBI can 
significantly improve the energy efficiency in the residential sector 
through its partnerships with the thousands of small businesses in this 
sector, the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and 
systems suppliers, integrators and state and local governments. To 
date, approximately 950,000 energy efficiency improvement projects have 
been completed on existing homes through the Home Performance with 
ENERGY STAR program. We recommend that this program receive a line item 
in the budget for at least $80 million and that the funding be focused 
on facilitating later-stage research, demonstration, and widespread 
deployment of technology solutions in new and existing homes, with an 
emphasis on whole-house energy efficiency retrofits (including 
outreach, engagement and training to private sector contractors) and 
continuing efforts to advance grid-interactive residential buildings 
and smart home technology. We encourage the direct engagement with 
residential contractors and businesses, which are crucial to the 
success of buildings programs. The President's FY22 budget supports 
increasing funding for this program to $72 million, but we respectfully 
urge Congress to fund Residential Buildings Integration at no less than 
$80 million.
    $90 M for State Energy Program (SEP). We urge the Committee to 
provide funding of at least $90 million for SEP, which provides funding 
and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of 
Columbia to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy 
initiatives, and maximize the benefits of decreasing energy waste. The 
President's FY22 budget supports increasing funding for this program, 
but we request that at least $90M of funding be used for direct formula 
grants to the states. Over the past 30 years, SEP has proven to be the 
critical link in helping states improve efficiency in hospitals and 
schools, establish business incubators and job training programs, and 
establish relationships with energy service companies and small 
businesses to implement cost-effective energy efficiency programs 
across their state. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) found that 
every dollar invested in SEP by the federal government yields over $10 
leveraged for energy-related economic development and realizes $7.22 in 
energy cost savings for U.S. citizens and businesses--a tremendous 
economic value. SEP provides extraordinary value and flexibility, which 
is why governors across the country strongly support continued funding. 
It is important to note that SEP defers to the governors all decisions 
on allocating resources provided by DOE to meet their states' 
priorities such as energy emergency planning and response and energy 
related economic development.
    $360 M for Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). We ask the 
Committee to provide funding of at least $360 million for WAP, which 
helps low-income and rural families, seniors, and individuals with 
disabilities make lasting energy efficiency improvements to their 
homes. WAP has a proven track record of creating new jobs and 
contributing to the economy through the program's large supply chain of 
vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers. Since 1976, WAP has helped make 
more than 8 million homes more efficient, saving the average recipient 
about $4,200 over the lifetime of their home. A peer-reviewed study 
from ORNL found that the program is cost-effective at even conservative 
levels of evaluation. Each dollar that goes toward weatherization 
assistance yields at least $2.30 in benefits, and by some estimates as 
much as $4.10 to the home and society. The President's FY22 budget 
request proposes a significant increase to WAP, funding the program at 
$390M. We respectfully ask the Committee to continue support for the 
program in Fiscal Year 2022 in order to assist America's low- and 
moderate-income citizens.
    Aside from the very important programs noted above, BPA, 
E4TheFuture, and BPI would like to request the Committee support the 
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) within the Department of 
Energy. The annual USEER is an invaluable resource for both employers 
and policymakers and, in this moment of economic turmoil, supporting 
the report is particularly critical. Funding from DOE makes USEER 
possible every year. Without future reports, the economic fallout from 
the pandemic and its impacts on the energy sector nationwide will not 
be fully recorded, depriving decisionmakers of crucial employment 
information.
    In addition, we respectfully ask the Committee to support existing 
training programs that fund clean energy and energy efficiency jobs 
within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). 
These EERE workforce development programs assist and support workers in 
trades and activities required for the continued growth of the U.S. 
energy efficiency and clean energy sectors. Seismic shifts in the 
energy workforce caused by COVID-19 have underlined the continuing need 
for these programs. We urge the Committee to support the USEER, funded 
at $2 million in FY22, as well as these workforce development programs 
within EERE.
    In conclusion, BPA, E4TheFuture, and BPI offer their strong support 
for DOE's residential efficiency programs and initiatives, as they are 
critical to the continued advancement of the energy efficiency 
industry, which contributes to the country's overall economic growth, 
energy independence, and international competitiveness, and also 
represents a significant and largely untapped resource for carbon 
reduction. Public programs that support the energy efficiency industry 
are vital as it continues to develop and there is tremendous public 
support for these programs. The very small investments in the programs 
discussed above pay for themselves many times over and are a wise and 
modest investment that help Americans save money, improve energy 
security, and live and work in safe and comfortable buildings. Again, 
thank you for providing this opportunity to submit testimony. We look 
forward to working with you.

    [This statement was submitted by Steve Skodak, President & CEO, 
Building Performance Association,Stephen Cowell, President, 
E4TheFuture, and Larry Zarker, CEO, Building Performance Institute.]
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy
    The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) urges Congress 
to make clean energy and demand-side energy efficiency central to 
infrastructure improvement measures enacted in the 117th Congress, with 
a focus on resilience and improved public health and safety. A key 
aspect of rebuilding our nation's infrastructure will be to enact 
robust funding for clean energy programs managed by federal agencies, 
in particular the Department of Energy, in the FY2022 Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations bill. A document containing clean energy 
industry funding requests for BCSE members in the renewable energy, 
energy efficiency and natural gas sectors for the FY2022 Energy and 
Water Appropriations Bill can be found here for your reference.
    Federal investment in clean energy innovation has received 
bipartisan support because Congress recognizes the United States of 
America must lead the world in sustainable energy technologies to meet 
the need for grid reliability and safety, while boosting economic 
growth and reducing environmental impacts.
    For these reasons, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy 
urges Congress to continue to adequately fund Department of Energy 
(DOE) clean energy programs for the offices of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy (EERE), Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FE), 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (EDER), Advanced Research 
Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and other essential DOE clean energy 
programs. These federal research development and deployment funds can 
be used to leverage business investment to accelerate deployment and 
emissions reductions in all sectors of the economy.
    The BCSE is a coalition of companies and trade associations from 
the energy efficiency, energy storage, natural gas, renewable energy, 
sustainable transportation and emerging decarbonization technology 
sectors. It includes independent electric power producers, investor-
owned utilities, public utilities, equipment manufacturers, commercial 
end users and service providers in energy and environmental markets. 
Founded in 1992, the coalition's diverse business membership is united 
around the revitalization of the U.S. economy and the creation of a 
clean, secure and reliable energy future in America.
    The BCSE is pleased to have an independent small- and medium-size 
businesses initiative under its banner, the Clean Energy Business 
Network (CEBN). Together, the BCSE and CEBN represent a broad range of 
the clean energy economy, from Fortune 100 companies to small 
businesses working in all 50 states and over 350 Congressional 
districts. On a national basis, these industries support over 3 million 
U.S. jobs.
    The 2021 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook recently released 
by the BCSE and BloombergNEF shows that despite major headwinds brought 
about due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transformation of how the U.S. 
produces, delivers, and consumes hydrocarbons, electrons and heat 
marched onward.
    Congress has the opportunity to build on market conditions by 
funding research, development and deployment across a broad portfolio 
of technologies and industries, including energy efficiency and CHP, 
hydropower and marine energy, geothermal energy, wind, solar, energy 
storage, microgrids, carbon management and utilization, hydrogen, 
critical minerals, sustainable transportation and others to meet the 
need for grid reliability and safety, while boosting economic growth 
and reducing environmental damage.
    The Council welcomes the opportunity to share information from the 
Factbook with you and we look forward to working with you throughout 
the FY2022 budget cycle.

    [This statement was submitted by Lisa Jacobson, President, Business 
Council for Sustainable Energy.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Carbon Utilization Research Council
    Summary of CURC FY 2022 Recommendation: The Carbon Utilization 
Research Council (``CURC'') is an industry coalition focused on 
technology solutions for the responsible use of our fossil energy 
resources in a balanced, low carbon generation portfolio.\1\ CURC 
recommends $1,388,250,000 for the CCUS & Power Systems Program, funded 
by the Fossil Energy Research and Development (FE R&D) budget.
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    \1\ For more information, please visit www.curc.net.
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    Benefits of Investment in Carbon Management Technologies: 
Deployment of carbon management technologies including carbon capture, 
utilization, and storage (CCUS) will have emissions reductions 
benefits, contribute to a growing economy, and play a critical role in 
the ongoing energy transition. In addition to providing low-carbon, 
dispatchable electricity to load follow intermittent renewables on the 
electric grid, CCUS provides a mean to reduce emissions from hard-to-
decarbonize industrial processes including cement production and 
steelmaking and can help to create low- and zero- carbon fuels 
including hydrogen that have a wide variety of applications to 
decarbonize transportation, hard-to-abate industries, and provide long 
term, seasonal storage for the grid. International climate authorities 
like the International Energy Agency have determined that reaching 
economywide net-zero emissions in any scenario is ``virtually 
impossible'' without CCUS.
    Federal investment in CCUS RD&D will also substantially benefit 
U.S. economic competitiveness, as the technology will allow us to 
maintain existing jobs and expertise in incumbent industries in 
addition to creating new, high-wage jobs in the energy and 
manufacturing sectors.
CURC-EPRI Roadmap:
    CURC and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) continuously 
evaluate technology needs that reflect changing markets and policies 
that impact fossil fuel use in the electric sector, which are 
communicated through an Advanced Technology Roadmap. The Roadmap 
identifies a suite of CCUS technologies that, if implemented, can 
deliver low carbon emission, fossil-fueled power plants between 2025-
2035 that are cost-competitive with other sources of electricity. 
Several technologies identified in the Roadmap are readying for large-
scale pilot testing while others are preparing for commercial 
demonstration. It is critical that a program is implemented to 
successfully commercialize these technologies to successfully meet any 
proposed net-zero objectives. This means annual federal budgets must 
increase to support the scale-up effort.
Federal Support of RD&D:
    The U.S. has been a leader in the development of fossil energy 
technology with the support of the DOE's world class CCUS RD&D 
programs. In 2020, Congress recognized the need for expedited 
development and deployment of these technologies through the enactment 
of P.L. 116-260, which authorized approximately $6.7 billion over five 
years for carbon management RD&D. These authorizations are in alignment 
with the recommendations of the CURC-EPRI Roadmap and will allow DOE to 
continue to make substantial progress in the development and 
commercialization of CCUS technologies for applications across sectors, 
including electric power.
     ccus & power systems program fiscal year 2022 specific budget 
                            recommendations
    CURC recommends full funding of the authorization levels for Carbon 
Management activities included in P.L. 116-260. However, CURC has 
several overarching comments regarding FY 2022 funding for the CCUS and 
Power Systems Program:
    1. Any additional funding provided by Committee for new program 
activities should not come at the expense of existing initiatives, for 
which the Department has already made substantial progress to 
commercialize technologies.
    2. Funding for selected projects under the Coal FIRST Initiative 
should be provided to construct project facilities, as each project is 
intended to demonstrate technologies that will result in net-zero 
carbon electricity and hydrogen production and are in line with the 
objectives of this Administration.
    3. Continued funding should be directed to the Department to 
retrofit existing coal- and natural gas-fired electric power 
facilities, which will be critical to achieve the Administration's 
electric sector decarbonization objectives.
    4. Substantial investment is needed to enable large-scale carbon 
storage, which underpins the entire value proposition of electric power 
and industrial sector carbon capture as well as negative emissions 
carbon capture technologies.
Carbon Capture Commercialization:
    CURC recommends $500M. CURC recommends funding for the Department 
to initiate a Carbon Capture Commercialization Program consistent with 
commercial demonstration objectives authorized in PL 116-260 and 
recommends that expanded funding for the Department be used to fund 
commercial-scale applications of carbon capture technologies for coal, 
natural gas, and industrial applications.
Carbon Capture:
    CURC recommends $205M. Consistent with the objectives of P.L. 116-
260, CURC's recommendation includes funding to support research, 
development, large-scale pilot projects, and carbon capture test 
centers for a variety of transformational carbon capture technologies 
to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of carbon capture in both 
power and industrial sector applications. Funding for carbon capture 
should also be applied to new transformational technologies that are 
part of the DOE's Advanced Energy Systems program (addressed below), as 
intended by the carbon capture program authorization in the Energy Act 
of 2020, as those technologies inherently include carbon capture as 
part of the overall process. CURC supports efforts to evaluate 
industrial carbon capture and negative emissions technologies, but not 
at the expense of critical existing R&D for post- and pre-combustion 
capture technologies. CURC recommends full funding for the National 
Carbon Capture Center (NCCC), which is a critical path for testing and 
scaling up new technologies.
Front-End Engineering and Design:
    CURC recommends $50M for a front-end engineering and design (FEED) 
program on coal, natural gas, and industrial applications of carbon 
capture technologies, consistent with objectives authorized in P.L. 
116-260, which will provide technical and economic data necessary to 
accelerate CCUS project deployment. Funds within this appropriation 
should also be utilized to conduct FEED studies of carbon dioxide 
storage complexes that may be part of the carbon capture projects 
selected for a DOE award.
Carbon Storage:
    CURC recommends $200M. CURC supports the authorized funding levels 
for Carbon Storage activities included in P.L. 116-260. CURC notes that 
direct air capture and other negative emissions technologies will also 
be dependent on a robust carbon storage industry and recommends a more 
robust program as follows:
  --Storage Infrastructure: CURC--$180M.
    --Regional Initiatives: CURC--$30M to diversify the Regional 
            Initiatives' efforts, which were spun out of the Regional 
            Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). The Regional 
            Initiatives develop the geologic framework and 
            infrastructure necessary to validate and deploy carbon 
            storage, including the assessment of locations for 
            CarbonSAFE or other commercial-scale carbon storage 
            projects.
    --CarbonSAFE: CURC--$150M to fully fund CarbonSAFE Phase III 
            projects selected in fiscal year 2020 through to Phase IV 
            and, with remaining funds, solicit proposals for additional 
            CarbonSAFE projects. CarbonSAFE Phase III effort will seek 
            permits, continue to integrate efforts with regional 
            sources of CO2, demonstrate technical viability 
            of storage sites and support development of the 
            qualification processes necessary for a site to begin to 
            commercially accept CO2.
  --CCUS Storage R&D: CURC--$20M. CURC recommends continued focus on 
        R&D at all TRL levels to address technical gaps to improve 
        reliability of CCUS storage, including continued 
        characterization of potential storage opportunities, monitoring 
        and modeling technologies, risk assessment and mitigation tools 
        should be supported.
Carbon Utilization:
    CURC recommends $55.25M. CURC recommends funding for Carbon 
Utilization RD&D activities consistent with P.L. 116-260.
Advanced Energy Systems:
    CURC recommends $273M. P.L. 116-260 includes authorizing language 
for R&D and large-scale pilot projects for a variety of 
transformational carbon management technologies, including those 
covered by the Advanced Energy Systems program that inherently include 
carbon capture as part of their system process. CURC recommends funding 
for specific subprograms as follows:
  --Advanced Gasification Systems: $20M. CURC recommends continued 
        focus on research for low cost, modular gasification 
        technologies that will increase efficiency and lower capital 
        costs for coal and biomass to hydrogen or power applications, 
        as well as research to support a broad range of R&D.
  --Advanced Turbines: $50M. CURC recommends funding to undertake R&D 
        to improve the efficiency of gas turbines, to utilize 100% 
        hydrogen as well as hydrogen-natural gas blends as well as 
        ammonia and ammonia-hydrogen blends, and to test and validate 
        components and their performance as an integrated system.
  --Fuel Cells: $40M. CURC recommends funding for the development of 
        next generation fuel cell technologies to produce both power 
        and hydrogen from fossil fuels.
  --Advanced Combustion Systems: $68M. CURC recommends funding to 
        advance novel energy conversion technologies, including 
        chemical looping ($11M), pressurized oxycombustion ($29M), and 
        supercritical CO2 systems ($38M) for bench-scale work as well 
        as to advance promising technologies to pilot-scale testing.
Supercritical CO2 Technology (STEP):
    CURC recommends $20M. CURC recommends efforts, consistent with the 
original scope of work, to complete the necessary design and 
construction of the 10-MW pilot and to conduct the necessary testing 
for the facility. CURC also recommends funds for competitively awarded 
research and development activities, coordinated with the Offices of 
Nuclear Energy (NE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), 
to advance the use of supercritical power cycles.
Transformational Coal Pilot Plant Program:
    CURC recommends $10M, consistent with FY 2021 appropriations, to 
continue funding Phase III projects selected in FY 2021.
Cross Cutting R&D Program:
    CURC recommends $75M. CURC's recommendations for Cross Cutting R&D 
include:
  --Sensors and Controls: $8M to improve monitoring of systems and 
        apply solutions to mitigate stress on fossil systems that 
        increasingly operate under cycling load conditions.
  --Extreme Environmental Materials: $16M. CURC recommends $8M to 
        support high temperature and pressure component testing under 
        real operating conditions, a project underway between DOE and 
        industry; and $8M for the A-USC Materials Consortium.
  --Water Management R&D: $15M for thermoelectric applications of water 
        use and reuse, reduced water withdrawals, clean-up of water 
        discharge, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies.
  --Computational Science: $11M.
  --Advanced Energy Storage Initiative: $5M. CURC supports funding for 
        thermal, mechanical, and chemical storage systems that can be 
        integrated with fossil power systems.
  --University Training and Research: $4M to develop the next 
        generation workforce for the fossil energy generation industry 
        which is experiencing a very large generation gap.
Other Initiatives Within Fossil Energy Research and Development:
    Outside of the CCUS and Power Systems Program, CURC provides the 
following recommendations within the broader FE R&D portfolio:
  --Natural Gas Utilization: $40M. CURC recommends the establishment of 
        a new research and development initiative within the Natural 
        Gas Technologies office to effectively utilize natural gas for 
        decarbonization solutions. Within those funds, CURC recommends 
        $40,000,000 for sustainable fuels and chemicals research and 
        development focused on conversion of natural gas, natural gas 
        liquids and other gas streams to low-carbon products, including 
        chemicals and fuels such as ammonia and low carbon hydrogen. 
        Comprehensive planning approaches for transitioning segments of 
        the economy to hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels should be a 
        part of the program, including analysis of the infrastructure 
        required to store and transport these fuels. CURC also supports 
        the establishment of a Center for Sustainable Fuels and 
        Chemicals at the National Energy Technology Lab and a funding 
        level of up to $15,000,000 for this initiative from within 
        available funds for sustainable fuels and chemicals research 
        and development.
  --Hydrogen RD&D: $86M. CURC encourages the FE to expand hydrogen 
        research, development and demonstration activities that support 
        fossil fuel-derived hydrogen production equipped with CCUS 
        technologies that results in significantly reduced carbon 
        dioxide intensity. CURC encourages the Committee to recognize 
        the importance of low- and zero-carbon hydrogen production for 
        a variety of end uses and to support continued collaboration 
        with the EERE, OE, and NE.

    [This statement was submitted by Shannon Angielski, Executive 
Director, Carbon Utilization Research Council.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District
    On behalf of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District 
(CAWCD), I encourage you to include an allocation of $10.7 million for 
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Salinity Control Basinwide Program for 
the Colorado River Basin in the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations bill. Continued funding for the Basinwide 
Program, which supports salinity control projects, will help protect 
the water quality of the Colorado River that is used by approximately 
40 million people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to 
irrigate approximately 4 million acres in the United States. CAWCD 
further supports continued prioritization of funding for the Drought 
Contingency Plan designed to reduce risks to the Colorado River basin 
from ongoing drought.
    CAWCD manages the Central Arizona Project, a multi-purpose water 
resource development and management project that delivers Colorado 
River water into central and southern Arizona. The largest supplier of 
renewable water in Arizona, CAP delivers an average of over 1.5 million 
acre-feet of Arizona's 2.8 million acre-foot Colorado River entitlement 
each year to municipal and industrial users, agricultural irrigation 
districts, and Indian communities.
    Our goal at CAP is to provide an affordable, reliable and 
sustainable supply of Colorado River water to a service area that 
includes more than 80 percent of Arizona's population. These renewable 
water supplies are critical to Arizona's economy and to the economies 
of Native American communities throughout the state. Nearly 90% of 
economic activity in the State of Arizona occurs within CAP's service 
area. The canal provides an economic benefit of $100 billion annually, 
accounting for one-third of the entire Arizona gross state product. CAP 
also helps the State of Arizona meet its water management and 
regulatory objectives of reducing groundwater use and ensuring 
availability of groundwater as a supplemental water supply during 
future droughts. Achieving and maintaining these water management 
objectives is critical to the long-term sustainability of a state as 
arid as Arizona.
  the colorado river basin salinity control program--its history and 
                              significance
    Recognizing the rapidly increasing salinity concentration in the 
Lower Colorado River and its impact on water users, Arizona joined with 
the other Colorado River Basin States in 1973 and organized the 
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum). In 1974, in 
coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. 
State Department, the Forum worked with Congress in the passage of the 
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) to offset increased 
damages caused by continued development and use of the waters of the 
Colorado River. Title I of the Salinity Control Act deals with the 
United States' commitment to the quality of water being delivered to 
Mexico. Title II of the Act deals with improving the quality of the 
water delivered to the U.S. users.
    In the early years of the Program, Reclamation implemented salinity 
control through large projects that were funded with specific line item 
amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created Reclamation's 
Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds competitive 
proposals that will decrease the salt load to the Colorado River. Most 
of the received proposals target off-farm irrigation distribution 
systems such as canals and laterals. The lining or piping of canals and 
laterals prevents leakage into the groundwater and the dissolution and 
transportation of salts to the Colorado River and its tributaries. 
States provide a 30 percent cost share of the projects implemented by 
Reclamation. CAWCD and other key water providers in the United States 
and Mexico are working to maintain salinity standards.
                 negative impacts of concentrated salts
    Natural and man-induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates 
environmental and economic damages. The Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) has identified that more than 60 percent of the salt load of the 
Colorado River comes from natural sources. With the significant federal 
ownership in the Basin, most of this comes from federally administered 
lands. Human activity, principally irrigation, adds to the salt load of 
the Colorado River. Further, natural and human activities concentrate 
the dissolved salts in the River.
    The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has estimated the 
current quantifiable damages of salt at about $454 million per year. 
Modeling by Reclamation indicates that quantifiable damages would 
increase to approximately $671 million annually by 2040 if the program 
were not to continue.
    These damages include: a reduction in the yield of salt sensitive 
crops and increased water use to meet the leaching requirements in the 
agricultural sector; increased use of imported water and cost of 
desalination and brine disposal for recycling water in the municipal 
sector; a reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe 
systems, water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers, 
and dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water softeners 
in the household sector; an increase in the cost of cooling operations 
and the cost of water softening, and a decrease in equipment service 
life in the commercial sector; an increase in the use of water and the 
cost of water treatment, and an increase in sewer fees in the 
industrial sector; a decrease in the life of treatment facilities and 
pipelines in the utility sector; and difficulty in meeting wastewater 
discharge requirements to comply with National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System permit terms and conditions, and an increase in 
desalination and brine disposal costs due to accumulation of salts in 
groundwater basins.
     u.s. bureau of reclamation and drought contingency plan (dcp)
    Federal legislation was enacted in 2019 to authorize the 
implementation of the DCP at the federal level. The DCP was designed to 
protect the Colorado River system through reductions in use and 
increased incentives for storage in Lake Mead, the Lower Basin's 
principal reservoir.
    The DCP agreements were developed through a collaborative process 
amongst the federal government, states, water users and Mexico. CAWCD 
encourages Congress to continue to prioritize support for the 
implementation of the DCP, including resources for the Bureau of 
Reclamation to achieve the goal to conserve up to 100,000 acre-feet per 
year as part of the DCP, and to continue to explore means to augment 
Colorado River system supplies consistent with the Colorado River Basin 
Project Act.
                               conclusion
    Implementation of salinity control practices through Reclamation's 
Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-effective method of 
controlling the salinity of the Colorado River. In fact, the salt load 
of the Colorado River has now been reduced by roughly 1.2 million tons 
annually. However, shortfalls in recent Basinwide Program funding 
levels have led to inefficiencies in the implementation of the overall 
Program. The Plan of Implementation, as adopted by the states and 
approved by EPA, calls for 63,500 tons of additional salinity control 
measures to be implemented by Reclamation, the Bureau of Land 
Management and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Services 
(NRCS) through 2021, or approximately 9,100 tons of new control each 
year by Reclamation.
    The current drought that has significantly impacted the West 
affects the amount of and quality of available water, which in turn has 
the potential to exacerbate the salinity concentration levels. As such, 
we respectfully request $10.7 million for the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation's Basinwide Program for the Colorado River Basin in the 
Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill. Continuation of adequate funding 
levels for salinity within this program will prevent further 
degradation of water quality of the Colorado River and significant 
increases of economic damages to its nearly 40 million municipal, 
industrial and irrigation users. In addition, we encourage Congress to 
continue to prioritize support for the implementation of the DCP.

    [This statement was submitted by Theodore C. Cooke, General 
Manager, Central Arizona Water Conservation District.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition
              summary of clean hydrogen future coalition 
                    fiscal year 2022 recommendation
    CHFC (Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition) recommends $1,280,000,000 
for clean hydrogen research, development, and deployment (RD&D) 
activities at the Department of Energy for FY 2022. These 
recommendations would direct $1,100,000,000 to clean hydrogen programs 
within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and 
$180,000,000 to clean hydrogen programs within the Office of Fossil 
Energy. However, CHFC stresses the importance of collaboration among 
the Offices of EERE, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, and Science to 
effectively and efficiently utilize funds and ensure a comprehensive 
approach to clean hydrogen production, transport, and utilization.
Background on the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition:
    The Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition (CHFC) is a diverse group of 
stakeholders supporting federal clean hydrogen policies that will 
stimulate the adoption of clean hydrogen in the U.S. and enable our 
country to achieve national decarbonization objectives while also 
increasing U.S. global competitiveness. CHFC members represent a broad 
spectrum of forward-thinking entities in industries that will play a 
critical role in the transition to a clean energy economy with a robust 
role for clean hydrogen.
Importance of Scaling Clean Hydrogen:
    With its ability to be used as a fuel source for transportation, as 
an industrial or chemical feedstock, or to produce and store 
electricity, clean hydrogen will have a critical role in accelerating 
decarbonization across all sectors of our economy. For example, clean 
hydrogen will be necessary to decarbonize heavier modes of transport--
including heavy-duty trucking, shipping, and aviation--that are 
substantially more difficult, if not impossible, to electrify than 
passenger vehicles. Clean hydrogen can also be substituted for fossil 
fuels to power certain high-temperature industrial processes that 
cannot be electrified and for which other mitigation options are 
limited or unavailable. In the electric power sector, clean hydrogen 
can be used to produce CO2 emissions-free electricity and can be used 
to enable the long-duration energy storage necessary to achieve the 
net-zero emission electric grid envisioned by the Biden administration.
    In order to create a clean hydrogen economy at the scale necessary 
to achieve national decarbonization objectives, the U.S. must take 
action to significantly reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production, 
propel its investment in clean hydrogen infrastructure, and incentivize 
its use in various end-use market applications. Scaling clean hydrogen 
will also provide an opportunity to transition existing--and create 
new--skilled, high wage jobs needed to support the clean energy 
transition.
Importance of Federal Support for RD&D:
    Given the level of clean hydrogen production, infrastructure, and 
end-use demand that must be in place to power a clean hydrogen economy 
at scale, a comprehensive and coordinated federal investment strategy 
is required from the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy has 
demonstrated commercialization successes across its applied energy 
research offices and federal support has long played a critical role in 
commercializing energy technologies and making them economically viable 
for the private sector. There are typically long lead times for 
advancing energy technologies from concept to demonstration, then to 
commercialization, and each phase carries significant technical and 
cost risks as well as uncertainty in market requirements and timing. To 
accelerate the energy transition, robust federal support is necessary 
to scale up clean hydrogen technologies through each of these stages, 
particularly if they are to be made available in a sufficient period of 
time to contribute to domestic decarbonization objectives.
  fiscal year 2022 specific budget recommendations--office of energy 
                    efficiency and renewable energy
    The CHFC recommends $1.1 billion for clean hydrogen RD&D activities 
within the EERE. While EERE has traditionally housed the majority of 
federal RD&D programs related to hydrogen, CHFC encourages the 
Committee to provide direction to DOE requiring cross-Department 
collaboration on hydrogen RD&D activities.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies:
    CHFC recommends $800 million. The CHFC recommends funding as 
follows:
  --H2@Scale Commercial Demonstration: CHFC recommends $500 million for 
        the initiation of a commercialization program for technologies 
        that have the potential to produce, transport, or utilize 
        hydrogen with low-, net-zero, or net-negative carbon dioxide 
        emissions. There are a number of clean hydrogen production 
        technologies for which funding should support, including hybrid 
        hydrogen production integrated with clean electricity 
        generation, autothermal reforming, compact hydrogen generators, 
        biomass combustion to hydrogen, and solid waste and plastics to 
        hydrogen. The CHFC encourages the Committee to recommend that 
        DOE utilize clean hydrogen produced from one commercial 
        demonstration facility for the purposes of supplying hydrogen 
        for medium- and heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the 
        associated fueling infrastructure to demonstrate the 
        integration of clean hydrogen production with specific end use 
        applications. The CHFC recommends that these activities be 
        conducted in coordination with the Office of Fossil Energy.
  --H2@Scale Front-End Engineering and Design: CHFC recommends $150 
        million for a front-end engineering and design (FEED) program 
        for technologies that have the potential to produce, transport, 
        or utilize hydrogen with low-, net-zero, or net-negative carbon 
        dioxide emissions. The CHFC recommends that these activities be 
        conducted in coordination with the Office of Fossil Energy.
  --Research, Development, and Demonstration: CHFC recommends $150 
        million to expand clean hydrogen research, development and 
        demonstration activities based on the priorities described in 
        the Department of Energy's 2020 ``Hydrogen Program Plan'' and 
        work in coordination with the Offices of Fossil and Nuclear 
        Energy to advance the priorities outlined in the strategy. 
        Within available funds, CHFC recommends continued research on 
        novel onboard hydrogen tank systems, trailer delivery systems 
        to reduce cost of delivered hydrogen, novel chemical hydrogen 
        carriers, and development of material-based storage and 
        hydrogen storage materials. CHFC also recommends continued 
        electrolyzer development, including high-temperature 
        electrolyzer RD&D activities, cost-shared with the office of 
        Nuclear Energy, with a focus on improving the efficiency and 
        reducing costs of electrolyzers. CHFC recommends continued fuel 
        cell technology development for the transportation fleet, 
        including for long haul and heavy-duty trucking. The CHFC 
        encourages the Department to consult regularly with industry to 
        avoid duplication of private-sector activities and to work with 
        the Department of Transportation and industry on coordinating 
        efforts to deploy hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
    SuperTruck III Program: CHFC recommends $300 million for continued 
funding of the SuperTruck III program to improve the energy and freight 
efficiency of heavy- and medium-duty long- and regional-haul vehicles. 
Within this funding, CHFC recommends demonstration of hydrogen fuel 
cell technologies capable of meeting cost, efficiency, and performance 
targets identified by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office 
for hydrogen-fueled long-haul Class 8 trucks.
  fiscal year 2022 specific budget recommendations--office of fossil 
                                 energy
    The CHFC recommends $180 million for the Office of Fossil Energy to 
undertake hydrogen-related RD&D activities within the Fossil Energy 
Research and Development (FE R&D) Program. The FE R&D Program can 
leverage existing expertise to further develop clean hydrogen 
production from fossil fuels coupled with carbon capture, utilization, 
and storage (CCUS) with low- and net-zero CO2 emissions, or net-
negative emissions when fossil fuels are co-fired with sustainable 
biomass resources. The Office of Fossil Energy is also home to existing 
expertise within the Department on hydrogen transport via pipeline and 
the use of clean hydrogen in industrial and power applications.
Natural Gas Technologies:
    The CHFC recommends $90 million for the Natural Gas Technologies 
Program as follows:
  --Clean Hydrogen RD&D: CHFC recommends $40 million to establish a new 
        research and development initiative within the Natural Gas 
        Technologies Office to decarbonize the use of natural gas to 
        produce clean fuels, including low- or zero-carbon hydrogen and 
        other low carbon fuels or feedstocks such as ammonia. 
        Comprehensive planning approaches for transitioning segments of 
        the economy to hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels should be a 
        part of the program, including analysis of the infrastructure 
        required to store and transport these fuels.
  --Natural Gas Infrastructure: CHFC recommends $50 million. The CHFC 
        recognizes the importance of leveraging our existing 
        infrastructure and its potential for transporting clean 
        hydrogen. Hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines is being 
        studied, and there is a need for additional research to 
        understand the impacts to existing infrastructure. Within this 
        funding, the CHFC recommends not less than $10 million to 
        conduct research and development for hydrogen transportation 
        and storage infrastructure, which should address the safety, 
        mechanical integrity, and regulatory impacts of blending 
        hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines and assess whether 
        those blends can be utilized throughout the distribution 
        system. Pipeline research should also focus on novel, low-cost 
        materials for use in pipelines to assess compatibility of 
        higher-strength steels with hydrogen and first-of-a-kind 
        demonstrations of novel pipeline technologies. Storage research 
        should focus on geologic storage of hydrogen. Comprehensive 
        planning approaches for transitioning segments of natural gas 
        users to increased hydrogen use should be part of the program, 
        including analysis of the infrastructure required to store and 
        transport hydrogen
CCUS and Power Systems:
    CHFC recommends $90 million for hydrogen-related RD&D activities 
within the CCUS and Power Systems Program as follows:
  --Advanced Turbines R&D: Within available funds for Advanced Energy 
        Systems, CHFC recommends $50 million for Advanced Turbines R&D, 
        with direction to use funds for a research and development 
        program focused on utilizing clean hydrogen, clean hydrogen-
        natural gas blends, and ammonia and ammonia-hydrogen blends, to 
        test and validate components and their performance as an 
        integrated system, working cooperatively with industry, 
        universities, and other appropriate parties. Funding should 
        also support demonstrating hydrogen turbines that can be fueled 
        with pure hydrogen.
  --Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Within available funds for Advanced Energy 
        Systems, CHFC recommends $40 million for the development of 
        next generation solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies to 
        produce power and hydrogen from fossil fuels. This activity 
        builds on significant progress made through research and 
        development in this program to enable efficient, cost-effective 
        electricity generation and hydrogen production with minimal use 
        of water. These activities will result in development of SOFC 
        technologies to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels while 
        benefiting from synergies with EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell 
        Technologies Program relative to infrastructure developments 
        and safety of end use. This funding will preserve U.S. 
        leadership in SOFC technology, ensure utilization of extensive 
        fossil fuel resources in the U.S., and will result in ultra-
        high efficiency production of power and hydrogen.

    [This statement was submitted by Shannon Angielski, President, 
Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
    Waters from the Colorado River are used by approximately 40 million 
people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to irrigate 
approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Natural and man-
induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates environmental and 
economic damages. In 2020 the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
estimated the quantifiable damages to Lower Basin water users due to 
elevated salinity levels at about $354 million per year. Congress 
authorized the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Program) 
through the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) (P.L. 93-
320) in 1974 to offset increased damages caused by continued 
development and use of the waters of the Colorado River. Modeling by 
Reclamation indicates that the quantifiable damages will rise to 
approximately $671 million annually by the year 2040 without 
continuation of the Program. Congress has directed the Secretary of the 
Interior to implement a comprehensive program for minimizing salt 
contributions to the Colorado River. Reclamation serves as the lead 
federal agency in implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily 
institutes salinity control through its Basinwide Program. A funding 
level of $10.7 million is required in 2022 to prevent further 
degradation of the quality of the Colorado River and a commensurate 
increase in downstream economic damages to water users.
    EPA has identified that more than 60 percent of the salt load of 
the Colorado River comes from natural sources. The majority of land 
within the Colorado River Basin is federally owned, much of which is 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In authorizing the 
Program, Congress recognized that most of the salts in the Colorado 
River originate from federally owned lands. Title I of the Act deals 
with programs downstream of Imperial Dam that enable the U.S. to meet 
its commitment regarding the quality of waters being delivered to 
Mexico (Minute No. 242 of the International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico). Title II of the Act addresses 
measures upstream from Imperial Dam, thus improving the quality of the 
water delivered to users in the United States. This testimony deals 
specifically with Title II efforts.
    In the early years of the Program, Reclamation implemented salinity 
control through large projects, which were funded with specific line-
item amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created 
Reclamation's Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds 
competitive proposals for projects which will decrease the salt load to 
the Colorado River. Most of the received proposals target off-farm 
irrigation distribution systems such as canals and laterals. The lining 
or piping of canals and laterals prevents leakage of water into the 
groundwater system and the dissolution and transportation of salts to 
the Colorado River and its tributaries. It is more efficient and cost 
effective for Reclamation to perform the off-farm distribution system 
improvements prior to NRCS treating the on-farm acres with salinity 
control practices (i.e., Reclamation should pipe a canal or lateral 
prior to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) putting a 
pressurized sprinkler system on farm). Shortfalls in recent Basinwide 
Program funding levels have led to inefficiencies in the implementation 
of the overall Program. The funding amount identified above is required 
to get the Basinwide Program back on pace with the overall Program 
implementation needs.
    Concentration of salt in the Colorado River causes approximately 
$354 million annually in quantified damages and significantly more in 
unquantified damages in the United States and results in poor water 
quality for United States users. Damages, by water usage sector, 
include the following:
  --a reduction in the ability to reclaim and reuse water for 
        beneficial uses, including drinking water and irrigation water 
        supplies, due to high salinities in the water delivered to 
        water treatment and reclamation facilities,
  --a reduction in the yield of salt sensitive crops, increased water 
        use to meet leaching requirements and additional actions 
        necessary to comply with the Clean Water Act within the 
        agricultural sector,
  --increased use of imported water and cost of desalination and brine 
        disposal for recycling water in the municipal sector,
  --a reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe systems, 
        water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers and 
        dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water 
        softeners in the household sector,
  --an increase in the cost of cooling operations and the cost of water 
        softening, and a decrease in equipment service life in the 
        commercial sector,
  --an increase in the use of water and the cost of water treatment, 
        and a corresponding increase in sewer fees in the industrial 
        sector,
  --a decrease in the lifespan of treatment facilities and pipelines in 
        the utility sector, and
  --difficulty in meeting wastewater discharge requirements to comply 
        with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit 
        terms and conditions, and an increase in desalination and brine 
        disposal costs necessary to minimize accumulation of salts in 
        groundwater basins.
    The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) is composed 
of gubernatorial appointees from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, 
New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Forum is charged with reviewing the 
Colorado River's water quality standards for salinity every three years 
to facilitate compliance with Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act 
(P.L. 92-500). In so doing, it adopts a Plan of Implementation 
consistent with these standards. The level of appropriation requested 
in this testimony is in keeping with the adopted Plan of 
Implementation. If adequate funds are not appropriated, significant 
damages from higher salinity concentrations in the water will be more 
widespread in the United States and Mexico.
    In summary, implementation of salinity control practices through 
Reclamation's Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-effective 
method of controlling the salinity of the Colorado River and is an 
essential component to the overall Program. Adequate funding levels for 
salinity control within this Program will prevent the water quality of 
the Colorado River from further degradation and significant increases 
in economic damages to municipal, industrial and irrigation users. A 
modest investment in source control pays huge dividends in improved 
water quality for nearly 40 million Americans.

    [This statement was submitted by Don A. Barnett, Executive 
Director, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
                                summary
    This Statement is submitted in support of Fiscal Year 2022 
appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program 
(Program) of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation). Reclamation serves as the lead federal agency in 
implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily institutes salinity 
control through its Basinwide Program. A total of $10,700,000 is 
requested for Fiscal Year 2022 to implement the authorized salinity 
control program of the Bureau of Reclamation. An appropriation of 
$10,700,000 for Reclamation's salinity control program is needed to 
protect water quality standards for salinity and to prevent unnecessary 
levels of economic damage from increased salinity in water delivered to 
the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
                               statement
    The water quality standards for salinity of the Colorado River must 
be protected while the Basin States continue to develop their compact 
apportioned waters of the river. The salinity standards for the 
Colorado River have been adopted by the seven Basin States and approved 
by the Environmental Protection Agency. While currently the standards 
have not been exceeded, salinity control projects must be brought on-
line in a timely manner to counter the effects of future development 
that could result in unnecessary damages from higher levels of salinity 
in the water delivered to the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
    The seven Colorado River Basin States, in response to the Clean 
Water Act of 1972, formed the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control 
Forum (Forum), a body comprised of gubernatorial representatives from 
the seven states. The Forum was created to provide for interstate 
cooperation in response to the Clean Water Act and to provide the 
states with information necessary to comply with Sections 303(a) and 
(b) of the Act. The Forum has become the primary means for the Basin 
States to coordinate with federal agencies and Congress to support the 
implementation of the salinity control program for the Colorado River 
Basin.
    The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was authorized by 
Congress and signed into law in 1974. This authorized the Secretary of 
the Interior to initiate the Program, and it created the Colorado River 
Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council representing the seven Basin 
States. This federal advisory committee works closely with the Forum.
    Colorado River water is used by approximately 40 million people and 
irrigates approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Bureau 
of Reclamation studies show that quantified damages from Colorado River 
salinity to United States water users are about $354 million per year. 
Unquantified damages are greater. Reclamation's modeling indicates that 
the quantifiable damages would increase to $671 million per year by 
2040 if the Program is not continued. Control of salinity is necessary 
for the states of the Colorado River Basin, including New Mexico, to 
continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters of the Colorado 
River.
    Timely appropriations for the funding of the salinity control 
program are essential to comply with the water quality standards for 
salinity, prevent unnecessary economic damages in the United States, 
and protect the quality of the water that the United States is 
obligated to deliver to Mexico. The Basin States and federal agencies 
agree that increases in the salinity of the Colorado River will result 
in significant increases in damages to water users in the Lower 
Colorado River Basin. Continued strong support and adequate funding of 
the salinity control program is required to control salinity-related 
damages in the United States and Mexico.
    Congress amended the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act in 
July 1995 (Public Law 104-20), creating Reclamation's Basinwide 
Program. The Basinwide Program has proven to be cost-effective, and the 
Basin States provide up-front cost-sharing. Proposals from public and 
private sector entities in response to Reclamation's requests for 
proposals and funding opportunity announcements have exceeded available 
funding appropriated in recent years. The Basin States' cost-sharing 
adds 43 cents for each federal dollar appropriated.
    Public Law 106-459 gave the Bureau of Reclamation additional 
spending authority for the salinity control program. With the 
additional authority in place and cost-sharing available from the Basin 
States, it is important that the salinity control program be funded at 
the level requested by the Forum and Basin States to protect the water 
quality of the Colorado River. Some of the most cost-effective salinity 
control opportunities occur when Reclamation improves irrigation 
delivery systems concurrently with on-farm irrigation improvements 
undertaken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Environmental 
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Basin States cost-share funding 
is available for both on-farm and off-farm improvements. The EQIP 
funding appears to be adequate to accomplish the on-farm work. Adequate 
funding for Reclamation's off-farm work is needed to maintain timely 
implementation and effectiveness of salinity control measures.
    I urge Congress to appropriate $10.7 million to the Basinwide 
Program of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Basin 
Salinity Control Program. This investment in water quality will pay for 
itself many times over. Also, I fully support testimony by the Forum's 
Executive Director, Don Barnett, in request of this appropriation.

    [This statement was submitted by Rolf Schmidt-Petersen, Director, 
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
                                summary
    This Statement is submitted in support of Fiscal Year 2022 
appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program 
(Program) of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation). Reclamation serves as the lead federal agency in 
implementing the Program. Reclamation primarily institutes salinity 
control through its Basinwide Program. A total of $10,700,000 is 
requested for Fiscal Year 2022 to implement the authorized salinity 
control program of the Bureau of Reclamation. An appropriation of 
$10,700,000 for Reclamation's salinity control program is needed to 
protect water quality standards for salinity and to prevent unnecessary 
levels of economic damage from increased salinity in water delivered to 
the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
                               statement
    The water quality standards for salinity of the Colorado River must 
be protected while the Basin States continue to develop their compact 
apportioned waters of the river. The salinity standards for the 
Colorado River have been adopted by the seven Basin States and approved 
by the Environmental Protection Agency. While currently the standards 
have not been exceeded, salinity control projects must be brought on-
line in a timely manner to counter the effects of future development 
that could result in unnecessary damages from higher levels of salinity 
in the water delivered to the Lower Basin States of the Colorado River.
    The seven Colorado River Basin States, in response to the Clean 
Water Act of 1972, formed the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control 
Forum (Forum), a body comprised of gubernatorial representatives from 
the seven states. The Forum was created to provide for interstate 
cooperation in response to the Clean Water Act and to provide the 
states with information necessary to comply with Sections 303(a) and 
(b) of the Act. The Forum has become the primary means for the Basin 
States to coordinate with federal agencies and Congress to support the 
implementation of the salinity control program for the Colorado River 
Basin.
    The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was authorized by 
Congress and signed into law in 1974. This authorized the Secretary of 
the Interior to initiate the Program, and it created the Colorado River 
Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council representing the seven Basin 
States. This federal advisory committee works closely with the Forum.
    Colorado River water is used by approximately 40 million people and 
irrigates approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States. Bureau 
of Reclamation studies show that quantified damages from Colorado River 
salinity to United States water users are about $354 million per year. 
Unquantified damages are greater. Reclamation's modeling indicates that 
the quantifiable damages would increase to $671 million per year by 
2040 if the Program is not continued. Control of salinity is necessary 
for the states of the Colorado River Basin, including New Mexico, to 
continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters of the Colorado 
River.
    Timely appropriations for the funding of the salinity control 
program are essential to comply with the water quality standards for 
salinity, prevent unnecessary economic damages in the United States, 
and protect the quality of the water that the United States is 
obligated to deliver to Mexico. The Basin States and federal agencies 
agree that increases in the salinity of the Colorado River will result 
in significant increases in damages to water users in the Lower 
Colorado River Basin. Continued strong support and adequate funding of 
the salinity control program is required to control salinity-related 
damages in the United States and Mexico.
    Congress amended the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act in 
July 1995 (Public Law 104-20), creating Reclamation's Basinwide 
Program. The Basinwide Program has proven to be cost-effective, and the 
Basin States provide up-front cost-sharing. Proposals from public and 
private sector entities in response to Reclamation's requests for 
proposals and funding opportunity announcements have exceeded available 
funding appropriated in recent years. The Basin States' cost-sharing 
adds 43 cents for each federal dollar appropriated.
    Public Law 106-459 gave the Bureau of Reclamation additional 
spending authority for the salinity control program. With the 
additional authority in place and cost-sharing available from the Basin 
States, it is important that the salinity control program be funded at 
the level requested by the Forum and Basin States to protect the water 
quality of the Colorado River. Some of the most cost-effective salinity 
control opportunities occur when Reclamation improves irrigation 
delivery systems concurrently with on-farm irrigation improvements 
undertaken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Environmental 
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Basin States cost-share funding 
is available for both on-farm and off-farm improvements. The EQIP 
funding appears to be adequate to accomplish the on-farm work. Adequate 
funding for Reclamation's off-farm work is needed to maintain timely 
implementation and effectiveness of salinity control measures.
    I urge Congress to appropriate $10.7 million to the Basinwide 
Program of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Basin 
Salinity Control Program. This investment in water quality will pay for 
itself many times over. Also, I fully support testimony by the Forum's 
Executive Director, Don Barnett, in request of this appropriation.

    [This statement was submitted by Rolf Schmidt-Petersen, Director, 
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.]
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the Colorado River Board of California
    This testimony is in support of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 funding for 
the Department of the Interior for Title II Colorado River Basin 
Salinity Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-320), as amended. In the Act, 
Congress designated the Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) to be the lead agency for salinity control in 
the Colorado River Basin. Reclamation primarily implements salinity 
control through its Basinwide Program, established by Congress through 
an amendment to the Act in 1995. Funding levels for the Basinwide 
Program have fallen behind in recent years, and a funding level of 
$10.7 million is requested to be provided in FY-2022 to prevent further 
degradation of the quality of Colorado River water supplies and 
increased economic damages.
    The Colorado River System is used by approximately 40 million 
people for municipal and industrial purposes and used to irrigate 
approximately 5.5 million acres in the United States, and supplies 
municipal and agricultural uses in Mexico. Within Southern California, 
the Colorado River serves close to 20 million residents and 860,000 
acres of irrigated agriculture, including municipal, industrial, and 
agricultural water users in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, 
San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. Natural and human-
induced salt loading to the Colorado River creates environmental and 
economic damages. In 2020 Reclamation estimated the quantifiable 
economic damages from salt in the Colorado River at about $354 million 
per year. Modeling by Reclamation indicates that these economic damages 
could rise to nearly $671 million annually by the year 2040 without 
continued implementation of the Basinwide Program.
    The Colorado River Board of California is the state agency charged 
with protecting California's interests and rights in the water and 
power resources of the Colorado River system. In this capacity, 
California participates along with the other six Colorado River Basin 
states in the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum), the 
interstate organization responsible for coordinating the Basin States' 
salinity control efforts. In close cooperation with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pursuant to requirements of 
the Clean Water Act, the Forum is charged with reviewing the Colorado 
River's water quality standards every three years. Every three years 
the Forum also adopts a Plan of Implementation consistent with these 
water quality standards. The level of appropriation being supported by 
this testimony is consistent with the Forum's 2020 Plan of 
Implementation for continued salinity control efforts within the 
Colorado River Basin. The Forum's 2020 Plan of Implementation can be 
found on this website: https://coloradoriversalinity.org/docs/
2020%20REVIEW%20-%20Final%20w%20appendices.
pdf.
    If adequate funds are not appropriated to Reclamation's Basinwide 
Program, significant environmental and economic damages associated with 
increasing salinity concentrations in Colorado River water will become 
more widespread in the United States and Mexican portions of the 
Colorado River Basin. For example, damages occur from:
  --A reduction in the ability and increased costs to reclaim and reuse 
        water for consumptive beneficial use, including drinking water 
        supply and irrigation, due to high salinities in the water 
        delivered to water treatment and reclamation facilities;
  --A reduction in the yield of salt-sensitive crops, increased water 
        use to meet the leaching requirements to maintain crop 
        productivity, and additional actions necessary to comply with 
        the Clean Water Act in the agricultural sector;
  --Increased use of imported water and increased cost of desalination 
        and brine disposal for recycling water in the municipal sector;
  --A reduction in the useful life of galvanized water pipe systems, 
        water heaters, faucets, garbage disposals, clothes washers and 
        dishwashers, and increased use of bottled water and water 
        softeners in the residential sector;
  --An increase in the cost of cooling operations and the cost of water 
        softening, and a decrease in equipment service life in the 
        commercial sector;
  --An increase in the use of water and the cost of water treatment, 
        and a corresponding increase in sewer fees in the industrial 
        sector;
  --A decrease in the lifespan of treatment facilities and pipelines in 
        the utility sector; and
  --Difficulty in meeting wastewater discharge requirements to comply 
        with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit 
        terms and conditions, and an increase in desalination and brine 
        disposal costs necessary to minimize accumulation of salts in 
        groundwater basins.
    The 2020 Plan of Implementation, as adopted by the Basin States and 
approved by EPA, calls for 62,400 tons annually of additional salinity 
control measures to be implemented by Reclamation, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, and Bureau of Land Management by 2024. Over the 
past years, the Basinwide Program has proven to be a very cost-
effective approach to help mitigate the impacts of increased salinity 
in the Colorado River. Adequate federal funding of this important 
program is essential. Based on current program cost levels, 
Reclamation's funding for the Basinwide Program must be at least $10.7 
million to meet those annual salinity control targets.
    The Colorado River is, and will continue to be, a major and vital 
water resource to the nearly 20 million residents of southern 
California, including municipal, industrial, and agricultural water 
users in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San 
Diego, and Ventura Counties. The protection and improvement of Colorado 
River water quality through an effective salinity control program 
avoids additional economic and environmental damages to California, the 
other Colorado River Basin states and Mexico that rely on Colorado 
River water resources.
    Thank you for your consideration of this testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Christopher S. Harris, Executive 
Director, 
Colorado River Board of California.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of Colorado Springs Utilities
    Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
    I am writing to you on behalf of Colorado Springs Utilities to 
request your support for appropriations included in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Colorado River Compliance Activities and 
Endangered Species Programs.
    Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community-owned, not-for-
profit, four-service utility in the nation. We provide water, 
wastewater, gas, and electric utility services to approximately 500,000 
residents in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. The successful 
continuation of the Colorado River Compliance Activities and Endangered 
Species Programs are of great importance to Colorado Springs Utilities 
and our community. These collaborative programs are critical to 
improving, conserving, and recovering endangered fish species, while 
maintaining water use and development, ESA compliance, and federal 
project authorized purposes.
    The President's recommended budget included the following items and 
amounts:
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Programs 
provide $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Endangered 
        Fish Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance 
        stream flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conserve genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking 
        efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and research and 
        monitoring to provide the scientific basis to guide decision 
        making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Bureau of Reclamation project upstream of 
Lake Powell.
    We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continued financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Earl Wilkinson III, Chief Water 
Compliance 
Innovation Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of Colorado Springs Utilities
    Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
    I am writing to you on behalf of Colorado Springs Utilities to 
request your support for appropriations included in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Colorado River Compliance Activities and 
Endangered Species Programs.
    Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community-owned, not-for-
profit, four-service utility in the nation. We provide water, 
wastewater, gas, and electric utility services to approximately 500,000 
residents in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. The successful 
continuation of the Colorado River Compliance Activities and Endangered 
Species Programs are of great importance to Colorado Springs Utilities 
and our community. These collaborative programs are critical to 
improving, conserving, and recovering endangered fish species, while 
maintaining water use and development, ESA compliance, and federal 
project authorized purposes.
    The President's recommended budget included the following items and 
amounts:
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Programs 
provide $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Endangered 
        Fish Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance 
        stream flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conserve genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking 
        efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and research and 
        monitoring to provide the scientific basis to guide decision 
        making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Bureau of Reclamation project upstream of 
Lake Powell.
    We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continued financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Earl Wilkinson III, Chief Water 
Compliance 
Innovation Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities.]
                                 ______
                                 
           Prepared Statement of the Colorado Water Congress
    I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. 
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for 
these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Doug Kemper, Executive Director, 
Colorado Water Congress.]
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the Columbia Basin Development League
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for giving the Columbia Basin Development 
League (League) the opportunity to submit testimony on the Bureau of 
Reclamation's budget for fiscal year 2022. This testimony is submitted 
on behalf of the League, its members, and stakeholders. The League is 
made up of farmers, businesses, civic and economic groups, and 
individuals that recognize the importance of completing the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Columbia Basin Project (CBP). The CBP is the largest 
Reclamation project in the U.S. and generates over $5.81 billion in 
annual, cumulative economic activity. The League was organized in the 
early 1960's to support the CBP so as to ensure delivery of essential 
water supplies to highly productive agricultural land in Washington 
State.
    The League's long-term goal is full development of the CBP; but 
today it remains about 3/4 developed. And while the CBP is an existing 
line item in the Bureau of Reclamation's budget, we request an increase 
to that line item with funding dedicated to a critical economic and 
environmental issue: the decline of the Odessa Aquifer. The Odessa 
Aquifer is on the eastern-most side of the CBP in a region authorized 
to receive water. The State of Washington issued ground water permits 
in the 1960's and 1970's so agricultural and economic development could 
begin in the area while local communities waited for the federal 
government to build out the CBP. As already mentioned, the CBP is 3/4 
completed. While communities and farmers waited, ground water levels 
severe declined in the Odessa region.
    Saving the Odessa Aquifer would keep and create jobs in both the 
near and long term, maintain agricultural production, improve food 
security, protect and bolster economic vitality of Eastern Washington's 
communities, and fulfill a federal commitment--decades in the making--
by providing access to the critical resource of water.
    Since 1980, ground water levels in the Odessa area have dropped 
approximately 200 feet. In some cases, ground water must be pumped from 
wells as deep as 2,400 feet. Pumping water from this depth is costly 
and water found at this depth is of poor quality: high sodium 
concentrations, and often requiring treatment before use. Numerous 
farmers, and increasingly, municipalities drawing from the same aquifer 
have wells that are no longer productive, or produce water of such poor 
quality that is not useable. As the aquifer continues to decline, well 
failures increase.
    Many parts of the United States are dealing with declining aquifers 
and share the economic consequences. However, the ground water supplies 
in the Odessa, unlike many other areas, can be replaced with a 
sustainable supply of surface water. The water and associated water 
rights are available and already secured. However, the water delivery 
infrastructure necessary to secure the entire region's economic 
vitality needs to be completed.
    To solve this issue, the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Project 
(OGWRP) was established as the preferred alternative in the 2012 Odessa 
Subarea Special Study Final Environmental Impact Statement. OGWRP seeks 
to supply surface water from the CBP to irrigate land currently using 
ground water (as planned by the Bureau of Reclamation for build-out of 
the CBP). In addition to other dedicated CBP funding, the OGWRP 
received $1.28 million in formulated funding and $222,000 in additional 
capacity in FY2021. The President's FY2022 budget request includes 
$27,985,000 for the CBP. A portion of these funds would be used for a 
variety of programs, including the phased development of the OGWRP.
    We respectfully request Congress invest an additional $18,525,000 
specifically for the OGWRP in FY2022.
    The OGWRP is an environmental and regional economy rescue program. 
Ground water supplies conserved, as a result of OGWRP, will be reserved 
for domestic and municipal uses while preserving highly productive 
irrigated lands that drive thousands of jobs in the region. The program 
has completed all required environmental, water rights and Endangered 
Species Act reviews and is already in phased construction. A series of 
pumping plant and pipeline systems are being built along East Low Canal 
to serve land now irrigated from deep wells. The first system to be 
constructed at East Low (EL) canal mile 47.5 began operating this 
irrigation season. Three more systems are in the design phase. Our 
request of this subcommittee is for the necessary funding to complete 
those designs and begin design on additional systems required to 
implement Reclamation's preferred alternative for the program, which 
has a positive benefit/cost ration allowing Reclamation investment. Our 
request also includes $1,676,000 to automate East Low Canal (ELC) 
gravity head gates to adjust for fluctuations resulting from conveyance 
of new pump plant diversions. The automated gates will create 
consistent lateral flows regardless of canal fluctuations, reducing 
waste and labor and resulting in water conservation and safe 
operations.
    The State of Washington and local land owners recognize the vital 
importance of finding a sustainable water supply. Since 2005, the state 
has contributed over $125 million in funding for projects to supply 
water to the Odessa region. This includes construction of major 
infrastructure components (including structures like siphons) which 
become the property of the federal government upon completion. Local 
landowners also invest in this project through the repayment of 
municipal bonds secured by the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District. 
These are significant investments in federally-owned projects.
    Funding for OGWRP presents an excellent opportunity for federal 
investment in an innovative infrastructure project for rural and 
underserved communities. Additional funding will specifically help 
complete expansion of the East Low Canal and build out the pump and 
pipeline infrastructure necessary for surface water deliver to farmers. 
These are shovel ready projects that are vital for the continued 
development of the CBP as well as the preservation of groundwater for 
multiple municipalities across the region. Details for the various 
components are provided below. Without OGWRP, the aquifer will continue 
to decline at an unsustainable rate and both agricultural water 
supplies and the domestic water supply of many underserved communities 
will dry up. Allocating an additional $18,525,000 to the Bureau of 
Reclamation for OGWRP will help save these communities and protect 
annual economic activity that sustains the region.
    The League recognizes the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and 
the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development face numerous 
challenges as a part of the FY2022 appropriations process. We greatly 
appreciate the efforts of the Appropriations Committee as it works to 
address these challenges. We also appreciate the support and work of 
the Bureau of Reclamation, the State of Washington, and Washington's 
Congressional delegation. Their efforts are integral to meeting current 
and future water supply needs.
    Chairman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy, thank you again for 
giving the League the opportunity to provide testimony and thank you 
for your efforts to fund our nation's water infrastructure. Please let 
us know if the League and its members can be of assistance to you 
during this process.
    Respectfully.

    [This statement was submitted by Vicky Scharlau, Executive 
Director, Columbia Basin Development League.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
    Madam Chair and members of the subcommittee, the Columbia River 
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is pleased to share its view on 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) FY2022 budget. My testimony 
addresses FY 2022 and includes a summary of Corps projects developing 
in coming years. We specifically identify the following FY 2022 
requests:
  --$25.7 million--Columbia River Fish Mitigation--WA-OR-ID
    --$22M--Columbia River Biological Opinion
    --$3.7M--Willamette River Biological Opinion
  --$3.0 million--John Day Mitigation/The Dalles Dam Pre-Engineering 
        and Design with FY 2022 Workplan support
  --$1.01 million--Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) for a Columbia 
        River Zone 6 Tributary Delta Feasibility Study to address 
        sediment management issues
    The CRITFC request will support implementation of the Columbia 
River and Willamette River Biological Opinions, continued funding 
support for the full implementation of the John Day/The Dalles Dam 
Mitigation program and funds for the initiation of a Tribal 
Participation Project focused on Columbia River Bonneville Pool 
sediment issues. We appreciate the support in FY 2021 for Corps-
implemented Pacific lamprey projects in fulfillment of federal 
commitments under the Columbia Basin Fish Accords.
    Program Description: The Corps' Columbia River Fisheries Mitigation 
(CRFM) program mitigates impacts to anadromous fish resulting from the 
development and operation of federal dams on the mainstem Columbia and 
Snake rivers. Authority for this program is contained in the original 
Congressional dam construction and operation authorities.
    The partnership between the Corps and the Lower Columbia River 
treaty tribes has expanded under the Columbia Basin Fish Accords. 
Multiple projects have been developed, funded, and completed. The 
record of success drove the agreement for a four-year extension of the 
Accords (2019-2022) to support projects in progress or in development.
    Reviewing the BiOp and Proposed Action (PA) and commitments made in 
those documents, this level of funding is inadequate to meet these 
needs let alone additional needs that the tribes and other regional 
entities have identified. In addition, new needs are becoming more 
apparent such as the need for additional detections both upstream and 
downstream of Bonneville Dam to ensure reach survivals can be 
calculated. The new flex spill program has, through its success of 
diverting more migrating fish away from powerhouses, reduced detections 
and thus made it challenging if not impossible to estimate reach 
survivals. Future management actions will be based on this information. 
The BiOp and PA also outline a need to evaluate the flex spill program 
yet no funds have been identified for this.
    The operation and management budget (O&M) has been flat funded and 
continues to be so. However, the new BiOp and PA has shifted more 
actions and responsibilities to the O&M budget, such as avian 
dissuasion and monitoring in the estuary. When one considers inflation 
and salary increase, it is apparent that this is an untenable position. 
These plans are requiring more from a budget that is already stretched 
too thin. The O&M budget is struggling to maintain the existing system 
let alone dealing with the aging infrastructure without even 
considering new obligations.
    The Tribes are concerned that the Administration's trend in recent 
years of decreases to the CRFM budgets and this year's more than 29% 
proposed decrease in funding for CRFM--Columbia River leaves critical 
projects without budget support resulting in, for example:
    --Reduction in management for avian predators, including the 
            estuary and dam tailraces;
    --Delay of the Bonneville Dam Second Powerhouse fish guidance 
            improvement that would benefit both power operations and 
            fish survival;
    --Reductions by half the Corps' contribution to habitat 
            improvements in the Columbia River estuary;
    --Reductions by more than half of funds needed for research and 
            development in the CRFM project area; and
    --Additional pressures on already under-funded operations and 
            maintenance budgets.
    Recently, the Corps expanded the purposes of CRFM to include 
implementation of fish passage related improvements to Corps dams in 
the Willamette River basin and implementation of lamprey passage 
improvements at mainstem dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers through 
agreements detailed in the Columbia Basin Fish Accords. The revised 
cost and schedule from the Corps is calculated at $2.79 million through 
2023. The Administration's request is contrary to that schedule.
John Day & The Dalles Fish Mitigation: Achieving In-place, In-kind 
        Mitigation
    Prior to hydropower development, the mainstem Columbia River from 
Celilo Falls to the confluence of the Snake River was one of the most 
important spawning and early rearing areas for upriver bright fall 
chinook. Construction of The Dalles Dam in 1957 and John Day Dam in 
1967 inundated much of the available spawning habitat for fall chinook 
in the mainstem Columbia River. In the John Day and The Dalles Dam 
Mitigation program (JDTDM) Congress authorized the Corps to mitigate 
for anticipated future natural production losses caused by construction 
of the dams as early as 1948. Funding for JDTDM was used initially to 
produce fall chinook at Bonneville State Hatchery and Spring Creek 
National Fish Hatchery, both of which are located downstream from the 
areas affected by the John Day and The Dalles dams and centuries old 
tribal fisheries.
    While several production program adjustments have occurred in the 
last 10 years, additional work is still needed to meet in-place/in-kind 
mitigation objectives under the COE's JDTDM program to put the right 
fish (upriver bright fall chinook) in the right places (in the area 
impacted by the John Day and The Dalles Dams). Additional hatchery 
infrastructure is necessary to accommodate increased production of 
upriver bright fall chinook at an expanded Ringold Springs Hatchery or 
alternative to be developed by the Corps in FY 2022. To implement the 
plan developed in collaboration by the Corps, the treaty tribes and 
state co-managers and federal fish agencies, we anticipate the Corps 
will make a budget request for design and construction at the Ringold 
Springs Hatchery or other suitable alternative for FY 2022.
Pacific Lamprey Restoration Projects Restarted with FY 2020 Workplan 
        Support
    The Corps and the Commission's member tribes have been implementing 
a multi-year lamprey plan while simultaneously implementing high 
priority lamprey actions. The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have given 
both flexibility and stability to tribal projects and the contracting 
process. We are able to plan projects over longer--more meaningful--
timeframes and adjust tasks between years, where necessary, for the 
good of the project or to address regional needs. The result is 
improved and more efficient projects and process. And the lamprey 
resource has responded, as measured through increased counts at 
mainstem Columbia River dams, increases in volitional returns of adults 
to the tributaries (guided by larval pheromones), documented spawning 
success, increases in larval abundance, and detections of translocation 
offspring and upper Columbia Basin siblings in the mainstem as 
outmigrants and in adult collections from the ocean. The long and 
complex life cycle of Pacific lamprey ( up to 10 years from hatching 
to returning adults), combined with the lack of homing, requires a 
long-term strategy to address critical uncertainties and support 
conservation and restoration efforts. However, the numbers remain well 
below historical accounts of lamprey populations throughout the 
Columbia Basin. It should be noted that the benefits that lamprey 
provide to other fish and wildlife species cannot be overstated.
    The Tribal-Corps lamprey technical team has worked collaboratively 
to identify priority lamprey actions throughout the Accord and Accord 
Extension periods. We are grateful for the robust commitment of project 
funds in the FY2021 Workplan in fulfillment of the Corps' four-year 
Accord extension. The Corps, CRITFC member tribes, and others are 
prioritizing the work to be accomplished with this funding. Priority 
actions being discussed include (but are not limited to) evaluating 
juvenile lamprey survival and downstream passage success through 
Columbia and Snake river dams, modifying fishways and lamprey-specific 
structures to improve upstream adult passage, and upgrading tribal 
translocation program infrastructure. Workplan funding has given 
assurance these projects will go forward, the investments made in the 
prior 12 years of work under the Accords will be protected, and lamprey 
populations will begin to reverse their precipitous decline. Based on 
the current inventory of unfunded projects, we expect that similar 
workplan commitments will be on-going into the foreseeable future.
    We ask Congress to fully support the Columbia River and Willamette 
River Biological Opinions through the Columbia River Fish Mitigation 
program above the request to include all capability identified by the 
Corps. These tribal recommendations total $25.7 million for FY2022.
History and Background of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish 
        Commission
    CRITFC was founded in 1977 by the four Columbia River Treaty 
Tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce 
Tribe. CRITFC provides coordination and technical assistance to these 
tribes in regional, national and international efforts to protect and 
restore our shared salmon resource and the habitat upon which it 
depends. Our collective ancestral homeland covers nearly one-third of 
the entire Columbia River basin in the United States, an area the size 
of the State of Georgia.
    In 1855, the U.S. entered into treaties with the four tribes \1\ 
whereupon we ceded millions of acres of our homelands to the U.S. In 
return, the U.S. pledged to honor our ancestral rights, including the 
right to fish in all Usual and Accustomed locations. Unfortunately, a 
perilous history brought the salmon resource to the edge of extinction 
with 12 salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia Basin listed 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Treaty with the Yakama Nation, June 9, 1855, 12 Stat. 951; 
Treaty with the Tribes of Middle Oregon, June 25, 1855, 12 Stat. 963; 
Treaty with the Umatilla Tribe, June 9, 1855, 12 Stat. 945; Treaty with 
the Nez Perce Tribe, June 11, 1855, 12 Stat. 957.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The CRITFC tribes are globally recognized leaders in fisheries 
restoration and management working in collaboration with state, 
federal, and private entities. We are principals in the region's 
efforts to halt the decline of salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon 
populations and rebuild them to levels that support ceremonial, 
subsistence, and commercial harvests. To achieve these objectives, our 
actions emphasize 'gravel-to-gravel' management including 
supplementation of natural stocks, restoring healthy watersheds, and 
committing to collaborative efforts.
Ongoing and Future Need Areas Addressing Sedimentation in Lower 
        Columbia Pools
    Years of sediment accumulation behind federal hydropower projects 
in the lower Columbia River, and especially at the mouths of 
tributaries, is affecting the physical and biological characteristics 
of project reservoirs.
    These characteristics are manifesting in ecosystem distress, 
navigation problems, and limiting access to treaty-protected tribal 
fishing access sites. Sediment accumulation affects invasive and non-
native species management, anadromous fish migration, water quality 
temperature impairment, tribal fishing sites access, navigation 
hazards, increased need and risk in providing emergency response, and 
increased risk for recreational activities.
    The Corps, in partnership with the Columbia River treaty tribes, 
have initiated work under the Water Resources Development Act and the 
Tribal Partnership Program on a feasibility study to identify a suite 
of possible management actions needed to address sediment issues in the 
Bonneville Pool on the Washington side of the river. Lessons learned in 
this pilot effort will be expanded to the Oregon side of the river as 
well as upstream into the other reservoirs created by the Columbia 
River Power System.
    In summary, through the combined efforts of the four Columbia River 
treaty tribes, supported by a staff of experts, we are proven natural 
resource managers. Our activities benefit the region while also being 
essential to the U.S. obligation under treaties, federal trust 
responsibility, federal statutes, and court orders. We ask for your 
continued support of our efforts. We are prepared to provide additional 
information you may require on our views of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers FY2022 Budget. Contact: Paul Ward, Director of Governmental 
Affairs, CRITFC, [email protected].

    [This statement was submitted by Jeremy Takala, Chairman, Columbia 
River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of Dolores Water Conservancy District
    I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. 
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for 
these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    Dolores Water Conservancy District believes that this program, 
which is successfully recovering the four ESA listed Upper Colorado and 
San Juan River Basin species, remains our best avenue to sustain our 
rural economy in southwestern Colorado in compliance with the necessary 
conservation of these fish. Any cessation of these programs would 
jeopardize the years of positive progress made to date and have 
rippling effects through our rural farming community supported by the 
Dolores Project, an integral part of the Colorado Ute Indian Rights 
Settlement.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Kenneth W. Curtis III, General 
Manger, 
Dolores Water Conservancy District.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the Edison Electric Institute
    The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) submits this testimony for the 
record to the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy 
and Water Development regarding fiscal year (FY) 2022 carbon-free 
energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
applications (RDD&CA) activities for the Department of Energy (DOE).
    EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned 
electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million 
Americans and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As 
a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs 
in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. 
members, EEI has more than 65 international electric companies as 
International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related 
organizations as Associate Members. We are united in our commitment to 
get the energy we provide as clean as we can as fast as we can, without 
compromising on the reliability or affordability that are essential to 
the customers and communities we serve. Overall, carbon emissions from 
the electric power sector are at their lowest level since 1978-and 
continue to fall. Collectively, EEI's member companies are on a path to 
reduce their carbon emissions at least 80 percent by 2050, compared 
with 2005 levels, with many companies pledging to reduce their 
emissions even further and even faster. As of 2020, the industry is 40 
percent below 2005 carbon emission levels. And, 40 percent of our 
nation's electricity comes from carbon-free resources.
    Existing technologies can get us much of the way to a 100-percent 
clean energy future. Completing the work will require new, affordable, 
carbon-free, 24/7 technologies. As a result, there is an urgent need to 
significantly increase investments in these new clean energy 
technologies. Technology will drive the timeline to a 100-percent clean 
energy future.
    Because of how electric companies are regulated at the state and 
federal levels, they cannot invest heavily in RDD&CA of new 
technologies; our industry is not like others, such as the defense or 
pharmaceutical industries, which spend billions of dollars annually on 
research and development (R&D) activities. This is a major reason why 
EEI believes we cannot afford a ``business-as-usual'' approach to 
federal investments in carbon-free power technologies. The federal 
government's RDD&CA activities are a critical resource for our 
industry.
    EEI has joined with non-governmental organizations to form the 
Carbon-Free Technology Initiative (CFTI), which is focused on 
implementation of federal policies that can help ensure the commercial 
availability of affordable, carbon-free, 24/7 power technology options 
by the early 2030s, when EEI's member companies must make investment 
decisions that will enable them to reach their longer-term climate 
commitments. The CFTI includes EEI and its member electric companies, 
Clean Air Task Force, Bipartisan Policy Center, Center for Climate and 
Energy Solutions, ClearPath, Great Plains Institute, Information 
Technology & Innovation Foundation, Nuclear Energy Institute, and Third 
Way.
    The CFTI focuses on policy recommendations to advance a number of 
key technology areas:
  --Long-duration energy storage and advanced demand efficiency;
  --Advanced, 24/7, and renewable super hot rock deep geothermal;
  --Zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen;
  --Advanced nuclear energy (both fission and fusion);
  --Carbon capture, utilization, and storage; and
  --Advanced wind and solar energy systems.
    CFTI also supports the creation of a domestic supply chain and 
increased demonstration projects for advanced clean energy 
technologies.
    For FY 2022, CFTI recommends a nearly tripling of funds above the 
roughly $4.2 billion authorized levels for specific DOE RDD&CA programs 
for carbon-free power-sector technologies. Funding projects beyond R&D 
will be critical to achieving deep carbon reductions. At a minimum, key 
new authorizations from the Energy Act of 2020 should be fully funded 
in FY 2022 and should be increased above authorization levels through 
FY 2025.
    The President's budget request for FY 2022 invests more than $10 
billion in clean energy innovation across multiple non-defense 
agencies, DOE's budget request would make historic investments that 
would lay the foundation to build a clean energy economy and help the 
electric power industry reach its long-term carbon emission reduction 
goals.
    We are very pleased that the President's budget request includes 
$400 million to create the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations at 
DOE. This new entity would become the hub for scaling up near- and mid-
term clean energy technology projects and provide awards for multi-year 
demonstration projects in conjunction with private-sector partners. The 
CFTI recommends the creation of the new office. It is essential that 
the federal government play a role in demonstrating new clean energy 
technologies to help provide enough certainty about the performance of 
a technology that lenders, plant owners, and customers consider it to 
be sufficiently de-risked for commercial use.
                            advanced nuclear
    We recommend $2.23 billion in FY 2022 funding for high-priority 
advanced nuclear programs. This would include:
  --Doubling appropriations to at least $340 million per FY for 5 years 
        for nuclear fission technologies R&D within the light water 
        sustainability reactor program, advanced reactor technology 
        program, and used nuclear fuel disposition program;
  --Providing up to $900 million per FY for the next 5 years to ensure 
        that the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) will come online by 2026;
  --Establishing multi-year funding sufficient to support the existing 
        Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and providing 
        continuing rounds of risk reduction awards to the projects 
        awarded under ARDP's first phase, as well as expanding ARDP to 
        fund additional projects, including additional awards for the 
        commercial demonstration of 3 Generation IV reactor designs and 
        an award for the commercial demonstration of 2 micro-reactor 
        technologies that can be commercially deployed by 2027;
  --Maintaining funding for existing programs benefitting advanced 
        reactor development, such as the advanced small modular reactor 
        cost-share; and
  --Providing additional and consistent funding of at least $150 
        million per FY for at least 5 years to the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission for advanced reactor licensing.
    In addition, we recommend providing $1.2 billion per FY for the 
next 5 years for the applied fusion program that was authorized in the 
Energy Act of 2020.
                             energy storage
    We recommend funding critical energy storage programs at the $648 
million authorized level for FY 2022 and focusing the funding on 
longer-duration storage. We support:
  --Maintaining or increasing funding for Energy Storage Grand 
        Challenge, Grid Storage Launchpad, HydroWIRES, and ARPA-E DAYS;
  --Increasing appropriations for the Grid Modernization Initiative 
        (GMI) and ARPA-E's Green Electricity Network Integration 
        (GENI);
  --Establishing a financial assistance program to support demand 
        efficiency R&D and pilot demonstrations involving upgraded 
        software platforms, power system planning tools, and modeling 
        platforms; and
  --Directing DOE to utilize existing grant funding programs to 
        prioritize pilot demonstration projects involving the 
        integration of demand efficiency technologies.
                           zero-carbon fuels
    We recommend appropriating $3.43 billion in FY 2022 for high-
priority RDD&CA activities for zero-carbon fuels (ZCF), such as 
hydrogen. We support:
  --Providing DOE with approximately $3 billion annually to support 
        integrated demonstrations on a variety of use cases with ZCF 
        and increasing appropriations for ZCF-related RDD&CA efforts to 
        $400 million per FY;
  --Fully funding at FY 2020 levels for at least 5 years (a 5-year, $50 
        million initiative) the H2NEW consortium and other existing 
        Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (HFTO) consortia; and
  --Increasing funding for HFTO and other DOE offices to create new 
        consortia of electric companies and other types of energy and 
        infrastructure companies to foster one or more integrated ZCF 
        ``value chain'' demonstrations.
            carbon capture, utilization, and storage (ccus)
    Carbon capture for natural gas facilities is critical given the 
essential role that natural gas plays in providing 24/7 electricity as 
companies continue to add variable resources to the grid. For FY 2022, 
we recommend $4.995 billion for critical CCUS programs. We support:
  --Establishing an additional grant program with at least $1.2 billion 
        per FY for the 5 years that would be available to commercial-
        scale carbon capture projects to complete construction;
  --Appropriating at least $500 million per FY through FY 2025 to 
        facilitate the commercialization of large-scale saline storage 
        locations with the capacity to accept at least 10 million tons 
        of carbon dioxide (CO2);
  --Increasing appropriations by $100 million annually for 5 fiscal 
        years to provide funding to cover front-end engineering and 
        design (FEED) studies for commercial-scale capture plants;
  --Increasing appropriations to $700 million over the next 5 years for 
        the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) 
        program to complete existing projects under Phase VI (covers 
        six existing projects), and to initiate at least 4 new 
        CarbonSAFE projects and provide support for their completion 
        from Phase I to Phase VI;
  --Increasing appropriations to $450-650 million per FY for at least 5 
        years for the Office of Fossil Energy's activities to improve 
        the cost and performance of capture technologies;
  --Providing $20 million for FEED study grants for CO2 transportation 
        infrastructure.
                  super hot rock (shr) deep geothermal
    We recommend appropriating $100 million in FY 2022 for SHR deep 
geothermal, including:
  --At least $30 million per FY for 5 years for a dedicated program and 
        laboratory focus on SHR geothermal innovation through 
        coordination between ARPA-E and the Geothermal Technologies 
        Office; and
  --$70 million per FY for 5 years to support demonstration projects 
        under different scenarios.
                     advanced wind and solar energy
    We recommend funding advanced wind and solar programs at the $425 
million authorized funding level in FY 2022. In particular, we 
recommend identifying specific cost reduction targets and timetables 
across the value chain for advanced renewables R&D to help achieve cost 
targets by 2030 and amending R&D priorities to include offshore wind, 
onshore wind, solar, grid modernization, and end-of-life reuse.

    [This statement was submitted by Thomas R. Kuhn, President, Edison 
Electric 
Institute.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the Electric Drive Transportation Association
    The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is the cross-
industry trade association promoting the advancement of electric drive 
technology and electrified transportation. We are writing to support 
robust FY2022 funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) electric 
transportation programs, including the Vehicle Technologies Program, 
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, ARPA-E, ARPA-C, Department 
of Energy Loan Programs, and Clean Cities. DOE's research, development 
and deployment programs speed clean technology innovation, increase 
U.S. competitiveness and will play an important role in achieving the 
Administration's goals for electric transportation.
    EDTA's members represent the entire value chain of electric drive, 
including vehicle manufacturers, battery and component manufacturers, 
utilities and energy companies, smart grid and charging infrastructure 
developers. Collectively, we are committed to realizing the economic, 
national security and environmental benefits of displacing oil with 
electricity in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery, and fuel cell electric 
vehicles. The Department's research and work with private partners will 
help the many industries that comprise the electric drive ecosystem to 
meet net zero emissions goals.
    This Committee has consistently recognized that electric 
transportation is critical to the effort to reduce emissions, create 
good-paying jobs and livable communities and increase U.S. 
competitiveness in the global marketplace. In her testimony to the 
Subcommittee on May 6, 2021, Secretary Granholm echoed that 
recognition, emphasizing the Department's role in addressing climate 
change, including over funding opportunities to advance clean energy 
R&D projects and the Department's loan programs, including Title 17 and 
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM).
    The importance of electrifying transportation has been widely 
documented. Emissions from the transportation sector have exceeded 
those from power plants since 2016. Electric transportation solutions 
reduce emissions, while advancing our leadership in global energy 
technology markets. The Union of Concerned Scientists studied the total 
emissions reductions of electric drive in every region of the country. 
The study found that no matter where in the U.S. an EV is charged and 
operated, it has fewer total well-to-wheels emissions than the average 
gasoline-powered vehicle sold today.
    Electrification is also a national security imperative. In 2019, 
the transportation sector accounted for approximately 28 percent of the 
nation's energy use; 91 percent of that energy came from petroleum 
fuels. This reliance is a chronic threat to U.S. energy and economic 
security. It also keeps consumers vulnerable to volatile markets and 
fluctuating prices for petroleum.
    As the global transportation sector electrifies, the U.S. needs to 
secure leadership in this market. By 2040, electric vehicles are 
projected to account for 58 percent of all passenger vehicle sales and 
make-up more than one-third of the global fleet. Electrification is 
growing in all transportation applications: 67 percent of municipal 
buses, 47 percent of two-wheelers, and 24 percent of light-duty 
commercial vehicles are expected to be electric by 2040. International 
governments have made clear their intentions to dominate this market. 
China is investing heavily in research and development, expanding 
efforts to secure critical component materials.
    EDTA also supports efforts to strengthen and diversify the battery 
supply chain and expand advanced manufacturing capacity in the U.S. We 
support the Department's initiatives to fund R&D for advanced battery 
materials and the use of ATVM loans to build, update, re-tool, and 
expand manufacturing facilities to support this domestic imperative.
    DOE's portfolio of electrification programs is vital to addressing 
these emissions, security and competitiveness challenges. Specifically, 
DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program is a critical element of the 
national effort to decarbonize transportation, leveraging private 
sector investments to promote innovation in advanced vehicles, 
infrastructure and manufacturing chains. The program advances research 
in batteries and power electronics, electric drive motors, components 
and charging technologies. Increased range, reduced costs, and improved 
performance are battery advances supported by the Battery and Electric 
Drive Technology subprogram. Critical supporting infrastructure, 
including charging systems and codes and standards for communication 
with the grid, are being developed in the Vehicle Systems Simulation & 
Testing program.
    The Vehicle Technologies Program is also advancing electric 
alternatives in commercial vehicles. The truck and transit segment is 
projected to grow rapidly in the next two decades. Research, 
demonstration, and deployment of electric drive technologies for 
combination tractors, heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans and vocational 
vehicle technologies' systems and components will speed technology 
breakthroughs and contribute to cost reductions while providing public 
health benefits and energy cost savings throughout the economy.
    The SuperTruck 3 Program is an important part of this effort. We 
support increased program investment in Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles, 
which are a significant part of the commercial fleet. An expanded 
program should continue to engage partners from across the 
manufacturing chain--chassis original equipment manufacturers, 
intermediate and final stage manufacturers, including hybrid system 
suppliers, and infrastructure providers--to improve performance in 
vocational vehicles.
    Through the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, DOE is 
working with industry to accelerate the availability of fuel cell 
electric vehicles, which are essential zero-emission options in the 
transportation portfolio. Three light-duty fuel cell vehicles are 
commercially available today, with several new models planned for 
release through 2023, including buses and trucks in the medium- and 
heavy-duty segment. At the same time, hydrogen fueling infrastructure 
is being built out as a critical component of this emerging market.
    The Department's recently announced Hydrogen Shot is an important 
program to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to advance the deployment 
of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles. Developing lower 
costing carbon-free hydrogen is a critical step in cutting emissions 
for long-haul trucking, last mile delivery vehicles, light-duty 
passenger vehicles, and other industrial applications. Hydrogen Shot's 
goal of achieving $1 per kilogram for clean carbon--an 80% reduction--
will help create good-paying jobs while supporting American innovation.
    We ask that the Subcommittee continue its record of support for 
these programs, particularly in vehicle and infrastructure deployment 
activities and in early market development, education, validation and 
enabling activities. At this early market juncture, public/private 
collaborations are especially important in accelerating technology 
development and private infrastructure investment.
    ARPA-E has advanced pre-commercial technologies such as Robust 
Affordable Next Generation Energy Storage Systems (RANGE) and Batteries 
for Electrical Energy Storage in Transportation (BEEST) that improve 
performance and reduce costs of batteries. The program can also 
expedite innovation in critical materials, secondary uses and recycling 
of batteries. ARPA-E's role is essential in overcoming high-risk 
technological barriers that the private sector may not attempt in the 
early stages of research and development.
    Similarly, ARPA-C would develop technologies to help move the U.S. 
toward a net zero economy by 2050. This new initiative's focus on zero-
emission vehicles and transit systems, carbon-free hydrogen, and energy 
storage are key levers in achieving net zero emissions. Reducing 
emissions across all segments of the economy will benefit all 
communities, especially low-income and BIPOC communities who are 
disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
    As the Administration has highlighted with its procurement goals, 
the federal government can lead the electrification of transportation, 
reducing the fleet's energy costs and its carbon footprint. At the same 
time, government purchasing power will reinforce private investment in 
infrastructure, and promote the development of advanced power and 
storage solutions that maximize the potential of electric vehicles as a 
grid asset.
    EDTA also strongly supports the Clean Cities program. Clean Cities 
works with nearly 100 local and regional coalitions to expand 
deployment of electric drive and alternative fuel cars and trucks and 
recharging/fueling infrastructure. These voluntary and locally driven 
efforts have a demonstrated record of success, including the cumulative 
displacement of more than 8.5 billion gallons of petroleum with 
alternative fuels since the program began in 1993.
    We appreciate the Committee's long-standing support for the 
important research, development and deployment programs at Department 
of Energy. These programs will play an even more critical role in 
achieving the Administration's goals for net-zero emissions by 2050 and 
in speeding the electrification of the transportation sector. We 
respectfully request that appropriations for FY2022 reflect the 
magnitude of our national energy, economic and environmental challenges 
and the enormous opportunities to address them through electric 
transportation innovation.
    Thank you for your consideration.

    [This statement was submitted by Genevieve Cullen, President, 
Electric Drive Transportation Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    We, the undersigned, write today to urge you to support robust 
energy efficiency investments at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Investing in 
energy efficiency is an investment not only in reducing energy costs 
for consumers and businesses across the nation; it is an investment in 
domestic job creation, manufacturing, competitiveness, and innovation. 
Energy efficiency improves energy affordability, security, reliability, 
and resilience; it achieves these outcomes by simply doing more with 
less. Today, the United States uses two-thirds less energy than it 
would otherwise consume without the investments in energy efficiency 
since 1980, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient 
Economy.
    Energy efficiency is a workhorse, leading the clean energy sector 
at more than 2 million jobs, down from nearly 2.4 million prior to the 
pandemic. Energy efficiency jobs are located in 99.7% of counties 
across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Energy efficiency 
jobs support families, with workers earning 28% more than the national 
median, according to Environmental Entrepreneurs, and cannot be 
exported. Furthermore, EERE RDD&D programs enable cost-effective 
emissions reductions and energy affordability through innovative 
partnerships and focused deployment programs that shepherd emerging 
technologies from concept to market, enabling cost reductions for 
businesses and consumers, and achieving critical scale needed to avoid 
the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
    We respectfully request FY2022 regular appropriations funding for 
the following DOE programs:
    Buildings Technologies (BTO): $530 million to develop innovative, 
cost-effective technologies, tools, and solutions that help U.S. 
homeowners, consumers, and businesses achieve peak energy efficiency 
performance in their buildings across all sectors of our economy. 
Robust funding is needed for:
  --Residential Buildings Integration (RBI): $80 million for DOE to 
        collaborate with the residential building industry to improve 
        the energy efficiency of both new and existing homes. RBI 
        develops critical technologies, tools, and solutions that help 
        U.S. consumers and businesses achieve peak efficiency 
        performance in residential buildings across the country. RBI's 
        work supports workforce development and training and has 
        partnerships with thousands of small businesses in this sector, 
        the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and 
        systems suppliers, integrators, and state and local 
        governments. The integration research, demonstration and market 
        transformation activities of RBI are critical as we transform 
        America's new and existing residential buildings and work 
        towards the Administration's goal of weatherizing 2 million 
        homes.
  --Commercial Building Integration (CBI): $80 million for the 
        program's research, development, and evaluation, to help 
        advance a range of innovative building technologies and 
        solutions, paving the way for high performing buildings that 
        could use between 50% and 70% less energy than typical 
        buildings. CBI works with industry, small businesses, academia, 
        the national labs, and other entities to advance energy 
        efficiency solutions and technologies for commercial buildings. 
        The program, which considers buildings as systems and as part 
        of the electric grid, continues to be transformative in moving 
        industry partners to embrace innovation.
  --Efficiency Standards, Building Codes, and Test Procedures: $60 
        million for appliance standards and $100 million for the 
        Building Energy Codes Program. DOE is responsible for setting 
        minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances, equipment, 
        and lighting to ensure new models continue to make progress on 
        efficiency as technology matures. The Department is far behind 
        in issuing new appliance standards, making an increased focus 
        critical. DOE plays an important support and technical 
        assistance role in the development and implementation of 
        building energy codes, which are adopted by states and local 
        governments for new construction and renovations of residential 
        and commercial buildings, that reflect developments in building 
        energy efficiency and ``lock in'' savings for the life of the 
        building. Education, training, and technical assistance have 
        been woefully underfunded over the past several years and can 
        be very impactful in assisting in codes' adoption and effective 
        implementation.
  --Emerging Technologies (ET): $160 million for the program to enable 
        cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies to be developed 
        and introduced into the marketplace. ET funds and directs 
        applied research and development (R&D) for technologies and 
        tools that support building energy efficiency, particularly 
        electric technologies for a carbon free grid.
  --Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB): $50 million for DOE to 
        ensure that a high level of energy efficiency is a core element 
        of this new crosscutting program and a baseline characteristic 
        for GEBs which are also connected, smart, and flexible. The 
        Office should engage with the public and private sectors, 
        including the building and manufacturing industries and state 
        and local governments, to share information on GEB 
        technologies, costs, and benefits, and to provide information 
        to position American companies to lead in this area. Funding 
        for demonstrations and deployment programs such as Connected 
        Communities, the Low Carbon Buildings Pilot, and other BTO 
        deployment activities is encouraged.
    Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO): $800 million to enable the 
research, development, demonstration and deployment of industrial 
energy efficiency and advanced manufacturing technologies. This level 
of funding is intended to accommodate and ambitious agenda of 
decarbonizing U.S. manufacturing by midcentury. This goal of dramatic 
reductions requires increases in activity level across the office and 
some important changes in the orientation of the office's goals. AMO 
should expand its efforts from promoting energy efficiency to include 
efforts to reduce carbon emissions for manufacturing and reduce the 
embodied carbon in manufactured products. Additionally, as AMO rebuilds 
its staffing, the office should focus on adding expertise in important 
decarbonization technology areas identified in its research road 
mapping.
  --Energy Management: $10 million for efforts to promote Strategic 
        Energy Management practices and $30 million for the 
        establishment of a program to provide competitive grants to 
        companies for the hiring or designation of plant energy 
        managers. For Strategic Energy Management, AMO should focus 
        efforts on small- and medium-sized manufacturing plants.
  --Save Carbon Now: $55 million for the Better Plants program to 
        expand that program to offer comprehensive assessment and 
        engagements to the 1,500 largest greenhouse gas emitting 
        manufacturing facilities. These engagements shall include, but 
        not be limited to, targeted assessments, staff training, 
        technical analyses of opportunities, and education.
  --Industrial Assessment Centers: $25 million for the Industrial 
        Assessment Centers (IAC) program to expand that program in 
        order to increase the number of university-based centers to 40; 
        to establish satellite centers at community colleges, technical 
        schools, and union training facilities; and to establish an 
        apprenticeship program with matching funding for IAC students 
        at facilities that have received assessments in the recent past 
        to facilitate the implementation of recommendations.
  --Flex Tech: $40 million for the establishment of a program that 
        provides competitive grants to states and tribal governments in 
        partnership with educational institutions and trade 
        associations to provide assessments of energy and greenhouse 
        gas (GHG) reducing measures and loans to implement those 
        measures to medium sized manufacturers.
  --Transformative Technology Adoption: $100 million for the 
        establishment of a competitive grant program that provides 
        cost-share payments to manufacturing sites or consortiums that 
        make first-three, at-scale implementation of transformative 
        technologies to reduce GHG emissions in the most GHG-intensive 
        manufacturing processes as determined by the Secretary.
  --Existing Low-Carbon Technology: $60 million for the establishment 
        of a competitive grant program to provide cost-share payments 
        to manufacturing plants for the installation of underutilized 
        existing low-carbon technologies.
  --Smart Manufacturing: $30 million for support of the development and 
        adoption of smart manufacturing practices directed towards 
        small and medium-sized manufacturers. This includes, but is not 
        limited to, expanded funding for the Clean Energy Smart 
        Manufacturing Innovative Institute (CESMII) to increase 
        educational and technical assistance activities directed toward 
        smart manufacturing adoption.
  --Industrial Process Heating Decarbonization: $55 million for the 
        establishment of a research, development, and deployment effort 
        by AMO to develop and promote the adoption of technologies that 
        can dramatically reduce the GHG emissions from process heating 
        applications. Efforts may include the establishment of one or 
        more new Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes that might 
        focus on electrification and/or hydrogen and low-carbon fuels.
    Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP): At least $56 million to 
provide project and policy support to all federal agencies, including 
$2 million for the Performance Based Contract National Resource 
Initiative and at least $20 million for the AFFECT grant program. With 
minimal funding, FEMP supports all agencies of the Federal government 
in their quest to save energy and money for the American taxpayer while 
improving agency infrastructure and addressing deferred maintenance. 
FEMP is at the forefront of efforts to improve federal building energy 
performance, which is accomplished in part by accessing and leveraging 
private capital in performance contracts. The additional private 
capital has been used to finance hundreds of projects across two dozen 
agencies, creating 30,000 jobs and reducing energy outlays by $8 
billion over the next 18 years. Note: Our request for AFFECT represents 
a minimum funding request for FY22 as the initial installment towards 
the President's request of $400 million for AFFECT, which we strongly 
support. AFFECT provides small grants to federal agencies to maximize 
their retrofits through performance contracting. AFFECT leverages at 
least $10 for every federal grant dollar invested, thereby maximizing 
federal infrastructure investments and addressing backlog maintenance.
    Weatherization (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP): $477 million. 
Within this amount, at least $325 million is recommended for WAP, with 
$10 million for training and technical assistance at DOE, and $21 
million for the new Weatherization Readiness Fund. At least $121 
million is recommended for State Energy Program grants including $25 
million to be used for energy and related air quality in schools. At 
least $90 million of the SEP funds shall be utilized for direct formula 
grants to the states, with $6 million for technical assistance. Since 
1976, WAP has helped make more than 8 million homes more efficient, 
saving the average recipient about $4,200 over the lifetime of their 
home. R&D investments will continue to make emerging technologies 
cheaper and more accessible, but DOE's Weatherization Assistance 
Program is particularly important for bringing energy efficiency to 
communities and families that need it most. According to the Energy 
Information costs, while over 12 million households report being unable 
to use their heating or cooling equipment. The Weatherization Readiness 
Fund will provide critical repairs to prepare homes for weatherization 
while increased training and technical assistance will empower DOE to 
implement modernized and innovative practices. Each WAP dollar produces 
$4.50 in benefits, including energy savings as well as improved health 
and safety. Federal weatherization assistance also helps workers and 
small businesses, directly supporting more than 8,500 jobs and 
supporting thousands more in related industries. SEP leverages over $10 
for every federal dollar invested and saves over $7 for every federal 
dollar invested. In addition to energy efficiency and renewable energy 
programs, SEP is critical for dealing with cyber security and energy 
emergency preparedness and response. SEP is extremely flexible and is 
the basis for a variety of partnership programs.
    U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER): $2 million for the Office 
of Policy to complete the annual U.S. energy employment report that 
includes a comprehensive statistical survey to collect data, publish 
the data and provide a summary report. The information collected will 
include data related to employment figures and demographics in the U.S. 
energy sector. The report presents a unique snapshot of energy 
efficiency employment in key sectors of the economy, including 
construction and manufacturing.
    Energy Information Administration: $135 million to continue 
important data collection, analysis, and reporting activities on energy 
use and consumption including the Commercial Buildings Energy 
Consumption Survey and the Residential Buildings Energy Consumption 
Survey.
    We would urge the Subcommittee to consider additional funding 
either through regular appropriations or supplemental funding in the 
event an energy/infrastructure package is considered.
    In the event that opportunity presents itself, we would urge the 
Subcommittee to consider the following additional items:
  --Title VI of the House-passed, FY21 House Energy and Water 
        Development Appropriations Bill as a starting point to fund the 
        State Energy Program (SEP)($730 million--$3.8 billion if 
        adjusted for inflation from the American Recovery and 
        Reinvestment Act [ARRA]) (for base, formula funds), 
        Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)($3.25 billion--$6.2 
        billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA) and the Energy 
        Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) ($2.25 
        billion--$3.9 billion if adjusted for inflation from ARRA) 
        (distributed via the statutory formula, with an increase for 
        the competitive fund);
  --Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) incremental AFFECT grant 
        funding if not fully funded in annual appropriations as 
        requested in the President's FY22 Budget Request of $400 
        million;
  --Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) large manufacturing energy 
        audits and tech assistance ($1 billion over ten years), 
        establishment of a program at DOE to support the hiring of 
        energy managers by paying a portion of annual salary costs ($1 
        billion over ten years), and a federal program to provide 
        grants to states to fund follow-up project implementation 
        following assessments ($1 billion over ten years);
  --Building Technology Office (increase to $100 million for building 
        energy codes training and technical assistance and an increase 
        of $50 million for grid interactive efficient buildings);
  --HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce training and 
        residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's 
        Budget Request ($2 billion); and
  --``Open Back Better'' (Smith/Blunt-Rochester legislation to fund 
        resilience upgrades at mission-critical facilities with private 
        financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy 
        investments), which is scalable and could be implemented 
        through the existing SEP and AFFECT programs.
    We stand ready to work with Congress, the White House, and federal 
agencies, to identify ways the U.S. can improve the affordability and 
access of energy-efficient technologies, unlock utility savings for 
consumers, reduce energy-related carbon emissions, and improve public 
health.
    Sincerely.

A. O. Smith
Acuity Brands Lighting Inc.
Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
Building Performance Association (BPA)
Digital Climate Alliance (DCA)
E4TheFuture
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Federal Performance Contracting Coalition
Intel Corporation
International Copper Association
Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)
National Association of State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)
National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)
Schneider Electric
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Uplight
      
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the Federal Energy Management Program
    Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Shelby, and members of the 
Subcommittee, as you deliberate on the important programs to be funded 
in the FY22 appropriations bills, we respectfully request that $36 
million be allocated to the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) in 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the 
Department of Energy (DOE) with an additional $400 million designated 
to the FEMP Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (FEEF), also known as AFFECT 
grants.
    We also request the following report language be included:
    ``The Committee directs FEMP to prioritize the full amount 
allocated to the Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (FEEF) (formally 
referred to as AFFECT) to continue to be used to leverage private 
sector investment in federal infrastructure to ensure maximum overall 
investment in resiliency, efficiency, emissions reductions and 
security. Funding should be directed to projects that achieve a 5-1 
return for each federal dollar through public-private partnerships like 
energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service 
contracts (UESCs).''
    The President's FY22 Budget request included $400 million to be 
FEMP with an increase in the funding for FEEF. The FPCC recommends that 
this funding continue to be leveraged with performance contracting to 
address resiliency, backlog maintenance, critical upgrade and 
maintenance needs, and other infrastructure on our federal sites such 
as military bases, VA hospitals and GSA building. The FPCC knows that 
we can address such critical infrastructure needs using much less 
dedicated federal dollars through performance contracting and the FEEF 
program facilitates just that.
    The FPCC believes that using smaller amounts of appropriated 
dollars for particular priorities such as cybersecurity and resiliency 
will net more: more dollars invested in the federal government, more 
resiliency, more savings over time, and more attention to operations 
and maintenance, and replacement costs. In fact, fewer dollars can be 
appropriated overall if they are leveraged with private sector dollars 
allowing not only the ability to focus precious federal resources on 
mission, but also transferring the risk of projects to the private 
sector. With this increase in the FEEF program, hundreds of additional 
buildings and facilities across the agencies can utilize grants to make 
reduce the carbon emissions from its facilities and make these 
buildings more efficient.
    FEMP is the appropriate place for these dollars as they will be 
available to leverage performance contracting for all federal agencies. 
For the past several years, FEMP has provided small amounts of 
appropriated dollars to leverage performance contracting through the 
AFFECT Grant program. The $11 million appropriated in FY2020 was 
invested in 16 projects that when combined with the investment from the 
private sector could surpass $439 million. These projects, which focus 
on new technologies and resiliency, will help agencies across the 
federal government address backlog maintenance, which the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) estimates is $169 billion government wide. 
It would specifically address the $9-15 billion in energy related 
backlog maintenance already identified in Congressionally mandated 
audits (EISA 2007, Section 432), which must now be addressed after the 
passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2020 included as part of the 
omnibus package.
    FEMP, with very minimal funding, supports all agencies of the 
federal government in their quest to save energy and money for the 
American taxpayer while improving aging infrastructure and addressing 
deferred maintenance. The most significant activity of FEMP, and that 
which utilizes most of its funding, is to support performance 
contracting throughout the government.
    In an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) or Utility Energy 
Savings Contract (UESC), the private sector works with the government 
customer to develop a project, but then the private company implements 
that project, measures and verifies savings every year, and guarantees 
that the savings will accrue. The private sector is repaid out of these 
guaranteed utility bill savings allowing for no added expenditures by 
the federal government. Since inception, ESPCs have achieved over $20 
billion in guaranteed energy savings across the federal government.
    FEMP's role in this is instrumental. It provides the overall 
contract for ease of use for agencies, technical and financial 
assistance, and training for personnel in all federal agencies. 
Additionally, FEMP provides life of contract oversight for every single 
ESPC during the performance period. Because agencies are reducing 
personnel, this is a critical function and was cited as such by the 
Heritage Foundation in a recent report as a necessary FEMP role.
    Utilizing performance contracting to address infrastructure 
improvements instead of using appropriations funds for direct services 
is a commonsense approach that reduces risk to the federal government 
and ensures that projects are well managed since the private sector 
partner must guarantee performance to get paid.
    Over the past few years, when appropriated dollars have been 
scarce, FEMP funding has leveraged between $800 million and $1.4 
billion in private investment in federal infrastructure with no added 
cost to the federal government, using money from existing funding 
streams. A 2013 report by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) 
titled Beyond Guaranteed Savings: Additional Cost Savings Associated 
with ESPC Projects found that for a typical ESPC the actual cost 
savings to the federal government is 174% to 197% of the guaranteed 
savings by the contractor.
    The members of Federal Performance Contracting Coalition (ABM, 
AECOM, Ameresco, Constellation, CEG Solutions, Energy Systems Group, 
Honeywell, Johnson Controls Inc., Noresco, Siemens, Schneider Electric, 
SitelogIQ, Southland Energy, and Trane (an Ingersoll Rand company) know 
firsthand how impactful ESPCs are in saving energy costs, taxpayer 
money, and creating jobs in every state in the country. Our members 
represent approximately 95% of the Energy Savings Performance Contracts 
(ESPCs) in federal facilities.
    Thank you for your consideration of our request.

    [This statement was submitted by Ms. Jennifer Schafer, Executive 
Director, 
Federal Energy Management Program.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Federation of American Societies for 
                          Experimental Biology
                                summary
    Federal investments in fundamental research have led to remarkable 
progress in the biological and biomedical sciences. Basic research was 
the groundwork for the speed--months instead of years--in the 
development of COVID-19 vaccines, and pre-clinical research, such as 
animal studies, has been essential to every step of achieving medical 
progress.
    Despite Congress' bipartisan support for investing in science, 
federal funding for research has not kept pace, posing a threat to our 
nation's competitiveness. We face a real threat of losing our edge in 
industries such as biotechnology if we do not prioritize increasing 
investments in science and building a diverse workforce.\1\ The U.S. 
spends less on research and development (R&D) than many countries. If 
the U.S. is to be prepared to respond to future threats, our scientific 
leadership must progress. According to Science Is Us, there is the 
added benefit of jobs. STEM supports 69 percent of U.S. gross domestic 
product, touches two out of three workers, and generates $2.3 trillion 
in tax revenue.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ NSF Science Indicators 2018.
    \2\ STEM and the American Workforce. You've heard it before: STEM 
jobs--...by Science is US Medium.
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    The federal government should commit to robust, predictable, and 
sustained funding increases for science agencies.
                       the doe office of science
    The DOE Office of Science (SC) is the nation's largest funder of 
basic physical sciences research. Transformative innovations and 
technologies can be traced to its work, including solar cells, 
superconductors, and nanotechnology.
    Agencies like NIH, NSF, and DOE SC work in concert to advance 
research in key areas including artificial intelligence and genomics. 
SC supports the network of DOE national laboratories and builds and 
operates the most sophisticated, world-class scientific user facilities 
used by over 34,000 researchers from universities, industry, and other 
federal agencies. National Labs were integral to the creation of the 
National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory and the COVID-19 High 
Performance Computing Consortium that brought together the best minds 
to address Covid.
    Recent budget increases have allowed the office to proceed with key 
facility upgrades. However, for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of 
science and technology, Congress must sustain and expand DOE SC 
infrastructure investments. A FY 2022 budget of $7.4 billion ($380 
million above FY 2021) would enable continued critical facilities 
upgrades and support pathbreaking research in emerging areas such as 
quantum science.
    FASEB FY 2022 recommendation: at least $7.4 billion for DOE SC.

    [This statement was submitted by Ellen Kuo, Associate Director, 
Legislative 
Affairs, FASEB.]
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association
    Chairwoman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the 
Committee, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to discuss the 
funding priorities of the fuel cell and hydrogen industry for Fiscal 
Year 2022. My name is Morry Markowitz and I serve as the President of 
the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). FCHEA is the 
national trade association representing nearly 60 leading companies and 
organizations that are advancing innovative, clean, safe, and reliable 
fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. FCHEA member organizations 
represent the full global supply chain for hydrogen and fuel cells, 
including automakers; material, component, stack and system 
manufacturers; hydrogen producers and energy companies; trade 
associations; utilities; and end users. Collectively, our members 
employ hundreds of thousands of people across the country. On behalf of 
the members of FCHEA, our organization is requesting $300 million for 
hydrogen and fuel cell activities managed by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell 
Technologies Office (HFTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy (EERE) for hydrogen fuel and infrastructure research 
and development, fuel cell research and development, market 
transformation and technology acceleration activities, the H2@Scale 
initiative, safety, codes, and standards initiatives for vehicle and 
infrastructure safety, and advanced fuel cell and hydrogen component 
manufacturing. FCHEA requests $100 million for EERE's Advanced 
Manufacturing Office (AMO) to work in conjunction with HFTO on large-
scale hydrogen production, fuel cell supply chain, infrastructure 
supply, on-site hydrogen production, and hydrogen for industrial 
applications such as materials production and as an alternative heating 
source for industrial processes. FCHEA additionally requests $160 
million for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) activities and fossil-based 
hydrogen within the Office of Fossil Energy (FE), with $50 million 
reserved for the SOFC Program, and $15 million reserved for the Office 
of Oil and Natural Gas. This funding is vital to completing work on 
fuel cell technologies deployed around the country, as well as fueling 
the transition from fossil sources to renewable hydrogen. Finally, 
recognizing the versatility and numerous applications of hydrogen and 
fuel cells, FCHEA request specific language directing the Department of 
Energy to coordinate hydrogen and fuel cell funding across its 
different offices to ensure the maximum effectiveness of funding.
    Fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies are capable of 
significantly contributing to the widespread decarbonization of 
transportation, power generation, heating, and industrial markets, 
while providing economic growth through investments and jobs. A recent 
report by McKinsey and Company, Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy, 
determined that the hydrogen sector has the potential to generate 
700,000 jobs and $140 billion in revenue by 2030. By 2050, that 
economic impact could grow to 3.4 million jobs, $750 billion in 
revenue, 16% reductions CO2 emissions, 36% reduction in 
NOx emissions, and account for 14% of US energy demand.
    Fuel cells generate electricity through a combustion-free 
electrochemical reaction with hydrogen, with the sole byproduct being 
water vapor. Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly fuel, and when 
used in a fuel cell or as feedstock in an industrial process, there are 
no carbon, NOx, SOx, or particulate matter 
emissions. When hydrogen is generated from renewable or low-carbon 
sources--such as wind, solar, biomethane, or natural gas with carbon 
capture and sequestration--carbon emissions are either completely or 
nearly eliminated, or carbon negative.
    Today there are nearly 10,000 light-duty, zero-emission fuel cell 
vehicles (FCVs) operating in California offered by major automakers, 
with more companies planning to enter the marketplace in the near-
future. Fuel cell cars are the only vehicles capable of replicating 
today's driving experience of a 300 to 400-mile range on a single tank 
of fuel along with refueling in just three to five minutes. Beyond 
light-duty cars, fuel cells are being used across the country in more 
than 40,000 forklifts, dozens of buses, and several demonstrations of 
Class 7 and 8 trucks. Due to the scalability of fuel cells, hard-to-
decarbonize markets such as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, aviation, 
and maritime applications are looking to fuel cells as a zero-emission 
alternative for power. McKinsey's US Hydrogen Road Map suggests that by 
2030, the fuel cell industry has the capability of reaching 1,200,000 
FCV sales, 4,300 hydrogen fueling stations, and $8 billion in annual 
investments in the United States.
    Fuel cells are also enhancing our capacity, efficiency, and 
reliability of our overall energy system. Stationary fuel cells are 
commercially available with over 550 megawatts of systems deployed 
across the country today at power utility substations, data centers, 
cell phone towers, corporate headquarters, schools, universities, 
hospitals, and more. Fuel cells are able to provide distributed, clean 
primary power to fill needs when renewable power is intermittent, as 
well as improve the reliability and stability of an electric grid with 
a high penetration of renewable power generation. Fuel cell systems 
generate 24/7, clean, load-following power at close to 100% capacity 
factors. Compared to other front-of-the-meter distributed energy 
resources (DER), the combination of fuel cell high efficiency and 
extremely high-capacity factor results in the displacement of more GHG 
emissions than equivalent-sized intermittent resources.
    Hydrogen is increasingly being viewed as the first viable avenue 
for long-term and large-scale seasonal energy storage. Hydrogen energy 
storage is a process wherein the surplus of energy created by 
renewables during low energy demand periods is used to power 
electrolysis, a process in which an electrical current is passed 
through water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen can be stored in large 
quantities for weeks or months at a time for later use in a variety of 
energy applications. The International Energy Agency predicts that 
hydrogen generated from wind will be cheaper than natural gas by 2030.
    While the fuel cell and hydrogen industry has been gaining 
significant momentum in recent years, this progress could not have been 
possible without the support and partnership from the Department of 
Energy's fuel cell and hydrogen programs. America is currently the 
world leader in fuel cell technologies, however that gap is quickly 
tightening due to government interest abroad. 2020 saw one of the 
greatest increases of hydrogen interest across the globe, with 
countries from in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America 
releasing dedicated national hydrogen strategies along with committing 
billions of dollars to developing and deploying hydrogen and fuel 
cells. For example, Germany plans to invest =9 billion ($11 billion) 
into its hydrogen economy, and France has pledged =2 billion ($2.4 
billion). Spain, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 
Australia, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Canada, India, and China have all 
committed to a hydrogen future through new policies or the release of 
hydrogen strategies. The European Commission's hydrogen strategy calls 
for the installation of 6 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolyzers 
by 2024, and 40 gigawatts by 2030. It is important that America 
recognizes the importance of hydrogen technologies, as other countries 
have, and massively scale up investments or we could risk ceding our 
technology leadership abroad.
    Immense progress has been made to date through the collaboration of 
industry and the DOE through HFTO. The cutting-edge research developed 
through DOE funding has led to more than 730 hydrogen and fuel cell 
patents, including more than 30 commercial technologies such as fuel 
cell catalysts, high-pressure hydrogen tanks, electrolyzers and low 
carbon hydrogen production, and fuel cell system components. DOE-funded 
research has also cut the cost of automotive fuel cells by 60% in the 
last decade, quadrupled durability to over 120,000 miles, cut 
electrolyzer stack costs by 80% since 2002. We are excited by Biden 
administration's interest in hydrogen and our industry looks forward to 
working with DOE to on the recently announced Hydrogen Energy Earthshot 
Initiative to accelerate reductions in the cost of hydrogen.
    Further support is still needed for early, middle, and late-stage 
development, demonstration, and deployment activities to help industry 
clear the remaining technical and regulatory barriers to accelerated 
adoption of fuel cells and hydrogen energy, and to ensure the 
incorporation of these technologies into a grander clean energy plan to 
combat the climate crisis. FCHEA is grateful for the past support that 
the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee has 
given to DOE's hydrogen and fuel cell programs. While the funding 
levels requested are a significant increase from previous years, we 
believe now is the time to double down on hydrogen and fuel cell 
technologies to launch the technology into the mainstream. It is 
crucial that hydrogen and fuel cells are adequately funded so that they 
may become an integral component of America's climate and economic 
strategy. We urge the Subcommittee, under your bipartisan leadership, 
to continue this support with our FY 2022 appropriations request and 
ensure the long-term success of our innovative, sustainable energy 
industry. By supporting continued development fuel cell and hydrogen 
technologies, America can both mitigate the causes of climate change, 
while supporting our economic future and maintaining our nation's 
energy technology leadership. Thank you for your consideration.

    [This statement was submitted by Morry B. Markowitz, President, 
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Grand Valley Water Users Association
    My name is Mark Harris. I am the General Manager of the Grand 
Valley Water Users Association in Grand Junction, Colorado. We are 
deeply involved with the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program. We are requesting your support for appropriations in the 
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of 
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River 
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery 
Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts requested in the 
President's budget for these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President 's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.

    [This statement was submitted by Mark Harris, General Manager, 
Grand Valley Water Users Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
                 Prepared Statement of Hannon Armstrong
    As a leading investor in climate solutions, including energy 
efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable infrastructure 
projects, Hannon Armstrong respectfully urges your support for funding 
the Federal Energy Management Program (``FEMP''), an important program 
that oversees and facilitates the implementation of Energy Savings 
Performance Contract (ESPC) and Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) 
activities, which are currently contemplated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 
2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. We urge you to 
support an increase in funding for FEMP in FY22.
    Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI) has 40 years of experience in 
sustainable infrastructure financing. We specialize in providing 
preferred or senior level capital to established sponsors and high-
credit quality obligors, such as U.S. federal, state and local 
governments, Global 1000 corporations and private developers, for 
assets that generate long-term, recurring and predictable cash flows.
    Our company provides and arranges debt and equity financing for a 
broad range energy efficiency projects that reduce energy usage or the 
cost of energy use. We often work with global energy service companies 
(ESCOs), which design and install improvements to various building 
components, including HVAC systems, lighting, energy controls, roofs, 
windows and/or building shells. We originate many of our transactions 
through programmatic finance relationships with ESCOs as well as 
renewable energy manufacturers, developers, and operators who own and 
operate renewable energy projects, including a number of U.S. utility 
companies.
    In December 2020, we announced that the company has exceeded $6 
billion in energy efficiency investments from more than 600 individual 
transactions with leading behind-the-meter energy service companies 
serving federal, state, local and commercial energy efficiency markets 
since 2000. Hannon Armstrong's total investments in energy efficiency 
projects have an average CarbonCount(r) score of 0.38 metric tons of 
CO2 equivalent (``CO2e'') emissions avoided annually per $1,000 
invested, as well as a WaterCount(tm) score of 658 gallons of water 
consumption avoided annually for every $1,000 invested. The estimated 
21.2 million tons of CO2e avoided emissions over 20 years is equivalent 
to the amount of CO2e emissions from 116,390 rail cars of coal, which 
would stretch from Annapolis, Md. to Kansas City, Mo. when linked end 
to end. The 36.3 billion gallons of water consumption saved by these 
investments over the same period could fill three bathtubs for every 
person in the United States.
                     the numerous benefits of espcs
    ESPCs are a highly effective public-private partnership model to 
improve building energy efficiency. In this budget-neutral approach, 
future guaranteed energy savings are used to pay the financing cost of 
facility upgrades. Federal ESPCs have been one of the most efficient 
and successful programs reducing energy use and carbon emissions while 
improving resiliency in the federal built environment. ESPCs allow 
federal agencies to procure energy savings and facility improvements 
with no up-front capital costs or special appropriations from Congress. 
Studies by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory show that, on average, 
actual cost savings exceed guaranteed savings for federal ESPC 
projects.\1\ Projects under the FEMP ESPC program reported achieving 
14.155 million MMBtu in energy savings in FY2019, outperforming 
estimates.\2\
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    \1\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/12/f58/
2016_savings_espcs.pdf.
    \2\ https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub150841.pdf.
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    ESPCs and UESCs enable agencies to procure energy services and 
projects without relying solely on appropriated funds to replace, 
operate, and maintain aging energy-using equipment. At no added cost to 
the government, ESPCs and UESCs assist agencies and installations in 
reducing their energy intensity, saving taxpayer dollars and in many 
cases improving mission readiness. These innovative contracts also 
require the assurance of financial savings.


    ESPCs and UESCs have also resulted in the creation of thousands of 
local and un-exportable jobs. According to the Federal Performance 
Contracting Coalition (FPCC), for every $10 million of investment in 
ESPCs and UESCs an estimated 95 high paying jobs are created. 40 of 
these jobs are created in the manufacturing sector, 35 jobs are created 
with subcontractors and installers and finally, 20 of the 95 jobs 
created are with the ESCOs.
    ESPC and UESC contracts are excellent examples of the federal 
government leveraging private capital. With more than 350,000 energy-
using buildings and structures representing nearly 2.4 billion square 
feet of facilities, the federal government is our nation's largest 
energy consumer. Federal agencies have a tremendous opportunity and an 
obligation to reduce energy and water use in their operations. 
According to the most current data from the Department of Energy, there 
are nearly $8 billion in identified energy conservation measures for 
federal agencies, which would save the government almost $800 million a 
year in energy and water-related costs. Implementing these measures 
would avoid approximately 3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions 
annually.
    ESPCs can and should be used to leverage private sector dollars--
this allows important and often mission critical projects to be 
accomplished with far less taxpayer dollars. ESPCs often have a very 
strong return on investment, as well as a host of additional benefits, 
including accelerated project timelines, reduced energy infrastructure 
costs, and low-cost financing. The budget-neutrality of ESPCs ensure 
financial stability in both the short- and long-term. Agencies should 
prioritize leveraging private sector financing to take full advantage 
of these numerous benefits, creating jobs while saving taxpayer dollars 
and improving facility performance.
    As the federal program responsible for providing services to enable 
all agencies to implement successful ESPC and UESC projects, FEMP 
provides crucial assistance, guidance, and training. We therefore 
strongly urge funding of $36 million for FEMP so it may continue its 
vital work to cut energy waste and increase efficiency across the 
federal government through the public-private partnerships required 
under ESPCs and UESCs. Of that funding, we request $2 million to 
support the Performance Contracting National Resource Center (PCNRC), a 
hub within FEMP housing all of DOE's best practice resources and 
solutions for ESPCs. We also request $400 million for the Assisting 
Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 
program within FEMP, in alignment with President Biden's budget 
request-as long as it continues to leverage private financing to get 
the greatest return on investment for the American taxpayer. The AFFECT 
program increases resilience and cybersecurity in Federal performance 
contracts by leveraging private capital. AFFECT grants can be used to 
help fund those energy related measures that typically have very long 
paybacks but, when included with an ESPC, can create a deep retrofit 
and enhanced resiliency for federal agencies. The Biden FY22 Budget 
request prioritizes deep retrofits under AFFECT, in accordance with 
these aims.
    The AFFECT grant program supports agency projects that spur energy 
generation, energy efficiency, and energy storage projects across the 
country. In 2020, the program distributed $11 million in grants to 16 
federal agency projects, which will lead to a total investment of over 
$439 million.\3\ The FY22 funding for FEMP would increase support of 
ESPCs, which are a cost-effective way to make much needed upgrades and 
increase resiliency of vital federal assets, including military 
facilities. FEMP's most important effort is the coordinated and defined 
program management of ESPCs for federal agencies. FEMP staff help 
agencies use ESPCs in several ways: advising agencies on scoping, 
procurement, and performance requirements for energy conservation 
measures (ECMs); helping agencies select third-party ESCOs; finalizing 
contracting terms and project approval; and monitoring project 
implementation and performance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/2020-assisting-federal-
facilities-energy-conservation-technologies-affect-federal-agency.
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    FEMP is at the forefront of efforts to improve federal building 
energy performance, which is accomplished in part by accessing and 
leveraging private capital in performance contracts. The additional 
private capital has been used to finance hundreds of projects across 
two dozen agencies, creating 30,000 jobs and reducing energy outlays by 
$8 billion over the next 18 years. As mentioned, the President 
requested $400 million for AFFECT via the Federal Energy Efficiency 
Fund--which could be used to leverage at least 10 dollars for every 
federal grant dollar invested--and is critical to tackling the backlog 
of needed maintenance in our federal infrastructure, while also leading 
by example and addressing climate change through supporting clean 
energy in buildings.
    FEMP is the program ma-nager for the critical ESPC contracting tool 
used by federal agencies for the implementation of ESPCs--the 
Department of Energy, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity, Energy 
Savings Performance Contract (DOE IDIQ ESPC). These contracts have 
historically been instrumental in achieving the aforementioned energy 
and cost savings as well as the job creation outcomes for the nation. 
Since the inception of the DOE IDIQ ESPCs in 1998, 431 projects have 
been awarded and approximately $7.66 billion has been invested in 
federal energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. These 
improvements have resulted in approximately 618.7 trillion Btu in life 
cycle energy savings and $17.53 billion in cumulative energy cost 
savings for the federal government.\4\
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    \4\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/awarded-doe-idiq-energy-
savings-performance-contract-projects.
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    Fiscal year 2020 was the most successful year in the history of the 
DOE IDIQ ESPC program with a record $842 million total project 
investment which will generate $1.7 billion in energy and water savings 
for the federal government.\5\ We also urge FEMP to increase its 
support to military services seeking ESPCs for upgrades to military 
facilities across the county. One of the main reasons these 
infrastructure and resiliency upgrades remain uncompleted is lack of 
appropriated funding. Employing ESPCs to make these much-needed 
upgrades is a cost-effective way to increase the resiliency of 
important infrastructure systems and the services they provide to base 
personnel and operations.
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    \5\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/awarded-doe-idiq-energy-
savings-performance-contract-projects.
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    Again, we strongly urge a total of $36 million in funding for FEMP, 
including $2 million for the Performance Contracting National Resource 
Center, alongside $400 million for the AFFECT program--so that FEMP may 
continue its vital work as the program manager of ESPCs and the ESPC 
DOE IDIQ ESPC contract in FY2022 and beyond. We thank you for providing 
this opportunity to submit this testimony and we look forward to 
working with you.

    [This statement was submitted by Robert Johnson, Senior Vice 
President, Hannon Armstrong.]
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the Izaak Walton League of America
    The Izaak Walton League of America appreciates the opportunity to 
submit testimony concerning appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2022 
for programs under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee. The League is 
a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1922 with 40,000 members 
and 200 local chapters nationwide. Our members are committed to 
advancing common sense policies that safeguard wildlife and habitat, 
support community-based conservation, and address pressing 
environmental issues. The following pertains to programs administered 
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Missouri River Recovery Program 
construction at $30.4 million, Missouri River Recovery Program 
operations and maintenance at $5.2 million, Upper Mississippi River 
Restoration Program at $31.17 million, and the South Florida Ecosystem 
Restoration Program at $725 million).
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction and Operations and Maintenance, 
        Missouri River
            The Missouri River Recovery Program
    The League urges the Subcommittee to reject the President's request 
of $8 million for construction for the Missouri River Recovery Program 
(MRRP) and instead appropriate $30.4 million for FY 2022 for the MRRP. 
This funding level will adequately fund the Army Corps to successfully 
implement the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan (Plan) and the 
Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project for the Bank Stabilization and 
Navigation Project (BSNP). We ask that the funding meet the Corps 
capability level identified in the Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Plan, $30.4 million for construction and $5.2 million for 
operations and maintenance of existing projects. With this funding, the 
Corps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), states, and other partners 
can continue important ecosystem restoration efforts that are producing 
long-term ecological and economic benefits.
    The requested increased FY 2022 funding would allow the Corps to 
fund long neglected aspects of the BSNP Fish and Wildlife Mitigation 
Project for the Missouri River. Funding for this critical effort has 
been severely lacking in recent years. Mitigation Project goals are 
falling further and further behind projections and expectations.
    The BSNP Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project, as authorized by 
Section 601(a) of WRDA 1986 and Section 334(a) of WRDA 1999, is 
required to offset habitat loses from the Corps' ongoing maintenance 
and operation of the Missouri River System. The Fish and Wildlife 
Mitigation Project will help reduce Missouri River flooding, improve 
water quality, provide for self-sustaining fish and wildlife 
populations and increase recreation for families in the basin.
    Funding the full capability will enable the Corps to collaborate 
with a growing list of landowners willing to help reduce flood risk and 
restore critical habitat. Years of declining funding has caused the 
Corps to fall further and further behind established habitat and 
species targets identified in Congressionally mandated recovery plans. 
Over 100,000 acres of previously authorized mitigation that would build 
resiliency to flooding and benefit fish and wildlife has not been 
secured due to insufficient appropriations for the MRRP. Willing 
landowners are anxiously waiting on the Corps to fulfill its BSNP 
Mitigation obligations.
    With adequate funding, habitat restoration efforts could include 
reconnecting portions of the river to floodplain wetlands, bottomland 
forests, and native prairies. This will increase the river's capacity 
and resiliency and increase the ability to capture carbon and reduce 
the movement of nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico. These actions will 
also reduce the river's stage and velocity during high flows, while 
creating much needed slow and slack water habitat for the pallid and 
other fish species during other times of year.
    In 2011, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Nebraska 
Game and Parks Commission found recreational spending provides $68 
million in annual economic impact to communities along the Missouri 
River from Yankton, South Dakota to St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to 
the economic boost from tourism, restoration projects support job 
creation throughout the entire region. The Corps contracts with local 
construction companies, creating jobs, and injecting dollars into local 
economies through purchases of materials, fuel, food and lodging. With 
the funding requested, the Corps could readily implement more of these 
important restoration projects.
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction, Upper Mississippi River
            Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program
    The League is an active and long-time proponent of restoring the 
Upper Mississippi River (UMR) ecosystem. We have supported the Upper 
Mississippi River Restoration (subaccount for the Environmental 
Management Program) since its inception and continue to support this 
vital restoration initiative. We urge the Subcommittee to continue to 
provide $33.17 million for the UMRR-EMP as provided in the FY 2021 
omnibus.
    The Upper Mississippi River is one of the most complex ecosystems 
on earth. It provides habitat for 50 species of mammals, 45 species of 
reptiles and amphibians, 37 species of mussels, and 241 species of 
fish. The need for ecosystem restoration is unquestionable. As the 
Corps correctly stated in its study of navigation expansion, this 
ecosystem is ``significantly altered, is currently degraded, and is 
expected to get worse.'' Researchers from the National Academy of 
Sciences have determined that river habitat is disappearing faster than 
it can be replaced through existing programs such as the Upper 
Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, which was authorized at 
$33.2 million annually by Congress in 1999. Since its inception, the 
UMRR has restored critical fish and wildlife habitat on more than 
100,000 acres across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and 
Missouri. The UMRR is also able to deliver the restoration of these 
acres at the average cost of $3,000 per acre, an impressively low cost.
    Our nation relies on a healthy Mississippi River for commerce, 
recreation, drinking water, food, and generation of electricity. More 
than 12 million people annually recreate on and along the Upper 
Mississippi River spending $1.2 billion and supporting 18,000 jobs. 
More people recreate on the Upper Mississippi annually than visit 
Yellowstone National Park. Each of the more than 50 completed 
restoration projects generates half of its labor from local workers 
living near the sites. During construction, each of these projects 
infuses an average of $750,000 into the local economies and small 
towns.
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction, South Florida Ecosystem 
        Restoration
    The League requests the Subcommittee reject the President's request 
for $350 million and appropriate $725 million for construction for the 
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) for FY 2022 as requested by 
Florida Congressional delegation, Florida state officials, and the 
Everglades conservation community. This request prioritizes funds 
needed now to adequately restore the Everglades, reduce polluted 
discharges from Lake Okeechobee, and protect drinking water for 8 
million Americans living in Florida.
    This funding will advance important restoration projects under the 
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), including the 
critical Everglades-Agricultural Area Reservoir recently authorized in 
WRDA 2018. The reservoir would allow water to flow south from Lake 
Okeechobee and be stored and treated before flowing into Everglades 
National Park and Florida Bay, greatly reducing the need for the Army 
Corps to release polluted lake water into the Caloosahatchee and St. 
Lucie Rivers, which can lead to harmful algal blooms on Florida's Gulf 
and Atlantic coasts. Adequately funding SFER would also allow the Army 
Corps to complete other CERP projects vital to restoration of the 
Everglades, including Picayune Strand Restoration, Broward County Water 
Preserve Area, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, and Indian River Lagoon-
South.
    Economic benefits that would come from restoration of the 
Everglades are astronomical. Gains in biodiversity, groundwater 
purification and aquifer storage, increasing property values, park 
visitation, carbon sequestration, and improved fish and wildlife 
habitat that would come from a full restoration of the Everglades, as 
described in the CERP, would drive an economic increase of $46.5 
billion. Even with a price tag of $11 billion, much of which will be 
borne by non-federal partners, restoration of the Everglades represents 
an impressive benefit to cost ratio greater than 4.00.
    The Izaak Walton League appreciates the opportunity to testify 
about these important issues.

    [This statement was submitted by Jared Mott, Conservation Director, 
Izaak 
Walton League of America.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of Methane Action and Remineralize the Earth
    Madam Chair et al.,
    Yesterday, the world-renowned former science advisor to the U.K., 
Sir David King of Cambridge University, declared that he believes we 
have five years left to solve the climate crisis. He announced the 
formation of a new Climate Crisis Advisory Group to help reduce 
emissions, remove greenhouse gases already emitted and restore the 
climate to truly healthy temperatures and functioning. See, https://
www.businessgreen.com/news/4033355/reduce-remove-repair-climate-crisis-
advisory-group-sketches-climate-priorities.
    In April Sir David led a group of 31 scientists in writing a letter 
in advance of the White House Climate Summit declaring that governments 
need to expedite the reduction of emissions, the deployment of methods 
of removing ambient methane and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the 
development of governance capable of ensuring the safe and effective 
use of those methods. (See, MethaneAction.org).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Today we learned that a Penn State research team has shown that 
oil and gas methane emissions are larger than EPA inventory values by 
48% to 76%. (https://phys.org/news/2021-06-ethane-proxies-methane-oil-
gas.html).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Our testimony focuses primarily on how this Subcommittee can 
expedite the research and development of the technologies that can buy 
us time as we seek to restore safe levels of GHGs including 
CO2 below 300 ppm and methane below .8 ppm. Peer reviewed 
science and on-going laboratory tests indicate we can achieve that 
methane goal within this decade buying time to deal with the longer-
term problem of CO2. We filed complementary testimony on the 
24th with the Interior-EPA Subcommittee and recommend that you compare 
notes with them in order to ensure the best fit for each Subcommittee 
and recommendation that you find useful. For example, some of the work 
we have recommended that the EPA direct could be initiated by ARPA-E 
but (1) not all are energy related as methane and other GHGs have other 
sources and sinks, and (2) some of the research would be done more 
efficiently in some cases with non-U.S. principal investigators who are 
already, with too little funding, working on these approaches, and (3) 
the overall program should in any case be geared for both international 
cooperation and policy coordination. So we will not repeat those 
requests here. Our testimony will largely be in the legislative 
language we recommend from here on:

(I) Reducing emissions and concentrations of climate forcing agents.
    In order to reduce greenhouse gases and other climate forcing 
agents to historically healthy levels as soon as possible, the 
Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Secretaries of Agriculture, 
the Interior, State and Treasury, the Administrator of USAID, the Chief 
Executive Officers of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the U.S. 
International Development Finance Corporation and the Export Import 
Bank, using funds appropriated for their other relevant programs as 
well as those appropriated for this Title, shall, as directed below:

    (A) Review existing and pending patents for methods of removing 
        climate forcing agents and limiting the emissions thereof, and 
        grants and contracts for the development of such technologies 
        made by the U.S. and other governments, including but not 
        limited to the United Kingdom, and foundations and ensure, in 
        consultation and cooperation with the Special Envoy and 
        Domestic Advisor on Climate Change and the appropriate 
        departments and agencies, including but not limited to the 
        Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, and foreign and 
        international governments, that the research, development, and 
        deployment of such methods is completed and advanced each year 
        to the extent practicable, and incorporated in their actions, 
        including but not limited to their foreign assistance, 
        intergovernmental cooperation, and international finance 
        programs, and provisions. The Secretary shall complete the 
        steps of paragraph (A) and its subparagraphs by July 1, 2022 
        unless otherwise noted in the schedule set forth as follows:

      (i) Develop an interagency agreement on GHG Drawdown Research, 
            Development and Deployment to collaborate with the 
            Administrator of the EPA and the Commandant of the Coast 
            Guard, as the U.S. liaison to the International Maritime 
            Organization, on research, development, assessment and 
            trials of methods of methane oxidation and catalysis for 
            near source and ambient removal and measure co-benefits 
            including removing other pollutants such as Nitrous Oxide, 
            CO2, soot and preventing ground level ozone. 
            (See Interior-EPA testimony of Methane Action and RTE for 
            research projects.)

      (ii) Surface-based Photocatalytic Enhanced Methane Oxidation 
            (SPEMO). In cooperation with the Environmental Protection 
            Agency and the Secretary of State and the Administrator of 
            USAID the Secretary of Energy shall contract for three 
            years of research and development of surface-based 
            photocatalytic enhanced methane oxidation (SPEMO) to: (I) 
            Lower methane emissions from coal mines, oil wells and 
            animal farms, to ensure that the CH4 concentration from 
            ventilated air is less than 1.7 ppm by volume; and (II) 
            Apply photocatalytic paint to buildings, rooftops, 
            photovoltaic panels, or in a ventilated conduit to reduce 
            methane in the general atmosphere as a complement to 
            commercial photocatalytic paints and coatings already being 
            used because of their self-cleaning property and ability to 
            reduce urban pollution such as nitrogen oxides and volatile 
            organic compounds. At $1,000,000, or one third of that from 
            each of three agencies, per year for a total contract in 
            FY2022 for (I) and (II) of: $3,000,000

    (B) Integrate GHG removal in Development Assistance and Trade.

    (1) The Secretary of Energy, Directors of the DOE Office of Fossil 
Energy and Carbon Management and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
E, the Chief Engineer of the USACE and the Commissioner of the Bureau 
of Reclamation shall assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and 
the Administrator of US EPA, in calculating the difference between the 
climate forcing agents emitted in the production of fuels, 
hydroelectric power of different types, other energy sources, wetlands 
management (e.g. draining or re-watering) and the production of the 
goods and services in other countries and those emitted in the United 
States, the extent to which other countries remove emitted GHGs and the 
economic costs thereof and inform U.S. Trade Representative, the 
Secretary of Commerce by June 1, 2022 of the results of those 
calculations so that they may ensure that those receiving assistance in 
programs under their jurisdiction or control or exporting goods or 
services to the United States will limit and sequester, oxidize or 
otherwise remove the climate forcing agents or the carbon dioxide 
equivalent thereof to the extent practicable currently and endow a fund 
for the future reclamation of such agents as technical or natural 
capacities for so doing are available.

    (2) Assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the 
Administrator of US EPA, and the U.S. Trade Representative and the 
Secretary of Commerce, in calculating by June 1, 2022 tariff and trade 
adjustments that would internalize the avoided costs and externalities 
that exceed those of comparable production in the United States; so 
that they are in a position to impose tariffs and embargoes accordingly 
by September 1, 2022.

    (C) Ensure Global Governance of GHG Removal Methods. Beginning no 
        later than one week after the date of enactment and continuing 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall assist the Secretary of State, 
        the Administrator of the EPA and the US Trade Representative, 
        in consultation with the Special Envoy for Climate Change, the 
        Commandant of the Coast Guard and other agencies participating 
        in the affected U.S. delegations, in proposing and pursuing 
        resolutions and agreements for supporting the proper assessment 
        and deployment and governance of methods of reducing the 
        atmospheric presence of climate forcing agents to historic 
        healthy levels; of assessing the effects thereof to ensure the 
        sufficient, safe and proper use of technologies for reducing 
        the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, HFCs, black 
        soot and other climate forcing agents or the climate forcing 
        impact of them; and for actively removing such agents from the 
        atmosphere, within or apart from existing international 
        agreements in a manner that is complementary to their 
        objectives and not preemptive of conservation and restoration 
        efforts. Those agreements shall include but not be limited to 
        the UNFCCC and its protocols and accords, the London Convention 
        on Marine Pollution (via the International Maritime 
        Organization), the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the 
        Ozone Layer and its protocols, UNECE Convention on Long-range 
        Transboundary Air Pollution, the Convention on Migratory 
        Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other 
        conservation agreements, the major international trade 
        agreements, and the United Nations, and UNEP, FAO, UNDP and any 
        other relevant subsidiary bodies; $3,000,000

    (D) Report on Plans. The Secretary of Energy in cooperation with 
        the Secretary of State shall form a Committee on Climate 
        Restoration comprised of the Secretaries and agency heads 
        tasked under this Title to report as directed in subsections 
        (D) and (E) to the Committees of jurisdiction within ninety 
        days of enactment on their training programs and plans for 
        cooperating with the United Nations, the Organization for 
        Economic Cooperation and Development and their subsidiary 
        bodies, other interested nation states in implementing 
        paragraphs (A)-(D) and for incorporating these elements in 
        their work and measuring the success of their implementation; 
        and

    (E) Report on Results. Within 180 days of enactment and annually 
        thereafter the Committee on Climate Restoration shall report to 
        the Secretaries and Administrators listed in Section I, and the 
        Congressional Committees of jurisdiction, on their progress and 
        report any requests and suggestions for expediting the 
        deployment of methods found to be effective in light of their 
        direct and indirect costs and co-benefits as informed in more 
        detail every two years by the assessments produced by those 
        agencies and other competent authorities. The Secretary shall 
        ensure that the report and plan are produced with the 
        cooperation of appropriate government agencies, including but 
        not limited to the EPA, EIA, USAID and those included elsewhere 
        in this Section. The Secretary shall further ensure that 
        authors include a range of conservation biology, oceanic, 
        agronomy and atmospheric scientists, among others, as well as 
        economists, engineers, policy makers, regulatory experts. The 
        federal agencies should also provide a companion report 
        discussing their efforts, progress and challenges. The 
        Secretary is directed to fund from his regular budget a report 
        updating the initial report every 2 years.
    For this Title in addition to the amounts specified above: 
$8,000,000
II. Integrating Climate Restoration across the Government.
    The program requirements of these Sections are to be integrated 
into the regular order of business and carried out within the budget 
authorities and amounts appropriated for each of the affected agencies 
independent of further appropriations, this section however, hereby 
also provides such authorization as may be necessary through FY2028 as 
well as appropriations for FY2022.
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern 
                               California
    The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 
(Metropolitan) encourages the Subcommittee's support for fiscal year 
2022 federal funding of $10.7 million for the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation's (Reclamation) Colorado River Basin Salinity Control 
Program (Salinity Control Program), Title II--Basinwide Program to 
prevent further degradation of Colorado River water quality and 
increased economic damages.
    The salt concentration in the Colorado River causes an estimated 
$354 million in quantifiable damages to water users each year. While 
this figure is significant, had it not been for the efforts of the 
Salinity Control Program, damages would be much higher. Salinity 
Control Program actions have reduced the salinity of Colorado River 
water at key locations over 90 milligrams per liter (mg/L) from what 
they would have been without the actions. Modeling by Reclamation 
indicates that quantifiable damages could rise to approximately $671 
million by the year 2040 without continuation of the program.
    Metropolitan is the regional water supplier for most of urban 
Southern California, providing supplemental water to retail agencies 
that serve approximately 19 million people.
    Water imported via the Colorado River Aqueduct has the highest 
salinity level of all of Metropolitan's sources of supply, averaging 
around 630 mg/L since 1976. This salinity level causes economic damages 
to all sectors. For example, high salinity has the following impacts:
  --It reduces the useful life of water heaters, faucets, garbage 
        disposals, clothes washers, and dishwashers, and increases use 
        of water softeners in the household sector;
  --It increases the cost of cooling operations, the need for and cost 
        of water softening, and decreases equipment service life in the 
        commercial sector;
  --It increases water use, the cost of water treatment, and sewer fees 
        in the industrial sector;
  --It decreases the life of treatment facilities and pipelines in the 
        utility sector;
  --It increases the cost of desalination and brine disposal for 
        recycled water in the municipal sector;
  --It reduces the yield of salt sensitive crops and increases water 
        use for leaching in the agricultural sector;
  --It increases desalination and brine disposal costs due to 
        accumulation of salts in groundwater basins, and reduces 
        opportunities for water recycling due to groundwater quality 
        deterioration;
  --It reduces the ability to replenish groundwater in basins with 
        relatively low salinity standards;
  --It reduces the ability to reclaim and reuse water due to high 
        salinities in the water delivered to water treatment and 
        reclamation facilities; and
  --It makes it more difficult to meet wastewater discharge 
        requirements to comply with National Pollutant Discharge 
        Elimination System permit terms and conditions.
    There has been concern over salinity levels in the Colorado River 
for many years. To address the concern, the International Boundary and 
Water Commission signed Minute No. 242, Permanent and Definitive 
Solution to the International Problem of the Salinity of the Colorado 
River in 1973, and the President signed the Colorado River Basin 
Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Act) into law. Title I of the Act deals 
with the U.S. commitment to the quality of waters being delivered to 
Mexico. Title II of the Act deals with improving the quality of the 
water delivered to users in the United States. This testimony deals 
specifically with Title II efforts. To further foster interstate 
cooperation and coordinate the Colorado River Basin states' efforts on 
salinity control, the seven Basin states formed the Colorado River 
Basin Salinity Control Forum.
    The Forum is charged with reviewing the Colorado River's water 
quality standards for salinity every three years. In so doing, it 
adopts a Plan of Implementation consistent with these standards. The 
level of appropriation requested in this testimony is in keeping with 
the adopted Plan of Implementation, which is to be implemented by 
Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (NRCS).
    In implementing the Act, Congress recognized that most of the salt 
load in the Colorado River originates from federally owned lands. The 
majority of land within the Colorado River Basin is federally owned and 
administered. The salts in the Colorado River Basin are naturally-
occurring and pervasive, mostly resulting from saline sediments in the 
Basin that were deposited in prehistoric marine environments. They are 
easily eroded, dissolved, and transported into the river system, and 
enter the River through both natural and anthropogenic processes. The 
Salinity Control Program reduces salinity by preventing salts from 
dissolving and mixing with the River's flow. Irrigation improvements 
(sprinklers, gated pipe, lined canals) and vegetation management reduce 
the amount of salt transported to the Colorado River. Point sources 
such as saline springs are also controlled.
    The Salinity Control Program benefits Lower Basin water users, 
hundreds of miles downstream from salt sources in the Upper Basin, 
through reduced salinity of Colorado River water.
    The Salinity Control Program, as set forth in the Act, also 
benefits the Upper Colorado River Basin water users through more 
efficient water management and increased crop production, and benefits 
local economies through construction contracts and environmental 
enhancements.
    In the early years of the program, Reclamation implemented salinity 
control through large projects which were funded with specific line 
item amounts. In 1995, Congress amended the Act and created 
Reclamation's Basinwide Program. Under this program, Reclamation funds 
competitive proposals for projects that will decrease the salt load to 
the Colorado River.
    Most of the proposals target off-farm irrigation distribution 
systems such as canals and laterals. The lining or piping of canals and 
laterals prevents leakage into the groundwater and the dissolution and 
transportation of salts to the Colorado River and its tributaries.
    The requested funding level of $10.7 million is required to keep 
the Basinwide Program on pace with the overall Salinity Control Program 
implementation needs. These federal dollars will be augmented by state 
cost sharing of 30 percent and by an additional 25 percent provided by 
the agricultural producers with whom the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
contracts for implementation of salinity control measures.
    Over the past years, the Salinity Control Program has proven to be 
a cost-effective approach to mitigating the impacts of increased 
salinity in the Colorado River. Adequate federal funding of this 
important program is essential. Metropolitan urges the Subcommittee to 
fund the Bureau of Reclamation's Salinity Control Program, Title II--
Basinwide Program for fiscal year 2022 in the amount of $10.7 million. 
This modest investment in source control pays dividends in improved 
drinking water quality to nearly 40 million Americans.

    [This statement was submitted by Jeffrey Kightlinger, General 
Manager, 
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.]
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association
    Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the 
Subcommittee, I am Jim B. Horan, Executive Director of the Mid-West 
Electric Consumers Association (Mid-West). Mid-West represents the 
interests of over 300 consumer-owned utilities across the Upper Great 
Plains that purchase power from the federal hydroelectric generators 
that are part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. That power is 
marketed by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), an agency of 
the U.S. Department of Energy, and is sold to Mid-West Members in the 
states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North 
Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Mid-West's members rely on this 
cost-based, renewable, federal hydroelectric power for a significant 
portion of their power supply requirements.
    Mid-West requests that the Subcommittee provide the full funding 
for Purchase Power and Wheeling (PP&W) authority requested by WAPA in 
the FY 2022 budget request. Mid-West also supports the continued use of 
``net-zero'' for annual expenses and the public partnership financing 
that has worked so successfully in the Pick-Sloan Region for over 20 
years.
                      purchase power and wheeling
    The PP&W authority is necessary for WAPA to fulfill its contractual 
obligations to deliver firm power to Mid-West's members and other WAPA 
customers, including federal and state agencies and Native American 
Tribes. These funds can only be used for PP&W costs and they are 
available until expended. While WAPA may not always spend the full PP&W 
appropriation in every year, a severe and prolonged drought can cause 
WAPA to incur PP&W costs that exceed their available funding. In that 
event, WAPA must use cash from other planned expenditures, including 
repaying customer advances for the rehabilitation of federal assets. 
This disruption to asset rehabilitation midstream can cause 
significantly higher costs due to contractor work stoppages and 
restarts, interest that accrues on money already spent on the project, 
replacement power due to asset outages, etc.
    The PP&W budget is prepared approximately two years in advance of 
the fiscal year. Each legislated project for which WAPA markets and 
transmits power has unique power production and marketing 
characteristics, which results in differing methods to budget for 
purchase power. For the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern 
Division, WAPA staff look at the last 10-11 years of rolling hydrologic 
conditions, which include a multi-year drought, and averages the 5 
median years, eliminating the other 6-7 higher and lower water years.
    Using the hydrologic data, WAPA staff then prepare a conservative 
power price forecast for the period. The combination of forecasted 
water conditions, consequent purchase power and wheeling volumes, and 
the power price forecast yield the estimate of PP&W costs over the 
forecast period.
    It is important to note, however, that a drought with worse 
hydrologic conditions than any of the years included in the study will 
likely yield PP&W costs significantly above what is forecast. Mid-West 
is committed to working with the Subcommittee staff and the 
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to resolve any remaining issues 
associated with the methodology involving PP&W. We are very concerned 
that CBO changed a two decades-old agreement that PP&W appropriations 
would not score against the federal deficit. Despite the fact that all 
PP&W expenditures are paid by the WAPA customers (Mid-West member-
utilities), CBO still proposed to score these expenditures. We hope any 
lingering issues can be resolved. This is very important to the 
customer-owners of the region, since federal cost-based hydropower is 
the life-blood of the regional economy and key to maintaining energy 
affordability.
                               conclusion
    The Subcommittee's longstanding support of the federal power 
program is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your consideration 
of this testimony. We stand ready to respond to any questions.

    [This statement was submitted by Jim B. Horan, Executive Director, 
Mid-West Electric Consumers Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
              Prepared Statement of the Mni Wiconi Project
1. FY 2022 OMR Request
    The Mni Wiconi Project respectfully requests $ 45.080 million in 
appropriations for operation, maintenance and replacement (OMR) 
activities in FY 2021, including $1.997 million \1\ for the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation). The OMR request includes $ 21.6 million for 
necessary Coreline storage towers, crossing, and pump station. 
Additionally, the OSRWSS Core needs $38 million for South Core Line 
(Phase V) Replacement (see Section 2). Report language is also 
requested.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ This testimony uses figures provided by Reclamation for its 
FY21 work plan. We applied 2.3% inflation to those figures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    OMR funds will be used as summarized in Table 1 by the Oglala Sioux 
Rural Water Supply System (OSRWSS), Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System 
(RSRWS), and Lower Brule Sioux Rural Water System (LBSRWS).

                                                     TABLE 1
                                           MNI WICONI PROJECT SPONSOR
                                                   AGENCY: BOR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             OSRWSS
                                  ---------------------------    RSRWS        LBSRWS    Reclamation     TOTAL
                                     Coreline   Distribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Employees..............           17            33           17           13            8           88
Labor and Fringe Benefits........   $1,372,027    $2,053,402     $927,271     $972,800   $1,003,563   $6,329,063
Labor Overhead Costs.............      626,879       831,628  ...........      192,700      409,200    2,060,407
Non-Labor Costs
    Electricity/Natural Gas/           650,000       753,239      211,160      135,800      258,819    2,009,018
     Propane.....................
    Telephone/Communications.....       40,000        50,499       23,500       33,900  ...........      147,899
    Water Treatment Chemicals/         400,000       236,050       30,000      104,000  ...........      770,050
     Supplies....................
    Wells, Pumps, Motors &             590,000        85,933       82,500      101,500  ...........      859,933
     Replacement.................
    Water Testing................      120,000        31,827       10,000  ...........  ...........      161,827
    Vehicle OMR..................       83,000       290,687       78,000       91,700       18,414      561,801
    Water Service Providers......  ...........  ............      250,500  ...........  ...........      250,500
    Travel-Training..............       60,000        90,177        8,000       32,900       25,575      216,652
    Other........................      257,000        92,297      318,729      199,200      281,325    1,148,551
 
Extraordinary Replacements
    Meter vault, fuel tank &       ...........  ............  ...........      150,000  ...........      150,000
     security upgrades...........
    Increase Capacity of           ...........  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
     Reservoir (New).............
    GPS/GIS......................  ...........       100,000  ...........       25,000  ...........      125,000
    Zebra Mussel Infestation.....  ...........  ............  ...........      200,000  ...........      200,000
    CB #4-6, Electrical/Generator  ...........       200,000  ...........  ...........  ...........      200,000
    Replace #5 Reservoir 1 MG....  ...........     3,000,000  ...........  ...........  ...........    3,000,000
    Increase Pipe Size:8" to 12    ...........     2,500,000  ...........  ...........  ...........    2,500,000
     (Sharps to Rockyford--15 mi)
    Replace Sharps East            ...........     2,000,000  ...........  ...........  ...........    2,000,000
     Reservoir:1 MG..............
 
Existing Community Transfer
    Manderson OM&R...............  ...........        25,000  ...........  ...........  ...........       25,000
    Oglala North OM&R............  ...........        40,000  ...........  ...........  ...........       40,000
    Sharps Corner OM&R...........  ...........        25,000  ...........  ...........  ...........       25,000
 
Priority Community System
 Upgrades
    Production Well Replacements.  ...........  ............      700,000  ...........  ...........      700,000
 
Reservoir Upgrades/Projects
    South Core Reservoir 1.......    5,000,000  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........    5,000,000
    South Core Reservoir 2.......    5,000,000  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........    5,000,000
    South Core Reservoir 4.......    6,000,000  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........    6,000,000
    White River Bore Crossing....    3,800,000  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........    3,800,000
    High Service Pump Station VFD    1,800,000  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........    1,800,000
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TOTAL......................  $25,798,906   $12,405,738   $2,639,660   $2,239,500   $1,996,896  $45,080,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OSRWSS Core System is the heart of the Mni Wiconi Project and 
serves the three Indian Reservations and the West River/Lyman-Jones 
Rural Water System (WRLJ) in 7 off-reservation counties covering 
southwestern South Dakota with a design capacity of 52,000 people. The 
Project now serves 41,250. Public Law 100-516, as amended, our 
authorizing legislation, found that:

      ...the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure that 
        adequate and safe water supplies are available to meet the 
        economic, environmental, water supply, and public health needs 
        of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian 
        Reservation and Lower Brule Indian Reservation...
    The request as presented in Table 1 will meet the purposes of the 
Act. Appropriation by Congress of adequate funds will fulfill the 
fiduciary responsibilities of the United States as articulated in the 
Act.
    The Project has been treating and delivering more water each year 
from the OSRWSS Water Treatment Plant near Fort Pierre. The population 
will continue to grow within the service area and will reach the design 
population late in the next decade. The OMR budget must be adequate to 
(1) keep pace with the system and its growing population and (2) 
protect and preserve the $470 million investment held by the United 
States in trust for the Tribes and by WRLJ. Funds are needed to 
properly operate and maintain the infrastructure.
    We appreciate the President's focus on improving critical water 
infrastructure in his Discretionary Request and await his specific 
requested funding level for the Mni Wiconi Project. However, we remind 
you of the Project's overall needs, including Coreline storage towers 
and OMR for community systems when they are transferred into the 
Project, along with the actual costs of the upgrade work. We also 
remind you that the oversight budget decreases funds for routine 
maintenance and extraordinary replacements as referenced in Section 7.
2. Coreline Storage Towers, Crossing, and Phase V Project/Existing 
        Community Transfers/Extraordinary Replacements
    Included in Table 1 is $21.6 million for OSRWSS Coreline Storage 
Towers, a crossing and pump station replacement. The OSRWSS needs to 
build these towers on the Coreline for added storage. They are 
necessary for the Project to function properly in scenarios when all 
Project Sponsors are pulling 100% of their allocations. The Coreline 
needs $16 million for these towers. The Coreline also needs $ 3.8 
million to replace the White River Coreline crossing because there is a 
leak in the steel pipe under the river that is growing in size. This 
crossing is essential for the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding 
area south of the White River crossing. It also needs $1.8 million for 
the High Service Pump Station VFD Project.
    Not included in Table 1 for the OMR request, but a critical need 
for the OSRWSS Core is the South Core Replacement (Phase V) Project, 
which will move the lines around the City of Ft. Pierre to address 
recurrent leaks in the area. Project costs are estimated at $38 
million.
    Annual budgeting by the Administration must reflect: (1) increases 
in water deliveries as project population was added between 2013 and 
2015 with no corresponding increase in funding; (2) aging facilities in 
need of maintenance and replacement (since start of construction in 
1994 and through end of construction in FY 2015); and (3) 40 existing 
communities that must be transferred to the respective Indian rural 
water systems. It is critical that Project features not fall into 
disrepair and that sufficient funds are available for the OMR of 
existing community systems that are scheduled for inclusion in the 
Project in FY 2022 (or were transferred earlier). Funding is also 
needed for the actual upgrade work, costs for which total in the tens 
of millions for the Indian Project Sponsors. We also ask the 
Subcommittee to be mindful of what Reclamation calls ``extra-ordinary 
replacements,'' which are actually necessary and routine when pumps, 
water treatment equipment, pipelines, and other facilities fail and 
require replacement to continue operations.
    The Mni Wiconi Project should be a shiny, new project that stands 
out as a beacon of modern technology. It provides under-privileged 
communities with safe and adequate drinking water of the highest 
quality and to improve the health and well-being of a low-income 
population, purposes that have been frustrated by inadequate attention 
to infrastructure maintenance.
    It is important to remember that for OMR activities, the Indian 
projects are left with the appropriated figure minus the approximate $2 
million that Reclamation takes for oversight. The reduced amount does 
not account for the needed storage towers, crossing replacement, the 
community upgrade work, any additional community system transfers, or 
unexpected extraordinary replacements.
    The Promise Zone designation for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation 
was announced in April 2015. It focused on developing solutions to 
infrastructure challenges and the necessary resources to upgrade 
existing community systems, among other things, to revitalize the 
region. The request in Table 1 is consistent with the Promise Zone 
designation (and last Administration's Opportunity Zone designation), 
and underscores the need for OMR funding for routine maintenance, 
``extra-ordinary'' replacements and existing community systems 
following transfer.
    The need is the same on the Rosebud and Lower Brule Indian 
Reservations. Adequate funding for all activities, including community 
water systems that are transferred, is a necessity for the three Indian 
rural water systems in the Mni Wiconi Project. The following report 
language is requested (see previous Congresses for similarity):
    Mni Wiconi Project, South Dakota.-Reclamation is directed to 
continue working with the Tribes and relevant Federal agencies, such as 
the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate use of all existing 
authorities and funding sources to finish needed community system 
upgrades and connections, as well as any transfers of those systems, as 
quickly as possible. The Administration is encouraged to include 
appropriate funding for transferred community systems in future budget 
requests. (House Report 114-532, FY 2017)
    Reclamation's annual budget requests properly included the transfer 
of existing community systems and responsibility for operation and 
maintenance. The budget needs to reflect those transfers:

      ...The project consists of new systems to be constructed, as well 
        as 40 existing Mni Wiconi community systems. Responsibilities 
        of the Secretary under the Act include the operation and 
        maintenance of existing water systems and appurtenant 
        facilities on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Lower Brule Indian 
        Reservations. (FY 2012-18 Budget Justifications, p. GPR-49)
    Reclamation and other federal agencies are now assisting the Tribes 
with a pathway for funding transfers and future OMR activities for the 
40 existing community systems as they become part of the Project and 
eligible for funding. It is crucial that these efforts continue. OMR 
funding is needed for communities that were upgraded and will be 
transferred (or have been transferred) to the Project.
3. OSRWSS Regional Core Facilities
    The staff of the OSRWSS core system includes 17 employees. The 
staff operates and maintains the 14 million gallon per day regional 
water treatment plant, 203 miles of main transmission pipeline from 12 
inches to 27 inches in diameter, nine major pumping stations (4 
Megawatt total capacity), nine reservoirs (4.2 million gallons of 
capacity) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, 
necessary to deliver safe and adequate drinking water to the service 
areas of OSRWSS, RSRWS, LRSRWS and WRLJ. Again, the Core Facilities 
need an additional three new Coreline storage towers, a crossing 
replacement, and pump station project at a cost of $21.6 million. The 
OSRWSS Core also needs $38 million for the South Core Line Replacement 
(Phase V) Project.
4. OSRWSS Distribution on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
    The OSRWSS Distribution's 33 employees are responsible for 
maintaining 760 miles of PVC water mains and service lines, 30 high 
production water wells, 33 booster pumps and treatment stations, 38 
water storage reservoirs, and 2,206 metered residences. The water 
system has been designed and constructed over a 24-year period, and 
services a total population of 21,510 residents on the Pine Ridge 
reservation. The construction of the water system is now complete and 
valued in excess of $100 million, although 20 additional community 
system upgrades are still pending. To operate and maintain our water 
system has become a challenge. The core system east of Kyle has 4 
reservoirs which have a total of 520,000 gallons of storage, this 
equates to only enough for less than 6 hours of storage in emergency 
situations. Table 1 shows a proposed 1-million-gallon reservoir to be 
constructed adjacent to Reservoir #5 which is near the reservation 
boundary north of Wanblee, SD. This added reservoir should increase our 
storage to more than 24-hours. In preparation for the projected South 
Unit development, Table 1 also proposes increasing the existing 8'' 
waterline to a 12'' line over the 15 mile stretch from Sharps to the 
Rockyford Hwy 27/Hwy 2 Intersection, and a proposed 1 million-gallon 
reservoir to be constructed adjacent to the Sharps East Reservoir.
5. Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System (RSRWS)
    The staff of RSRWS or Sicangu Mni Wiconi will total 17 full-time 
employees in FY 2021. The staff operates and maintains 425 miles of 
mainline, 15 major pumping stations, 20 water storage reservoirs, 9 
supply wells with two associated chlorination facilities, and SCADA 
system. A new production well is still needed for Rosebud Rural Water 
System due to decreased production and water supply. A previous RAX 
project request for a new production well was proposed and denied. 
Asset management indicates renovations are needed at some of the oldest 
constructed facilities in the project. A few RAX requests for system 
renovations have been submitted and some approved. The RSRWS budget 
also includes water service contracts with the City of Mission and 
Tripp County Water Users District (TCWUD) and others in the secondary 
service area at a total cost of $250,500 which reflects a reduction due 
less pumping for the Mission system. In 1995 the citizens of Mission 
voted to transfer their municipal system to the Mni Wiconi Project and 
in 2003 a final agreement between the Tribe, City of Mission and 
Reclamation was consummated and the former municipal system is now held 
in trust for the Tribe as part of the RSRWS. The inclusion and OMR of 
the Mission system are authorized by Section 3A (a) (8) of the Mni 
Wiconi Project Act, as amended. The completed community upgrades in 
Antelope, Butte Creek, and Okreek communities are in the transfer 
process. Parmelee, Upper Swift Bear, and Spring Creek community water 
system upgrades will be completed by the end of FY 2022. RSRWS is 
proposing a budget request of $2,639,660.00 for FY2021 including the 
RAX request for a new production well.
6. Lower Brule Rural Water System
    The Lower Brule Rural Water System (LBRWS) consists of a water 
treatment plant, six booster stations, three tanks/reservoirs, 
approximately 75 miles of core pipeline and approximately 300 miles of 
distribution pipeline. LBRWS has a staff of 12 full-time and two part-
time employees to provide the operation and maintenance of these 
facilities. As shown in Table 1, wages and fringe benefits total 
$972,800.
    The budget continues to include $150,000 to upgrade main line meter 
vaults and $25,000 to obtain the GPS location of water lines installed 
by ranchers and to add the lines to the current GIS database. The meter 
pit upgrades will improve access to the meter vaults and prolong the 
life of the equipment within the meter pits, while the GPS/GIS 
information will provide needed information for the operation and 
maintenance as well as the management of the system.
    Zebra mussels were found in Lake Sharpe in 2019. Recent 
investigations of the LBRWS intake and intake pumps have found the 
zebra mussel infestation becoming a detriment to the LBRWS system. The 
result is a need to remove the zebra mussels currently on the 
infrastructure as well as installing a system to attempt to control the 
zebra mussel infestation on and within the LBRWS infrastructure. As a 
result, the budget includes $200,000 to deal with the zebra mussel 
infestation in Lake Sharpe. LBRWS will continue to work with the Bureau 
of Reclamation and the other sponsors to prioritize their needs and 
ensure that their system is operating to the standards that have been 
established over the past several years.
7. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
    The BOR's budget is for oversight of operation and maintenance 
activities for all tribal systems, including the employment of an 
equivalent 8.0 persons. BOR pays the Western Area Power Administration 
for Project preference power used by the OSRWSS core system and Rosebud 
core system. BOR also pays for cathodic protection services for OSRWSS 
core system, Rosebud, and OSRWSS on-reservation DWM&C systems. 
Reclamation costs are expended before funds reach the Project.

    [This statement was submitted by Ron Blacksmith, Core System 
Manager, Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System, Chuck Jacobs, 
Distribution System Director, Oglala Sioux RWSS, Young Colombe, 
Manager, Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System, and Jim McCauley, Manager, 
Lower Brule Sioux Rural Water System.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the National Association for State Community 
                           Services Programs
    As Weatherization Director for the National Association for State 
Community Services Programs (NASCSP), I am pleased to submit testimony 
on the FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Specifically, I am 
writing in support of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP) and seeking an FY 2022 appropriations total of 
$356 million, with $325 million for the WAP, $10 million for Training 
and Technical Assistance at DOE, and $21 million for the Weatherization 
Readiness Fund. This funding level is essential to expand current 
program operations and empower the WAP to improve client services, 
develop workforce training, innovate efficiency technologies, and 
ensure equitable delivery of services.
    NASCSP is the member organization representing the weatherization 
grantees in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Native American 
Tribes and US Territories, who oversee a weatherization workforce 
operating in every county. The state offices represented by our 
organization would like to thank the members of this Committee for 
their support of the WAP over the years, particularly the 
reauthorization of the program last year and the increase provided in 
FY 2021. The WAP is a comprehensive whole-house retrofit program 
serving people with low incomes by improving energy efficiency, 
resident health and safety, and client finances through lower utility 
costs. WAP workers are highly trained energy auditors, certified by a 
national network of accredited nonprofits, small businesses, and 
educational institutions in the use of advanced tools and technologies 
to diagnose home performance. The WAP is a proven investment in the 
sustainability, health, and resiliency of our communities, not only by 
permanently benefiting low-income families disproportionally burdened 
by energy costs, but also through supporting thousands of quality green 
jobs in the building trades. As we continue the recovery from the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the WAP is an opportunity to invest in a growing 
clean energy workforce, improve the health of thousands of families, 
and fight climate change.
   formula funding--leveraging funds for energy & non-energy benefits
    The Department of Energy (DOE) funding appropriated by Congress has 
allowed more than 8 million homes to be weatherized since the program's 
inception in 1976. Each home receives a site-specific suite of energy 
efficiency measures to be installed, such as insulation, air sealing, 
and high efficiency HVAC systems. By improving the energy efficiency of 
the home, these long-term investments save families money when they are 
installed and for years to come. With lower energy bills, families have 
more to spend on essentials like food, clothing, education, and health 
care. These whole-home benefits are central to the WAP's mission.
    A robust appropriation for weatherization and DOE Training & 
Technical assistance is key to ensuring equitable allocation of 
funding, sustained WAP impact on a nationwide scale, and consistent and 
growing workforce development. WAP measures completed with DOE funds 
are subject to at least three layers of quality assurance: quality 
control is performed on every job by a local certified inspector; at 
least 5 percent of all completed jobs receive a second inspection by a 
state quality assurance monitor; and DOE monitors the quality assurance 
practices of all state WAP offices. This multi-layered approach to 
monitoring is designed to maximize the benefits from public funds and 
to ensure clients in every state receive the best possible services.
    Another critical WAP benefit is improved health and safety for 
families. In homes that are cold and drafty, or affected by mold and 
excess moisture, there is an increased risk of chronic illnesses. 
Studies have shown the weatherization measures result in a healthier 
living environment. An evaluation by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
Evaluation \1\ found that residents of weatherized homes experienced 
fewer asthma, allergy, and cold symptoms, as well as fewer missed days 
of work and school. Weatherization mitigates factors that can trigger 
an asthma attack, resulting in fewer emergency room visits and 
hospitalizations. WAP measures can also prevent other life-threatening 
events such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fires from unsafe heating 
sources. These benefits are especially critical at a time when many are 
staying at home more than ever. These outcomes pay off--every 
weatherization dollar spent returns $2.78 in non-energy benefits.\2\ 
The Oak Ridge Evaluation found that families reported decreased out of-
pocket medical expenses by an average of $514 and the total health and 
household-related benefits for each unit weatherized is estimated to be 
$14,148.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Oak Ridge National Lab, ``Health and Household-Related Benefits 
Attributable to the Weatherization Assistance Program'', 2014. https://
weatherization.ornl.gov/Retrospectivepdfs/ORNL_
TM-2014_345.pdf.
    \2\ Oak Ridge National Lab, ``Weatherization Works--Summary of 
Findings'', 2014. https://weatherization.ornl.gov/Retrospectivepdfs/
ORNL_TM-2014_338.pdf.
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         creating the energy efficiency workforce of the future
    The WAP is overseen by the Office of Weatherization and 
Intergovernmental Programs within the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy (EERE). DOE's focus on research and development brings 
the WAP significant benefits including technical expertise, access to 
the latest building science, and opportunities for collaboration with 
other critical energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives. DOE's 
technical standards and state offices' rigorous monitoring ensure that 
clients receive the latest weatherization measures, maximizing the 
benefits to low-income families. DOE's Standard Work Specifications \3\ 
and Home Energy Professionals \4\ certifications have become the gold 
standard for residential energy efficiency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ Standard Work Specifications for Home Energy Upgrades https://
sws.nrel.gov/.
    \4\ Home Energy Professionals Certifications https://
www.energy.gov/eere/wipo/guidelines-home-energy-professionals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Every state crafts and implements a training and technical 
assistance plan to build a strong workforce in their state network and 
maintain skilled labor that meets the necessary DOE requirements. The 
WAP provides training and workforce development opportunities in the 
very same communities in which it is delivering energy efficiency 
services, introducing low-income people to a rewarding career field 
they may not have encountered otherwise. The energy efficiency work of 
the WAP supports more than 8,500 jobs in weatherization and thousands 
more across the supply chain of suppliers, trainers, and manufacturers. 
Additionally, because of the advanced diagnostics and technology 
developed in WAP, the program forms the foundation for the home 
performance industry, which employs thousands of workers who complete 
energy efficiency retrofits across the entire residential sector, 
contributing to the overall 2.38 million energy efficiency jobs found 
across the nation and in 99.8% of all US counties.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ Energy Futures Initiative and the National Association for 
State Energy Officials, ``U.S. Energy & Employment Report'', 2020. 
https://www.usenergyjobs.org/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As the WAP workforce and its impact grows, the training and 
technical assistance provided by DOE becomes even more critical. Since 
FY 2014 DOE has received $3 million or less each year for these 
purposes. As we have shown above, DOE's training, technical assistance, 
and technological support is critical to the WAP and the broader energy 
efficiency industry. By raising training and technical assistance 
support to $10 million, DOE will continue to develop new technologies, 
improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of low-income people, and 
ensure the United States leads the world in energy efficient and 
quality housing.
               continuing the wap's history of innovation
    The State WAP grantee is a key driver in developing new best 
practices for weatherization services. There are numerous examples of 
States across the country building on the success of the WAP and 
maximizing the impact of weatherization.
  --Workforce Development & Career Building
    Positions within the residential energy efficiency and building 
science trades offer workers extensive career advancement and training 
opportunities, in addition to a compelling mission helping their low-
income neighbors. Numerous states partner with local technical colleges 
and community groups to provide excellent training opportunities, 
including to people with low incomes who may be served by the program. 
For example, the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program offers 
trade school tuition reimbursement for new and existing employees and 
cosponsors a High School Energy Efficiency Summer Internship program.
    We recognize the great potential of workforce development 
initiatives like these to provide quality careers to people from 
disadvantaged backgrounds while also ensuring the United States is a 
leader in the growing energy efficiency sector.
Enhancement & Innovation Grants
    When the WAP allocation surpasses $275 million, DOE has the option 
to provide Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) grants for 
the purpose of expanding the materials, benefits and tools covered by 
the WAP.\6\ The new WAP reauthorization established an additional WAP 
Enhancement and Innovation Competitive Grant Program, which utilizes 6% 
of the WAP appropriation for developing new practices. DOE plans to 
implement both SERC and the Competitive Grant Program in the coming 
year, providing a boost of investment in new technologies, innovative 
service delivery practices, and enhancement energy auditing techniques. 
State WAP grantees support innovation through both programs by 
implementing and evaluating new best practices. An evaluation from Oak 
Ridge National Lab \7\ found that the national weatherization network 
is highly capable of installing and delivering a wide range of new and 
innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and 
services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ 42 U.S.C. Chapter 81 Sec. 6872. Authorization of 
appropriations.
    \7\ Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grant Program 
Evaluation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL/TM-2017/703).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reducing Deferrals Through Pre-Weatherization Programs
    Particularly severe conditions in a home can make installing 
weatherization measures unsafe or ineffective, causing the home to be 
deferred from receiving WAP services until the conditions are 
addressed. For example, standing water in a basement can damage 
appliances, old electrical wiring can be a fire hazard with insulation, 
and major structural or roofing deficiencies can make working in spaces 
unsafe. States have taken the lead with innovative Pre-WAP programs 
utilizing leveraged (non-DOE) funding sources to make homes 
weatherization ready. Pre-WAP initiatives like Ohio's Home 
Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement fund and Pennsylvania's 
Homes in Need Program are formed through partnerships with their state 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to perform needed energy-
related repairs. Washington's Deferral Pilot Program leverages State 
funding to address structural and mechanical issues at deferred homes 
while also developing best practices for tracking these deferrals. The 
success of these individual examples illustrates that additional 
investment in non-energy related upgrades leads to reduced deferrals 
and improved delivery of services to homes that otherwise would be 
excluded from receiving the benefits of WAP. These conditions exist in 
all States and highlight the need for investing in a Weatherization 
Readiness Fund to address deferrals.
Weatherization Plus Health
    Many States are implementing pilot programs or partnering with 
State housing agencies to implement Weatherization plus Health 
initiatives. The need for programs addressing indoor air quality have 
become particularly pronounced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the 
inherent health benefits of weatherization, these efforts leverage 
weatherization service providers to incorporate additional healthy 
homes measures, like hard surface flooring, enhanced ventilation, mold 
abatement, and accessibility improvements. Local WAP agencies have 
partnered with community health workers to provide enhanced client 
education on energy and health. Combined with basic weatherization 
measures, Weatherization Plus Health can target those with chronic 
health conditions that result from in-home factors, adding substantial 
healthcare savings on top of energy benefits.
                                closing
    In closing, I would like to underscore the critical need for 
continued Department of Energy funding for the Weatherization 
Assistance Program. An FY 2022 appropriations total of $356 million, 
with $325 million for the WAP, $10 million for Training and Technical 
Assistance at DOE, and $21 million for the proposed Weatherization 
Readiness Fund will sustain and expand the program as its scope and 
impact continue to grow. Through enhancing weatherization services, 
developing innovative new technologies, and building a strong and well-
trained workforce, the Weatherization Assistance Programs uplifts low-
income communities and cements the United States as a leader in 
residential energy efficiency.
    We look forward to working with Committee members in the future to 
ensure the WAP continues to deliver cost effective results that support 
our economy and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable 
in our communities. Thank you.
    Respectfully submitted.

    [This statement was submitted by Andrea Schroer, WAP Director, 
National 
Association for State Community Services Programs.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the National Association of State Energy 
                               Officials
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the 
Subcommittee, I am David Terry, Executive Director of the National 
Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). I am testifying on 
behalf of our 56 governor-designated state and territory members. NASEO 
respectfully requests funding for the following U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) programs: $121 million for the U.S. State Energy Program 
(SEP) with $90 million directed for formula grants to the states (plus 
$5 million for technical assistance to states and $25 million to 
address energy and air quality in schools); $325 million for the 
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) (plus $10 million for technical 
assistance); $530 million for the Building Technologies Office, 
including $100 million for building energy codes-especially funding to 
support state and local technical assistance, and $50 million for grid-
interactive efficient buildings; $400 million for the Vehicle 
Technologies Office; $280 million for the Solar Energy Program; $56 
million for FEMP, including $2 million for the state collaborative; 
$252 million for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and 
Emergency Response, including $50 million for energy-sector risk 
mitigation grants to states and $20 million for program direction; $225 
million for the Office of Electricity, including $25 million for 
Transmission Permitting and State Technical Assistance; and $2 million 
for Office of Policy to produce the U.S. Energy Employment Report. The 
$90 million SEP request and $325 million WAP request is supported by 
the ``Dear Colleague'' letter, signed by 45 members, you received last 
week, led by Mr. Reed and Ms. Collins. These requests are separate from 
additional funding necessary for infrastructure and climate change 
responses. Section VI of the FY21 House Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations bill is a good starting point for addressing climate and 
infrastructure, with funding for SEP, WAP and EECBG. DOE must move 
quickly to fill the 150 jobs within EERE, or the Subcommittee's 
objectives and the Administration's agenda will not be satisfied.
    The underlying SEP statute provides extraordinary flexibility and 
reflects the states' approach to advancing renewable energy, energy 
efficiency, transportation electrification, energy workforce 
development, resilience and climate actions, and energy-sector 
security. For example, the eight state REVWest initiative is advancing 
EV infrastructure and many states use SEP funds to accelerate this 
work. Southeastern states use SEP funds to collaborate on energy 
emergency planning, response, and resilience. States are coordinating 
on workforce development and equity programs with SEP. In addition, 
states from across regions use SEP funds to accelerate energy 
technology innovation initiatives in coordination with universities and 
the private sector. All of this work is accomplished through the SEP 
formula funds. Past Administrations have sought to ``slice off'' a 
portion of the SEP formula funds provided by Congress for DOE-directed 
competitive awards in areas selected by DOE. NASEO strongly opposes the 
use of this approach which limits states collaborative work on priority 
activities.
    According to two Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) studies, SEP 
provides exceptional value. ORNL found that each dollar of SEP formula 
funds used by the states leverages $10.71 of state and private funds 
and realizes $7.22 in energy cost savings for citizens and businesses.
    The State Energy Offices lead or co-lead energy emergency planning 
and response across electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products. 
This state-federal-private function is a hallmark of SEP. NASEO also 
strongly supports the role of CESER. It is critical to increase program 
direction funds to manage and deliver these critical functions. 
Finally, SEP is one of the only connections between billions of dollars 
spent by DOE on R&D and the priorities of states. A greater reliance by 
DOE on the states to ensure federal R&D meets real world conditions 
would maximize the impact of R&D funding and leverage the vast 
deployment capability of states. Greater coordination among EERE, FE, 
OE, CESER, ARPA-E and the states is necessary.
    Below are a few examples of the states' utilization of SEP funding:
    Alabama.--The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs 
(ADECA) supported energy efficiency upgrades at wastewater treatment 
plants and local facilities. ADECA issued 21 grants to local 
governments, universities, and nonprofits to reduce energy costs by 
making their facilities more efficient.
    Alaska.--Support LED Streetlight Replacement in 64 Rural Alaska 
Communities. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) used SEP funds to 
support outdoor lighting retrofits in rural communities. Through a 
public-private partnership, AEA's Village Energy Efficiency Program 
(VEEP), and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, communities have actively 
managed to implement their projects totaling $2,156,851. Fourteen sites 
are complete, 594 lights have been replaced, and 225,774 kilowatt-hours 
(kWh) per year will be saved. Cost per kWh in these communities ranges 
between $0.19--$0.86. All 64 sites are expected to be complete by 
September 30, 2021.
    California.--Supports Development of Appliance Standards. 
California uses SEP funds to develop and implement appliance and 
building standards. In 2020, appliance standards became effective for 
general services lamps (GSL), walk-in coolers and freezers, ceiling 
fans, ceiling fan light kits, portable air conditioners, spray 
sprinkler bodies, and pool pumps. New appliance standards will lead to 
energy and cost savings. For example, after GSL stock turns over, 
annual electricity savings will be 4,000-13,600 gigawatt-hours; 
portable air conditioners will realize 369 gigawatt-hours in savings; 
spray sprinkler bodies will save 150 billion gallons of water per year; 
and pool pump motors will save 62 gigawatt-hours annually.
    Delaware.--Evaluation of Energy Efficiency, Green Energy and 
Weatherization Programs. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources 
and Environmental Control's Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy 
recently completed the Year 2 comprehensive evaluation of our Energy 
Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF), Green Energy Fund (GEF) and 
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The evaluation was done by an 
independent contractor as required by the Evaluation, Measurement and 
Verification (EM&V) regulations that are promulgated in Delaware. The 
Total Resource Cost (TRC) test results from the evaluation were 2.98 
for EEIF; 1.38 for GEF; and 1.22 for WAP. In other words, with TRCs 
above 1.0, our programs are successfully leveraging funds at a rate 
greater than every dollar we invest.
    Illinois.--Achieved 2,431,955 kWh Annual Savings in Environmental 
Justice Communities. The Illinois Energy Office used SEP funds to 
support upgrades at four publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants in 
2020, leveraging $16,018,574 in matching funds from municipalities and 
saving 2,431,955 kWhs annually. Of the total $2,527,424 in funds 
awarded, 79% of was granted to facilities serving EJ communities.
    Kentucky.--Support COVID-19 Energy System Response, Provided 
Generators for COVID-19 Testing Sites. The Kentucky Office of Energy 
Policy (KY OEP) used SEP funds to perform critical emergency functions 
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the commonwealth's 
response, KY OEP coordinated with the Kentucky Public Service 
Commission to support Emergency Support Function 12--Energy (ESF-12); 
Commonwealth agencies' response to energy issues in the Commonwealth; 
state level situational awareness around energy issues during an 
emergency; and with the private sector for the emergency repair and 
restoration of critical public energy utilities (i.e. gas, electric, 
fuels, etc.).
    Louisiana.--Key Corridor LED Lighting Results in Energy Cost and 
GHG Reductions. The Louisiana State Energy Office partnered with 
Orleans Parish to install LED street lighting along two highway 
corridors, resulting in an estimated savings of approximately 40 
percent in utilities costs, annual energy savings of 9,520,754 kWh, 
7,946 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The project was made possible 
through the SEP-supported Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund, a 
program that was established in 2001 to offer low interest, tax exempt 
financing for public entities implementing approved renewable energy 
and energy efficient upgrades. The program has resulted in over 30 low 
interest public sector loans totaling $23.6 million.
    Maine.--Support Clean Energy and Climate Efforts, Energy Efficiency 
Initiatives, and COVID Coordination. In Maine, the Governor's Energy 
Office (GEO) used SEP funding to pursue, develop, and implement nation-
leading energy initiatives, including a floating offshore wind 
demonstration project and new programs aimed at installing 100,000 new 
high efficiency air source heat pumps by 2025. In 2020, the GEO 
assisted in the development of the state's 4-year climate action plan--
Maine Won't Wait. This plan outlines how Maine will achieve the 
statutory requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 45 percent 
by 2030 from 1990 levels and 80 percent by 2050.
    Michigan.--Energy Efficiency Upgrades Help Michigan Communities 
Save $241,874 Annually. The Michigan Energy Office-supported Community 
Energy Management (CEM) program enabled energy benchmarking in 708,380 
square feet of buildings, with initial savings estimates of $241,874 
annually after energy efficiency upgrades. CEM, funded in part by SEP, 
offers financial incentives directly to municipalities, tuition-free K-
12 schools, and other community-serving public entities to accelerate 
the transition to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Projects 
range from creating energy plans, benchmarking and auditing, lighting 
and HVAC, to solar installations. This program allows communities to 
lead by example.
    Montana.--Delivers Personal Protective Equipment to Essential 
Workers, Leads Energy Emergency Response. The Montana Energy Office 
leveraged SEP funding to respond to energy emergencies resulting from 
the COVID-19 pandemic, including delivering personal protective 
equipment to essential energy workers. The Montana Energy Office 
coordinates the state's Emergency Support Function 12 (ESF-12), the 
team charged with monitoring and responding to energy supply 
emergencies. Leveraging key funding from the State Energy Program, 
Montana's ESF-12 team reached out to utilities, refineries, and 
businesses across the energy sector to determine impacts of the 
pandemic on energy supply operations.
    New Hampshire.--Reduced Local School Energy Costs. One example of 
the results of New Hampshire's annual School Energy Efficiency 
Development (SEED) grant program is the Lempster Community School. This 
schools saved over $7,000 in annual energy costs in 2020.
    New Mexico.--Grid Modernization Roadmap Improves the Reliability, 
Efficiency, and Security of the Power System. In 2020, SEP funds were 
used to provide support for the development of the Energy Grid 
Modernization Roadmap that will help New Mexico improve the 
reliability, efficiency, and security of the power system. The New 
Mexico State Energy Office launched the Grid Modernization Advisory 
Group in September 2020.
    North Dakota.--Deploy Solar Panels Bolster Resiliency, Educate 
Students at Career Academy. Supported installation of 115 panels and an 
inverter at the Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy in October 2020. 
In addition to powering the building, instructors at the school plan to 
start incorporating the panels into their lessons. The solar array was 
funded by a $92,000 State Energy Program grant though the North Dakota 
Department of Commerce.
    Oregon.--Transitioning to Cleaner, Low-Carbon Energy Future. The 
Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) released its 2020 Biennial Energy 
Report, which covers a range of energy topics germane to the state, and 
is designed to inform the legislature, state and local governments, 
other key stakeholders, and the public on policy development, planning, 
and investments. The 2020 Report offers discussions on an array of 
energy topics, including decarbonization, the transition of the 
electric grid, innovation in the natural gas system, cleaner 
transportation, the effects of the pandemic on the energy sector, and 
the built environment and Oregon's communities.
    South Carolina.--Support Electric Vehicles and Decrease GHG 
Emissions from State Fleet. Using SEP funds, the South Carolina Energy 
Office purchased the first state fleet electric vehicle (EV) and 
installed EV charging stations at state parks. In 2016, the State 
Energy Plan included a ``Lead by Example'' recommendation to increase 
transportation fuel efficiency and diversity.
    Tennessee.--Creates Plan to Double EV Charging Stations. The 
Tennessee Energy Office used SEP funds to support the roll-out of a 
statewide network of EV fast-charging stations, which will result in 
doubling the number of available EV fast-chargers. In 2019, Drive 
Electric Tennessee released a roadmap to increase EV adoption to 
200,000 EVs (up from 11,000 EVs). This network will connect rural and 
urban areas and will improve efficiency and resiliency.
    Vermont.--Support Low-Carbon Technologies Through Rate Design 
Initiative. In Vermont, the State Energy Office directed SEP funds to 
support the development of the Vermont Rate Design Initiative (RDI), 
which identified advanced forms of load management and rate designs to 
foster low-carbon technologies, customer-sited renewables, and energy 
storage that will further energy and environmental objectives while 
minimizing ratepayer challenges from electrification and power sector 
transformation over the long term. The Department of Public Service 
continues to build on progress in the RDI through its role as the State 
Energy Office.
    Washington.--Develop State Energy Strategy, Prioritizes Underserved 
Communities. Washington's Energy Office helped the state move toward a 
clean, affordable, and just energy future by completing legislative 
rulemakings, developing a new state energy strategy, and incorporating 
equity principles into clean energy programs. Washington completed 
rules related to the clean electricity, clean buildings and new energy 
efficient appliance standards legislation passed in 2019. The state 
charted the next frontier of energy policy opportunities by completing 
the 2021 State Energy Strategy. The State Energy Office also 
administers the Clean Energy Fund grant awards, which prioritize 
communities underserved by EV infrastructure.
    Wisconsin.--Create a $25 Million Energy Innovation Program. The 
Wisconsin State Energy Office implemented a program for manufacturers, 
municipalities, tribes, and k-12 school districts to increase energy 
efficiency and the use of renewable energy and transportation 
technologies, bolster resiliency in the energy system, and advance 
energy planning. For example, $5 million provided to 30 that leveraged 
$4.5 million in local and private energy investments.

    [This statement was submitted by David Terry, Executive Director, 
National 
Association of State Energy Officials.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the National Hydropower Association
    The National Hydropower Association (NHA) respectfully requests 
$222 million for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Water Power 
Technologies Office (WPTO) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and 
Water Development Appropriations measure. NHA recommends at least the 
authorized level of $137 million for marine energy along with the Biden 
Administration request of $85 million for the hydropower program, with 
full funding of both the EPAct 2005 Section 242 hydroelectric 
production incentive program and the Section 243 efficiency incentive 
program. NHA also supports robust funding for the operations and 
maintenance (O&M) programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
and Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) to increase capacity and generation 
at their facilities, addressing the billions of dollars of backlogged 
O&M needs.
                         funding justification
    The U.S. water power industry has tremendous beneficial impacts on 
our nation's electric grid, the economy, and environment. Hydropower 
delivers almost 40% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and 
pumped storage projects provide 93% of total energy storage in the 
country. Hydropower also avoids approximately 200 million metric tons 
of CO2 emissions each year. In addition to providing affordable, 
renewable power to the grid, hydropower and pumped storage help 
integrate greater amounts of variable renewable generation, such as 
wind and solar, while maintaining grid reliability and resilience. 
Finally, thousands of Americans have high value employment due to water 
power projects in every region of the country.
    Yet, the industry is poised to do even more. The U.S. has 
significant underutilized water power resources, including non-powered 
dams, conduits, new pumped storage, and marine energy. Advancement of 
new and innovative technologies, operations, and approaches to harness 
these resources in a globally competitive marketplace is greatly 
enhanced by federal funding that augments research, development, and 
deployment (RD&D) efforts underway in the private sector. A growing 
U.S. water power industry will support efforts to address climate 
change and reduce carbon emissions, assist in grid reliability and 
resiliency, while also advancing our national economic goals. Increased 
funding is critical and will help create high-quality employment and 
support businesses across the country that comprise the water power 
supply chain.
    NHA commends Congress for its increased support of the DOE WPTO in 
recent years, culminating in the $150 million funding level in FY 2021. 
However, this investment still remains well below that historically 
afforded other DOE renewable R&D programs. For comparison, the Biden 
Administration just requested an additional $106 million for the Solar 
Energy Office, which is currently funded at $273 million. Meanwhile, 
more than 5 GW of new solar capacity was installed in the U.S. during 
the first quarter of 2021, with total U.S. solar capacity now over 100 
GW. This is up from just 1 GW of U.S. solar capacity in 2009. These 
commercial deployments are subsidized with approximately $2.5 billion 
of yearly federal expenditures through the Investment Tax Credit.
    The view of NHA and its members is that these significant and 
sustained federal technology RD&D and market acceleration initiatives 
are one of the critical factors related to the tremendous growth in 
U.S. solar (and wind) deployments over the past decade. A similar level 
of federal investment for water power is required to accelerate the 
pace of technology demonstrations and deployments, reduce costs, and 
increase adoption.
    NHA greatly appreciates the significant proposed FY 2022 budget 
increase for the WPTO, particularly that of the hydropower program, 
which NHA strongly supports. NHA's FY 2022 request builds on the 
foundation of the Administration's budget request by seeking $137 
million for the marine energy program. This represents full funding of 
the reauthorized levels adopted as part of the Water Power R&D Act of 
2020, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. 
NHA also supports full funding of the EPAct 2005 hydropower incentives 
within the $85 million for the hydropower program, also reauthorized in 
the FY 2021 appropriations bill. The Administration's FY 2022 budget 
request did not include any funding for the incentives.
      overview of doe water power technologies office investments
    Last year, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, 
Congress renewed authorization of the DOE WPTO through passage of the 
Water Power R&D Act of 2020 and the Reliable Investment in Vital Energy 
Reauthorization Act (RIVER Act). These measures authorize investments 
in water power technology innovation and deployment as well as 
workforce development efforts. These federal investments are essential 
to create high value job growth and maximize the contribution of 
renewable water power resources as part of a 100% clean energy future.
    The Water Power R&D bill provides annual authorization levels for 
the DOE WPTO RD&D activities for FY 2021-2025 of $137 million for 
marine energy and $49 million for hydropower. NHA views these 
recommendations as the minimum required to support WPTO investments on 
innovation of advanced technologies to increase power production and 
reduce costs, improve grid reliability and resilience, create new 
market opportunities that improve economic growth, and fund cross-
institutional foundational research to support workforce development.
    In addition, the RIVER Act authorizes $10 million per year for the 
Section 242 hydroelectric production incentive and $10 million per year 
for the Section 243 hydroelectric efficiency incentive, both of which 
were first adopted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The 
production incentive, which is currently oversubscribed, provides 
financial support for new hydropower facilities constructed at existing 
dams and conduits and was amended to include new small hydro projects 
constructed in areas of inadequate electric service. The efficiency 
incentive, which supports capital improvements at existing hydropower 
facilities that improve efficiency by at least three percent, has not 
previously received appropriations.
    Hydropower.--NHA supports the Biden Administration request of $85 
million for the hydropower program, with $10 million for Section 242 
and $10 million for Section 243. Hydropower is a proven renewable 
electricity resource, accounting for nearly 7% of all U.S. electricity 
production. However, increased WPTO investments can significantly 
expand generation from this resource. For example, only 3% of the 
approximately 80,000 existing dams in the U.S. currently generate 
electricity. Other growth opportunities include increasing efficiencies 
and expanding capacity at existing hydropower projects, new pumped 
storage facilities, and new small hydro development. Pumped storage 
represents a significant opportunity because of its increased grid 
reliability benefits, additional energy storage, and support for the 
integration of intermittent renewable generation resources.
    The WPTO invests in hydropower technology RD&D for innovative 
standardized and modular approaches to hydropower development that can 
lower project costs versus traditional projects. For small hydropower 
specifically, the WPTO supports standardization of new turbine designs, 
as well as new advanced materials and manufacturing across the sector, 
including applications at non-powered dams, irrigation channels, and 
other waterways. This work increases generation opportunities with 
innovations that also improve environmental performance. It also helps 
reduces costs for companies that have capitalization challenges to fund 
this work. The WPTO supports DOE's Advanced Energy Storage Initiative 
and focuses on the role of hydropower and pumped storage in grid 
reliability and resiliency by supporting innovative technologies and 
conducting new research to evaluate and improve the flexibility and 
grid services provided by these projects. The WPTO also supports 
development of innovative environmental mitigation technologies, such 
as novel fish passage systems and other advancements.
    Marine Energy.--NHA requests at minimum the $137 million for the 
marine energy program that was authorized on a bipartisan basis in the 
Water Power R&D Act. Marine energy technologies-powered by water-based 
renewable resources such as currents, tides, and waves-are undergoing 
rapid innovation and will be critical in helping to reach 100% clean 
energy targets and related climate change goals by 2035. Marine energy 
will also provide benefits to the electric system and facilitate off-
grid ``Blue Economy'' market opportunities. These benefits include 
marine energy's location near demand loads, relative predictability, 
generating profiles, and resiliency. Finally, marine energy has 
significant near-term promise, particularly in coastal, riverine, and 
island environments that currently rely on high-cost fossil fuels. 
Marine energy technologies offer the opportunity to provide lower cost 
power while dramatically reducing harmful emissions for widely 
distributed, previously underserved, or economically distressed 
waterfront communities.
    The U.S. has substantial marine energy resources, which are 
geographically diverse, reliable, predictable, and environmentally 
friendly. DOE conservatively estimates the marine energy resource in 
all 50 states at 2,300 TWh/year, equivalent to 57% of U.S. electricity 
generation (based on 2019 numbers). Utilizing just 10% of this 
potential resource would equate to nearly 6% of total generation and 
represents more than three times current solar generation, one quarter 
of the U.S. coal fleet, and is enough to power approximately 22 million 
homes.
    The WPTO supports RD&D for marine energy systems and subsystems 
ultimately leading to reduced costs and increased deployments. The WPTO 
validates the reliability of marine energy technologies and the value 
of integrating energy from prototype devices into the electric grid and 
Blue Economy applications. These funds provide risk mitigation, 
technical advancement and review, and early market growth 
opportunities. The program has now established the following four focus 
areas:
1-Materials and Components Research and Development; 2-Systems 
        Integration and Validation; 3-Testing and Reliability; and, 4-
        Data, Modeling, and Analysis
    NHA strongly supports additional funding in these focus areas. 
There are wide ranges of design approaches to marine energy systems. It 
is likely that different designs will be most effective in diverse 
resource areas or for various market applications. Increased funding is 
required to support the design, construction, and validation of marine 
energy systems in open water deployments, with a balanced approach 
across resource areas that reflects the higher funding requirements of 
more mature designs. In addition, a key barrier to marine energy 
technology development is the difficulty of testing new designs. 
Funding is needed to establish and expand testing infrastructure 
including open-water test centers such as PacWave. Funds are also 
needed to conduct the tests along with environmental monitoring 
technologies and research to expedite permitting and in-water 
demonstration.
    Unfortunately, the budget submission failed to request funding for 
the following focus areas, which NHA urges the subcommittee to support:
    Foundational Research.--Marine energy technologies present unique 
engineering challenges that require collaborative foundational 
innovations by cross-institution teams of researchers. NHA urges 
establishment of dedicated funding for foundational research activities 
led by universities and other research institutions affiliated with the 
National Marine Energy Centers to accelerate development of the marine 
energy sector and help train a skilled workforce for the Labs and 
industry.
    Powering the Blue Economy (PBE).--Marine energy systems can be a 
cost-effective and reliable power source in several distributed ``Blue 
Economy'' markets, such as aquaculture, desalination, oil and gas 
production, underwater data centers, and other emerging needs. However, 
prototypes must be tailored to specific applications and their 
performance demonstrated to facilitate adoption in these markets. NHA 
urges continued funding of the WPTO PBE activities.
                             other agencies
    NHA also recommends close DOE coordination with other agency 
partners, including the U.S. Navy on national security applications for 
marine energy devices, along with FERC, BOEM, and NOAA for regulatory 
efficiencies to support deployment. For hydropower deployment, 
continued DOE engagement with FERC, USACE, BuRec, and federal resource 
agencies is needed to address the amount of time to permit and license 
projects. Finally, NHA urges Congress to increase funding to USACE and 
BuRec to operate, maintain, and upgrade their existing projects, as 
well as to add non-federal hydropower development to their non-powered 
infrastructure. NHA also believes there are ways to make this 
investment that do not increase costs to the power customers. The 
federal hydropower system makes up approximately half of U.S. 
hydropower generation. Many of these projects have been identified, by 
the owners themselves or by equipment suppliers, as candidates for 
upgrade potential and/or have backlogged O&M needs. USACE and BuRec 
projects make the federal government itself one of the largest 
renewable energy providers in the U.S. Reinvesting in these projects 
will help to address climate change, provide economic and job 
opportunities, and maximize the benefits of this public infrastructure.

    [This statement was submitted by Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO, 
National Hydropower Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the National Marine Manufacturers Association
    Dear Chairwoman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy,
    On behalf of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), 
I thank you for convening this hearing to review the FY22 budget 
submission for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau 
of Reclamation (USBR). The Biden Administration and 117th Congress face 
perhaps the most daunting challenges of our generation: rebuilding our 
country from the health and economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 
pandemic and addressing the global climate crisis. As the subcommittee 
looks to bolster the economy and address climate change through the 
FY22 appropriations cycle, we stress that USACE and USBR, leaders in 
providing public access for water-based recreation opportunities, have 
the resources and funding necessary to manage and build more resilient 
public recreation access, protect vulnerable communities, and rebuild 
local economies through facilitating recreation economic activity.
    NMMA is the trade association for the U.S. recreational boating 
industry, representing nearly 1,300 marine businesses, including 
recreational boat, marine engine and accessory manufacturers. NMMA 
members collectively manufacture more than 85 percent of the marine 
products sold in the U.S. Furthermore, the recreational boating 
industry has a significant impact on our nation's economy and in 
communities across the country, employing nearly 700,000 American jobs 
across 35,000 U.S.-based marine businesses.
    Led by the recreational boating industry, the outdoor recreation 
economy is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, accounting for 2.1% 
of GDP, $788 billion in economic output, and 5.2 million American jobs. 
The role of recreational boating in our economy has only grown more 
significant as Americans flocked to new outdoor activities amidst the 
COVID-19 pandemic, with sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increasing 
last year by an estimated 12% compared to 2019, reaching a 13-year 
high. Over 44,000 new boat buyers entered the market between March and 
June 2020, representing 10% year-over-year growth. There are many 
encouraging aspects of this new growth including that roughly 30 
percent of the industry's growth was made up of new buyers, may of 
which were younger and more diverse.
    While this rise has showcased the popularity of such activities as 
a safe and fun way to spend time with loved ones, it has also 
illuminated one of the most pressing issues facing the industry: the 
need for adequate, sound, and up-to-date infrastructure that meets 
demand. Given that a majority of public recreation access 
infrastructure is already in need of significant maintenance and 
modernizations, our aging access points and facilities are particularly 
vulnerable to the effects of climate change. From rapidly changing 
water levels to increased frequency and intensity of flooding events 
and natural disasters in coastal and inland waterway areas, public 
waterways and outdoor recreation infrastructure need bolstered 
resilience. Without robust investment in our country's outdoor 
recreation infrastructure, these economic contributions--along with 
pastimes enjoyed by the vast majority of Americans--will be in 
jeopardy.
    Considering that boating and fishing are the top contributing 
segments within the recreation economy and USACE and USBR together 
offer the majority of water-based recreation opportunities, significant 
potential to grow the outdoor economy-- and the entire U.S. economy--
can be achieved through elevating these agencies' role in supporting 
recreation, which must be reflected in the appropriations cycle. Higher 
prioritization of these agencies recreation-oriented activities can be 
achieved through ensuring adequate funding from existing programs and 
funding authorities and reforming antiquated project prioritization 
processes that neglect to recognize the significant economic, 
environmental, societal, and health benefits generated by recreation.
    For example, USACE has over 5,000 sites in 43 states, generating 
over $10 billion in economic impact and supporting 189,000 total jobs, 
yet a majority of access infrastructure managed by USACE is in poor 
condition. Of note, there were 256 million visits to USACE lake and 
river projects in 2020 compared to the 237 million visitors NPS hosted. 
Providing USACE and USBR with the necessary tools and resources to 
better manage and support recreation access will go a long way towards 
preserving the nation's lakes, reservoirs, rivers, waterways and the 
economic impact of outdoor recreation.
    It's important to note that USACE and USBR accounts that support 
recreation are historically underfunded and both agencies are more 
often than not completely excluded from or benefit considerably less 
than other agencies through significantly impactful federal lands and 
waters policy and funding mechanism such as the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and the Great American Outdoors Act 
(GAOA). For instance, While USACE manages recreation visitation and 
transportation infrastructure asset catalogues on scale with the 
National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and 
the U.S. Forest Service (FS), these three agencies 1) are able to 
retain a portion of recreation fee revenue to reinvest in recreation 
infrastructure through FLREA authority, 2) are all GAOA recipients, 
with NPS receiving 70 percent of total GAOA deferred maintenance 
funding, and 3) receive direct set asides from the Federal Lands 
Transportation Program (FLTP) that takes up a majority of the programs 
funding leaving USACE, USBR, and BLM (another GAOA recipient) to 
compete for any remaining funding to go towards maintaining 
infrastructure that provides access to high-visitation.
    On the navigation side of USACE activities, small recreation-based 
ports are critical access points for inland and coastal communities 
where businesses depend on marine recreation-based economic activity. 
Yet, the benefit cost ration (BCR) criteria used to prioritize USACE 
navigation projects only recognizes commercial activity in assessing 
project economic benefits, failing to account for the value created by 
access for recreation activities leaving our economy at a disadvantage. 
Additionally, without sufficient dredging in recreation-based harbors 
and waterways, some recreational boaters are forced to use high traffic 
commercial channels, which can lead to potential user conflicts and 
safety concerns. The federal government has a responsibility to 
maintain all of nation's ports, harbors, and waterways, yet for too 
long water infrastructure projects that support recreation access have 
gone underappreciated and neglected, does not consistently account for 
recreation within the scope of economic benefits a project provides. 
Additionally, given that 84 percent of the U.S. recreational boating 
industry is made up of small businesses, this commonsense modernization 
of an antiquated process for prioritizing water infrastructure projects 
will reenergize Main Street in coastal communities across the country. 
BCR reform that would require USACE and the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to account for recreation as an economic impact in project 
prioritization would exercise a more comprehensive approach that 
ensures critical water infrastructure projects are funded on an 
equitable, sustainable, and needs based system.
    Systemic underfunding of these agencies' recreation facilities and 
management, combined with USACE's lack of authority to reinvest 
recreation fees into revenue-generating infrastructure assets, have 
allowed this infrastructure to decay in the face of rising demand. 
Maintaining this status quo jeopardizes the safety and viability of 
recreation opportunities managed by the leading providers of water-
based public recreation access. Solutions that can be taken through the 
FY22 process to address these deficiencies include:
  --An additional investment of $40 million in the Operations & 
        Maintenance account allocated to USACE Natural Resources 
        Management (NRM) to continue the operation, maintenance, and 
        repair of existing recreation facilities and public access 
        including unfunded infrastructure maintenance needed to sustain 
        existing facilities at full capacity.
  --Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a 
        survey to provide an inventory of all federally managed 
        recreational boating infrastructure and facilities; an 
        assessment of annual operation and maintenance needs associated 
        with these sites; deferred operation and maintenance needs for 
        such infrastructure and facilities to operate safely at full 
        capacity; opportunities to expand capacity at existing access 
        points; and the economic impact of recreation on regional 
        economies and benefits of sustaining and improving public 
        access at recreational infrastructure and facilities.
  --Dedicated Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) set-aside 
        funding for USACE and USBR at amounts commensurate with each 
        respective agencies' public transportation improvement needs 
        and visitation demand.
  --Extension of recreation fee retention authorities under FLREA to 
        USACE to provide a much-needed revenue source to improve the 
        quality of recreational assets and services and address the 
        backlog of maintenance needs.
  --Reform BCR criteria to require USACE and OMB to account for 
        recreation as an economic impact to establish an equitable, 
        sustainable, and needs-based system for prioritization USACE 
        navigation projects.
    On behalf of our members, I thank you for your leadership in 
preparing FY22 appropriations legislation and appreciate the 
opportunity to provide comments on how recreation infrastructure can 
play an important role in economic recovery. NMMA stands ready to work 
with you ensure adequate funding for federal land and water agencies 
integral to providing public recreation access, and better enable the 
thriving outdoor sector to get Americans back to work and revive local 
economies across the country.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Callie Hoyt, Director, Federal 
Government 
Relations, National Marine Manufacturers Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the National Water Resources Association
    Chairwoman Feinstein and Ranking Member Kennedy,
    Thank you for your efforts and attention to the importance of water 
infrastructure and its critical connection to our nation's economic 
wellbeing and recovery. You are not alone in recognizing the importance 
of water to our nation and its economy. The National Water Resources 
Association (NWRA) shares this conviction. As you embark on efforts to 
develop the FY2022 Energy and Water Appropriations bill we urge you to 
include robust funding for both the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
and the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Under your leadership 
appropriations for Reclamation and USACE have increased in recent 
years. We thank you for this funding. We now ask that you double down 
on this effort and further increase funds allocated to our nations 
water infrastructure. Increasing appropriations dedicated to water 
infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to protect human 
health and drive economic recovery in both the near and long term.
    The NWRA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit federation of state water 
resources associations, regional associations, agricultural, and 
municipal water providers. Our members provide water and hydropower to 
approximately 50 million individuals, families, agricultural producers, 
and other businesses in a manner that supports communities, the 
economy, and the environment. Our membership spans the Western United 
States as well as portions of the Southeastern United States.
    In light of the country's current economic concerns, it is 
important to emphasize the positive impact water infrastructure has on 
both our health and the economy. Water infrastructure systems provide 
communities, businesses, industry, agricultural producers and our 
citizens with an all-important supply of water that is needed not only 
to survive and thrive, but to drive economy recovery.
    Reclamation and USACE water infrastructure is a cornerstone of our 
nation's economy and will be a catalyst for economic recovery and 
prosperity. A total of approximately $20 billion dollars was required 
to build Reclamation's entire infrastructure system.\1\ Every year, 
this infrastructure returns over $63 billion in direct and associated 
economic activity.\2\ The USACE delivers similar economic benefit. 
Between 2010 and 2013, each dollar invested in USACE civil works 
generated about $16 in economic benefits and $5 in U.S. Treasury 
revenues.\3\ In other words, every year our economy recoups its 
investment in Reclamation and USACE projects multiple times over. These 
economic benefits are realized in communities large and small 
throughout the nation.
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    \1\ CRS Report R41844 The Reclamation Fund: A Primer https://
crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41844.
    \2\ U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of the Interior's 
Economic Report FY 2018 https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/
uploads/fy-2018-econ-report-final-9-30-19-v2.pdf.
    \3\ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Determining the return on 
investment of Civil Works projects: A look behind the scenes, Sept. 28, 
2017 https://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/1328990/
determining-the-return-on-investment-of-civil-works-projects-a-look-
behind-the/.
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    As the congressional panel which funds both Reclamation and the 
USACE we ask you to please support strong funding levels for water 
infrastructure across the board. We also recommend robust and targeted 
appropriations that would:
  --Invest in aging infrastructure for both the delivery and storage of 
        water. Both Reclamation and the USACE have multi-billion dollar 
        aging infrastructure backlogs. On April 21, 2021 Reclamation 
        released its Asset Management Report. In this report 
        Reclamation identified approximately 2,800 major rehabilitation 
        and replacement activities (MR&R) with estimated cost totaling 
        $11.9 billion over the next 30 years.\4\ Investing in aging 
        infrastructure now, including implementation and funding of the 
        aging infrastructure authority provided in recent omnibus 
        (Division FF, Title XI, Sec.1101 of P.L. 116-260), will save 
        considerable dollars. If these needs are ignored infrastructure 
        will degrade, water services and the communities that depend on 
        them will suffer, and repair and replacement costs will grow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Asset Management 
Report, April 21, 2021 https://www.usbr.gov/infrastructure/docs/asset-
management-report-to-congress.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Last year Congress authorized a new Aging Infrastructure revolving 
loan program for Reclamation, the Administration has requested $1 
million dollars for this program. This is not sufficient. We 
respectfully request you increase funding in this account to $10 
million for FY2022.
  --In recognition of climate impacts on water supply increase funding 
        to; enhance, maintain, and upgrade physical infrastructure at 
        surface, groundwater, and conjunctive use projects to help 
        capture water in wet years for use in dry years. This would be 
        cost effective, ease drought effects, address flooding and 
        minimize environmental impact.
  --Fund partnerships with state and/or local entities, to perform work 
        on non-federal projects to optimize storage and delivery 
        capability. Allow federal investment in repairing non-federal 
        dams which are deemed unsafe by state regulators. When states 
        limit reservoir capacity because of safety hazards to a full 
        reservoir, the local community served by these reservoirs 
        suffers economically.
  --Provide a significant infusion of construction funds to the already 
        under construction Reclamation rural water projects. These 
        projects receive insufficient annual funding, increasing their 
        total cost and forcing rural and tribal communities to wait 
        even longer for safe and reliable drinking water supplies. 
        Completing these projects would open additional funding 
        opportunity to develop water efficiencies and better manage 
        long-term drought impacts.
    --Increasing investment in water re-use and recycling projects. 
This concept has experienced growing interest and advanced technology 
has made such projects more efficient and effective.
  --Embrace technology and invest in effective green infrastructure 
        projects including water conservation, fish passage, efficiency 
        technologies, and habitat restoration.
  --Identify and expand hydropower opportunities to support energy 
        independence and carbon emissions reduction.
    We welcome the opportunity to work with you and support your 
efforts to provide a significant increase of funding to Reclamation and 
the USACE.
    Thank you for your consideration and your attention to the 
importance of our nation's water infrastructure. Please do not hesitate 
to contact me at [email protected] if you would like any additional 
information. Thank you again for your dedication to our nation and its 
water infrastructure.
    Respectfully.

    [This statement was submitted by Ian Lyle, Executive Vice 
President, National Water Resources Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
              Prepared Statement of The Nature Conservancy
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy and members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present The Nature 
Conservancy's (TNC's) testimony on fiscal year 2022 (FY22) 
appropriations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) and Department of Energy (DOE). TNC 
respectfully requests the Subcommittee's support for programs and 
investments needed to ensure the economic and environmental benefits of 
this work are enhanced today and made sustainable for tomorrow.
                      u.s. army corps of engineers
    Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery: Ongoing oyster restoration work has 
functionally restored several tributaries in Virginia and Maryland, 
demonstrating that strong partnerships between private, state and 
federal agencies can accomplish tangible outcomes in the Chesapeake 
Bay. TNC supports the administration's FY22 budget request of $3.88 
million to continue the essential work of restoring the eastern oyster.
    Claiborne and Millers Ferry Locks and Dams (Fish Passage) Study, 
Lower Alabama River: The Claiborne and Millers Ferry locks and dams 
were built in the 1950s and 1960s to ease navigation and produce 
hydropower on the Alabama River. They also expanded recreational 
opportunities along the river. Unfortunately, they became major 
roadblocks for species that migrate up the Alabama River and into the 
Cahaba River. This study, for which TNC is the non-federal sponsor, 
will examine options for ecologically reconnecting the rivers. TNC 
supports the administration's FY22 budget request of $600,000 for the 
study.
    Engineering With Nature (EWN): The Corps' EWN initiative is using a 
collaborative, science-based approach to better deliver a full range of 
economic, social and environmental benefits from the Corps' water 
resources infrastructure. It is also leading work to share, train and 
support Corps districts and other partners on how to effectively 
develop nature-based projects. Its innovative approaches are building 
stronger, more resilient communities and a healthier environment. TNC 
was pleased Congress created a new budget line for EWN in FY21 
appropriations. TNC urges the Subcommittee to maintain funding for EWN 
at $12.5 million.
    Hatchie/Loosahatchie Habitat Restoration Study (Tennessee and 
Arkansas): The Lower Mississippi River supports diverse fish and 
wildlife populations as well as outdoor recreation opportunities, yet 
it has access to just 10 percent its original floodplain. Ecological 
restoration can improve fish and wildlife habitat, facilitate 
groundwater infiltration and nutrient processing and provide 
recreational opportunities without negatively impacting flood risk 
management and navigation. This study is an important start in that 
effort. TNC supports the FY22 budget request of $600,000 for the study.
    Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP): NESP is an 
important, dual-purpose program that allows the Corps to address both 
navigation and ecosystem restoration in an integrated approach along 
the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Past committee support led 
to $5 million in pre-construction engineering and design (PED) funding 
in the Corps' FY21 work plan. TNC requests the Subcommittee include 
$22.5 million for NESP in FY22 and the authority to begin construction 
to continue this important work and advance the program's navigation 
and ecosystem restoration benefits.
    St. Louis Riverfront-Meramec River Basin Ecosystem Restoration: The 
Meramec River basin of central Missouri is among the most biologically 
significant river basins in North America. It contains diverse and rare 
aquatic and terrestrial species, including six species of endangered 
mussels. The Corps has completed an ecosystem restoration feasibility 
study of critical restoration projects within the Meramec River basin, 
which Congress authorized for construction in the Water Resource 
Development Act of 2020. TNC requests $1.4 million for PED for the 
project in FY22.
    Sustainable Rivers Program (SRP): SRP is an initiative to modernize 
the operations of the nation's reservoirs to enhance water supply, 
flood protection, hydropower generation and recreation while restoring 
critical ecosystems and the economically valuable services they 
provide. The challenges related to providing water supply and flood 
protection are growing and will only increase due to climate change. 
SRP works collaboratively with local communities, water stakeholders, 
states and other federal agencies to update decades-old water 
management practices to better meet society's needs. With increased 
funding in FY20 and FY21, the Corps has been able to significantly 
expand the program from 16 rivers encompassing 66 reservoirs and 5,083 
downstream river miles to 36 rivers encompassing 78 reservoirs, 10,114 
downstream river miles in addition to new water infrastructure like 
locks and dams. TNC requests maintaining funding at $5 million for the 
SRP in FY22.
    Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program: UMRR supports 
coordinated habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects and 
monitoring for the upper Mississippi River system. Thirty years of 
successful partnership has completed more than 56 projects benefiting 
more than 107,000 acres of aquatic and floodplain habitat. Completion 
of new projects in the pipeline will benefit an additional 75,000 acres 
of aquatic and floodplain habitat. TNC supports full authorized funding 
of $55 million for UMRR in FY22.
                         bureau of reclamation
    Cooperative Watershed Management Program: This program helps 
diverse water interests throughout a watershed--tribes, local and state 
governments, landowners, farmers and ranchers, and nongovernmental 
organizations--work collaboratively to develop regional, multi-benefit 
water solutions. Applicants can use funding through Phase 1 of the 
program to help communities form watershed groups to assess and develop 
projects that respond to community water needs, and they can use 
funding through Phase 2 to help fund those projects. With so many 
successful Phase 1 groups now ready with plans and projects, TNC 
requests full funding for the Cooperative Watershed Management program 
at $20 million in FY22.
    Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery and San Juan River 
Basin Recovery Programs: These programs take a balanced approach to 
recovering four endangered fish species by implementing a range of 
basin-wide strategies and provide Endangered Species Act compliance for 
more than 2,500 water projects. TNC requests full funding for these 
programs, including $5.7 million in the FY22 budget request for capital 
construction activities through the Upper Colorado Region's Endangered 
Species Recovery Implementation Program. TNC also appreciates the 
Subcommittee's efforts since FY19 to fund environmental programs for 
the Colorado River at $21.4 million, a portion of which supports the 
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan 
River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. TNC requests continued 
funding for these activities in FY22.
    WaterSMART Program: The WaterSMART Program has new authority this 
year to award grants to non-profit organizations working with 
traditional grant recipients, provide higher levels of match for multi-
purpose projects and support nature-based solutions. These changes will 
help prioritize projects that both enhance water delivery reliability 
and benefit watershed health. Nevertheless, TNC remains concerned that 
some projects funded through WaterSMART grants can increase consumptive 
use of water, which makes water shortages worse. TNC appreciates the 
Subcommittee's past attention to the program and requests continued 
oversight by again including report language similar to report language 
accompanying FY21 appropriations and directing Reclamation to 
prioritize multi-benefit projects, including such projects that 
incorporate nature-based strategies.
                       u.s. department of energy
    TNC supports robust funding for multiple DOE programs that 
accelerate the advancement of clean energy technologies and facilitate 
the department's shift in focus towards decarbonization of the U.S. 
economy. This includes programs that were created or reauthorized by 
the Energy Act of 2020.
    Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy (ARPA-E): ARPA-E is an 
innovative and successful program supporting ``high-risk, high-reward'' 
research that has the potential to drastically alter how the United 
States makes and uses energy in the future. TNC requests at least $500 
million in FY22.
    Solar and Wind Energy Technologies: TNC requests strong funding for 
overall research, development and deployment mission of these critical 
energy technology offices, including at least $370 million for the 
Solar Technology Office and at least $180 million for the Wind 
Technology Office. TNC also requests that the following report language 
be included:
    The Committee provides no less than $30,000,000 for technology 
development, testing and verification of technologies and other 
research that help on- and offshore wind energy projects avoid, 
minimize and mitigate impacts on wildlife and habitat. The department's 
efforts should include technologies that enable near real-time 
monitoring and mitigation system for large whales, technologies that 
enable and improve scientific research into wind-wildlife interactions, 
research on how to site wind to avoid impacts to the most sensitive 
wildlife and habitat and research and demonstration projects to remove 
barriers to adoption of wind technology on previously disturbed lands 
such as landfills and former mines.
    The Committee provides no less than $40,000,000 for technology 
development, testing and verification of technologies and other 
research that help solar energy projects avoid, minimize and mitigate 
impacts on wildlife and habitat, including through improved scientific 
research into avian-solar interactions, siting solar to avoid impacts 
to the most sensitive wildlife and habitat and research and 
demonstration projects to remove barriers to adoption of solar 
technology on previously disturbed lands such as landfills and former 
mines.
    Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program 
(SEP): Together, WAP and SEP provides critical funds to improve energy 
efficiency across the country, with both programs found to provide at 
least $4 in benefits for every federal dollar spent. TNC requests at 
least $350 million in FY22 for WAP and $70 million for SEP. We would 
also support additional funding for Challenge Grants as a supplement to 
SEP as outlined in the president's FY22 budget request.
    Industrial Emissions Reduction Technology Development Program: TNC 
supports robust funding for this new program created under the Clean 
Industrial Technology Act to help accelerate reductions in emissions 
from industrial processes and manufacturing. That includes a specific 
request of $80 million in FY22 for demonstration projects, as 
authorized.
    Advanced Nuclear Energy: TNC requests at least $405 million for the 
existing Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and $33.075 million for 
the new Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Program as established by 
the Energy Act of 2020.
    Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage and Removal: TNC supports 
robust funding for the Office of Fossil Energy to deploy carbon 
management technologies. That includes a request of $871.3 million for 
carbon capture program. Within that, $225 million should be allocated 
to pilot projects, $500 million to demonstration projects and $50 
million to support FEED studies. TNC also requests $200 million for the 
carbon storage program and $55.25 million for carbon utilization. TNC 
supports appropriations of at least $252.5 million across multiple 
offices for RD&D related to carbon removal, including $115 million for 
the DAC prizes and $63.5 million for the carbon dioxide removal program 
established in Title V of the Energy Act of 2020.
    Energy Storage: TNC requests at least $150 million in FY22 to 
support DOE's Energy Storage Grand Challenge, including $100 million 
for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and $50 
million for the Office of Electricity.
    Advanced Vehicle Technologies: TNC supports robust funding to help 
advance the decarbonization of the transportation sector or the 
development of new zero-carbon fuels for transportation and other end 
uses. TNC requests at least $494 million for the Vehicle Technologies 
Office and $200 million of the Office of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell 
Technologies.
    Thank you for this opportunity to submit TNC's recommendations for 
the FY22 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.

    [This statement was submitted by Jimmy Hague, Senior Water Policy 
Advisor, The Nature Conservancy.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition
    The NWSC is an ad hoc organization representing the collective 
interests of member state utility regulators, consumer advocates, 
attorneys general, and radiation control officials; tribal governments; 
local governments; electric utilities with operating and/or shutdown 
nuclear reactors; and other experts on nuclear waste policy matters. We 
call upon Congress to appropriate funds in Fiscal Year 2022 to the 
Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) such 
that each agency has the sustainable annual funding necessary to 
undertake critical activities related to their respective roles in 
developing, managing, and regulating an integrated program for the 
storage, transportation, and disposal of the nation's spent nuclear 
fuel (SNF), Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) waste, and other high-level 
radioactive waste (HLW). For DOE, these programs include:
  --Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) Integrated Waste Management Systems 
        (IWMS) activities;
  --NE Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Research & Development activities;
  --``Nuclear Waste Disposal'' activities per the FY 2021 Consolidated 
        Appropriations Act; and
  --Activities necessary to develop and manage a national integrated 
        nuclear waste program, including establishment of and support 
        for an office dedicated to nuclear waste management.
    For the NRC, that entails funding for activities necessary to 
ensure the safety of a national integrated nuclear waste program, 
including storage, transportation, and disposal of SNF and GTCC waste 
from commercial nuclear power production. As a general matter, 
direction to both agencies concerning these matters remains unclear, 
and despite Congressional appropriations of a new $27.5 million to DOE 
in FY 2021 for ``expenses necessary for nuclear waste disposal 
activities to carry out the purposes of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
1982, Public Law 97-425, as amended, including interim storage 
activities,'' this funding did not establish the meaningful integrated 
nuclear waste management program that our nation needs and that we have 
gone without for more than a decade. Thus, our testimony focuses on the 
need for Congress to both appropriate funds for such an integrated 
program and to provide sustainable annual access to the Nuclear Waste 
Fund (NWF). It also highlights our concerns with prior Senate-proposed 
EWD language and our opposition to reinstatement of a uranium 
enrichment decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) tax.
            existing challenges to nuclear waste management
    The national nuclear waste management program established under the 
1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) was effectively terminated more 
than a decade ago by executive action. Subsequently, Congress has 
failed to provide meaningful direction or funding for that program or 
any national integrated nuclear waste management program. Since 1983, 
approximately $54 billion has been credited to the NWF, including over 
$21 billion collected from electric ratepayers and over $28 billion in 
interest that continues to accumulate at a rate of over $1.7 billion a 
year. The approximately $43 billion balance sits stranded in U.S. 
Treasury Securities and unappropriated for its intended purpose. These 
facts have resulted in a de facto national policy of inaction that 
negatively impacts:
  --Host States & Communities. The de facto policy indefinitely strands 
        80,000 metric tons of commercial SNF and HLW at operating and 
        decommissioned reactor sites in 34 states without their 
        consent. At shutdown sites, the stranded waste impedes the 
        potential beneficial reuse of the property (e.g., conservation, 
        economic development).
  --All U.S. Taxpayers. The de facto policy already has cost U.S. 
        taxpayers more than $8.6 billion, and this liability is growing 
        by approximately $2 million per day, money that could be used 
        for infrastructure and other purposes.
  --Electric Customers. While no longer paying fees into the federal 
        NWF per court order, electric ratepayers in more than 40 states 
        paid billions of dollars that are not being used for their 
        intended purpose.
                call for action & specific ewd requests
    The federal government can and should establish a national 
integrated nuclear waste management program and simultaneously reform 
the federal budgetary treatment of the NWF to provide sustainable 
annual access to the $43 billion balance and the accumulating future 
interest. This action is needed now to avoid permanently stranding this 
material in host states and communities; address the negative economic 
impacts to states, communities, and taxpayers; and enable the federal 
government to meet its statutory and contractual obligations to 
electric customers under a law established nearly 40 years ago.
    Specifically, the NWSC requests that Congress:
  --Support reforms of the federal budgetary treatment of the NWF such 
        that sustainable annual access is provided to the funds 
        collected from electric customers to support the development 
        and management of a national integrated nuclear waste storage, 
        transportation, and disposal program.
  --Fund establishment of a national integrated nuclear waste 
        management program, including:
    --A dedicated office in DOE that reports directly to the Secretary 
            and focuses on nuclear waste management. A dedicated 
            nuclear waste management office would provide a focal point 
            for SNF and HLW work, facilitate necessary engagement with 
            external stakeholders, and demonstrate an intent and 
            commitment to take meaningful action. Congress has 
            previously recognized the importance of a single-purpose 
            entity that reports to the Secretary, and such an office 
            would benefit external stakeholders and DOE's workforce. 
            Whether coordinating with private entities on proposed 
            consolidated interim storage (CIS) facilities; interacting 
            with states and communities potentially interested in 
            hosting a nuclear waste management facility; or managing 
            future Congressional directives regarding the nation's 
            nuclear waste, there are substantial tasks that can be 
            pursued now, and DOE needs a dedicated team to focus on 
            these issues and meet with interested and affected parties.
    --Simultaneous pursuit of permanent disposal and a CIS pilot with 
            priority for SNF from shutdown reactors. Because permanent 
            disposal is necessary and a determination on the Yucca 
            Mountain license application is necessary to move forward 
            on permanent disposal, Congress should provide both NRC and 
            DOE the funds necessary to resume their respective roles in 
            the license review. Simultaneously, Congress should provide 
            DOE funds to facilitate private or federal efforts to site 
            a pilot CIS facility with priority for waste stranded at 
            shutdown commercial nuclear power plant sites, and Congress 
            should provide NRC funds to carry out licensing activities 
            pertaining to such CIS facilities.
    --Continuation and expansion of constructive initiatives related to 
            transportation infrastructure. Congress should fund work at 
            federal agencies that facilitates SNF transportation, as it 
            will be necessary regardless of destination. For example, 
            the assessment of transportation infrastructure needs at 
            shutdown plant sites and the testing, certification, and 
            procurement of railcars and licensed transportation 
            containers and components in sufficient quantities are 
            constructive activities that should continue.
    --Increased financial and technical assistance to tribal, state, 
            and local governments. Such assistance for transportation-
            related emergency preparedness training and activities will 
            provide the public greater assurance that the health, 
            safety, and welfare of its communities will be preserved 
            during SNF transport.
  --Communicate to DOE that it is time to pursue measures beyond 
        information-gathering and reports, particularly on topics that 
        have been sufficiently examined by the Blue Ribbon Commission 
        on America's Nuclear Future, the U.S. Government Accountability 
        Office, et al.
    We urge the Committee to address these items in its markup as a 
critical step and urge Congress to restructure the funding and spending 
mechanisms for the NWF to provide the necessary funding certainty to 
implement an integrated nuclear waste management program over multiple 
decades. This should include sustainable access to the NWF while 
maintaining Congressional oversight of the program's progress. These 
actions would demonstrate that Congress is committed to ensuring that 
the federal government carries out its statutory and contractual 
responsibilities.
         concerns with prior senate ewd appropriations language
    The NWSC has previously communicated concerns with certain Senate-
proposed provisions (e.g., Section 306 of S. 2470, 116th Cong., 2019). 
First, such language would fail to move forward on CIS and permanent 
disposal in parallel, a key element of a successful integrated nuclear 
waste management program. Second, establishment of specific consent-
based siting requirements by statute is not necessary, as potential 
hosts should have the flexibility to negotiate the process and 
conditions that best serve the interests of their jurisdictions. Third, 
it would not address underlying funding concerns while expanding 
Congressional authority to tap the NWF and increase the potential for 
restarting the fee on electric customers. Finally, such language raised 
consequential questions about whether DOE will be allowed to engage 
either federal or private initiatives to facilitate CIS and whether 
access to the CIS may be limited.
    Having reiterated concerns with previous language, the NWSC greatly 
appreciates the EWD Subcommittee's focus on these important issues. 
Additionally, we seek an opportunity to engage further with your team 
on alternative approaches for making meaningful progress toward 
establishment of a national integrated nuclear waste management 
program.
     uranium enrichment decontamination & decommissioning (d&d) tax
    NWSC opposes reinstatement of a uranium enrichment D&D tax. 
Although supportive of environmental cleanup of enrichment sites, U.S. 
nuclear-generating utilities and their customers should not be singled 
out again to pay for D&D of DOE facilities developed for national 
defense.
                                closing
    On behalf of the NWSC, we appreciate this opportunity, welcome 
further engagement, and respectfully request that Congress address 
these issues in a process with robust stakeholder input.

    [This statement was submitted by Katrina McMurrian, Executive 
Director, 
Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Oregon Water Resources Congress
    The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) has been concerned over 
the last several years about reductions to the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE) Civil Works budget and is supportive the President's 
Proposed FY 2022 Budget requesting increased appropriations for this 
program at $6.8 billion. The USACE Civil Works program addresses vital 
water resource needs throughout the nation, and in Oregon, the USACE 
Northwestern Division operates on our two largest river systems, the 
Columbia River, and the Willamette River, as well as maintaining 
Oregon's coastal rivers for navigation. Increased funding would help 
support and leverage collaborative state level planning efforts by 
USACE in Oregon and nationwide. A tangible example of the need is the 
impending reallocation of water resources among USACE's thirteen Oregon 
reservoirs among agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses.
    OWRC was established in 1912 as a trade association to support the 
protection of water rights and promote the wise stewardship of water 
resources statewide. OWRC members are local governmental entities, 
which include irrigation districts, water control districts, drainage 
districts, water improvement districts, and other agricultural water 
suppliers that deliver water to roughly 1/3 of all irrigated land in 
Oregon. These water stewards operate and manage complex water 
management systems, including water supply reservoirs, canals, 
pipelines, and hydropower facilities.
    Our members across Oregon face challenges related to irrigation 
water supply, reliability, and aging infrastructure. While there are 
common concerns and interests throughout irrigated agriculture, each 
basin is unique, and necessitates local communities working together to 
identify needs and developing solutions to best meet them. The two 
largest river systems in Oregon (the Columbia River and the Willamette 
River) are managed by USACE and play a vital role in providing not only 
water supplies for agriculture, but also ports and passage for 
transporting food and fiber globally, flood protection for communities, 
fish and wildlife benefits, hydropower production, and recreation. 
Additional funding for the Civil Works budget is needed to ensure USACE 
has the necessary resources to meet the myriad of infrastructure needs 
of those systems, without placing the entire burden on the backs of the 
farmers and ranchers who produce food and fiber for our nation.
                         fy2022 appropriations
    We recognize we must make strategic investments with scarce 
resources. The USACE Civil Works program is a perfect example of a 
budget that should have funding increased because the water 
infrastructure it encompasses directly contributes to the economy as 
well protecting public safety and the environment. OWRC feels strongly 
USACE needs substantially increased funding to provide critical repairs 
on our nation's aging water infrastructure to prevent catastrophic 
failure, as well as address routine operations and maintenance on other 
infrastructure before it becomes irreparable.
                    willamette basin reservoir study
    The Portland District of the USACE Northwestern Division operates 
thirteen dams and reservoirs in the Willamette Basin, with a combined 
storage capacity of over 1.6 million acre-feet. The dams were 
constructed primarily to protect downstream communities from flooding 
but also store and release water for irrigation, hydropower generation, 
water quality, fish and wildlife flows, and recreation. Since the 
construction of the dams started in the 1930s, Oregon has seen a 
dramatic increase in population, which in turn has spurred increased 
development, agriculture, and a whole host of new demands on the 
reservoirs. Municipal water entities would like access to available 
stored water to better meet drinking water needs for growing 
communities as well as businesses such as the high-tech industry. 
Additionally, there are fish and wildlife species in the river system 
listed under the Endangered Species Act and related ecosystem 
restoration needs not contemplated when the facilities were 
constructed.
    Following years of stakeholder engagement, the Willamette Basin 
Reservoir Study has been finalized and but there is still significant 
work that needs to occur before any reallocation can occur. It is 
crucial that ACOE remains at the table and collaboratively works with 
state agencies and stakeholders to flush out various details needed to 
determine how the reservoirs can best help meet the myriad of current 
and future water demands in the Willamette Basin. OWRC would like to 
see continued funding to support ongoing efforts related to the 
implementation of the Willamette Reallocation included in the USACE 
Civil Works FY 2022 budget to support this important effort.
                      additional funding programs
    OWRC is encouraged by the recent additions to the USACE Civil Works 
program including funding for climate change response and resiliency, 
dam safety and earthquake hazard reduction; however, programs as 
important as these should receive even more funding. Additional funding 
is needed to support and leverage state efforts to identify and address 
earthquake hazards. Oregon faces the risk of a catastrophic earthquake 
from the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the state is in the early stages 
of planning and mitigating to improve seismic resiliency. It is 
uncertain when or how devastating the earthquake could be, but it is 
clear there would be broad impacts, particularly since most 
infrastructure was constructed prior to the discovery of the fault and 
does not meet current seismic standards.
    Aging water infrastructure is particularly vulnerable and there is 
a significant need for financial and technical assistance to upgrade 
reservoirs and other key facilities. Without increased earthquake 
preparedness and dam safety funding, Oregon cannot mitigate the 
potential damage. We encourage the House to further fund these programs 
to effectively prepare the states for earthquakes and prevent 
widespread devastation to people and property.
    Additionally, like many other western states, Oregon has been 
experiencing more frequent and severe drought conditions. For Oregon, 
the drought stems from a lack of snowpack that serves as the natural 
water storage throughout the year for many farms, communities, and fish 
and wildlife. The impacts may take longer to show, but drought can be 
as devastating as earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
    Impacts from prolonged drought take time to recover from and like 
other natural disasters, the best way to survive and help communities 
recover is through coordinated planning and developing diverse tools to 
use when these crises occur. We know from our experience working with 
our state agency and partner organizations in Oregon that funding for 
planning, feasibility, and implementation of projects to increase 
drought preparedness and resiliency is a cornerstone to an 
economically, socially, and environmentally sound approach for a 
sustainable water future.
    In conclusion, we wholeheartedly support the proposed appropriation 
of at least $6.8 billion for the USACE Civil Works budget for FY 2022. 
The critical nature of the water infrastructure services the USACE 
provides requires a budget that matches the seriousness of the national 
need, and the importance of the water supply, navigation, public 
safety, and other natural resources benefits it provides. Thank you for 
the opportunity to provide testimony regarding the FY 2022 budget for 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by April Snell, Executive Director, 
Oregon Water Resources Congress.]
                                 ______
                                 
               Prepared Statement of Pearl Certification
    As a national market leader in residential energy efficiency 
certification, Pearl Certification (``Pearl'') respectfully urges your 
support, through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations bill, to provide robust funding to advance programs at 
the Department of Energy (DOE) that invest in residential energy 
efficiency and whole-house initiatives. The President's FY 2022 budget 
request makes significant investments in the Weatherization Assistance 
Program, State Energy Program, and Building Technologies Office. For 
the many reasons detailed below, we urge Congress to continue support 
for these programs and work to ensure that sub accounts within the DOE 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy are robustly funded so 
that their important work may continue and expand.
    Pearl provides third-party certification of high-performing homes; 
homes that are healthy, comfortable, resilient, and energy efficient. 
Pearl's certification drives demand for these improvements by making 
them visible at time of appraisal, sale, and/or refinance, allowing 
their full value to be captured in the sale price. The Pearl 
Certification is designed to fill a gap that has existed in the 
residential marketplace by helping consumers find and sell high-
performing homes with an easy-to-use, contractor-friendly certification 
system that creates an inventory of the home's energy efficiency, 
health, comfort, resilience and other ``high-performing'' assets.\1\ 
Pearl has created networks of elite contractors and real estate 
brokers: market leaders who provide high quality goods and services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ The Pearl system provides homeowners, homebuyers, real estate 
agents, appraisers, and underwriters with different and complementary 
information that meets their need to understand and value the home's 
features. New and existing homes can earn a Pearl certification, and 
the home's record and Pearl score can be updated as further 
improvements are made. The report that accompanies a Pearl 
certification includes detailed information on ways that the home's 
assets impact its comfort, indoor air quality, and energy consumption. 
Contractors also use the scoring system as an educational tool to help 
homeowners understand the benefits of high-performing equipment and 
services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    With paying customers in over twenty states, Pearl has scored over 
65,000 homes to date. Pearl is the only market-based firm approved by 
the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to 
administer their Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) program for 
existing homes, and was accepted into the 2017 National Association of 
REALTORS(r) (NAR) prestigious REACH Technology Accelerator. Pearl's 
current pilot partnership with NYSERDA positions Pearl's certification 
system as a voluntary home labeling system which will help states and 
municipalities meet carbon reduction goals.
    Dollar for dollar, investments in energy efficiency create more 
jobs than investment in the utility sector or fossil-fuels.\2\ As a 
result, investments in DOE programs that support energy efficiency--
like those in the Building Technologies Office--lead to job creation 
and economic growth. In fact, energy efficiency is the largest employer 
and fastest growing sector in the energy industry. The 2020 ``Energy 
Efficiency Jobs in America'' \3\ report from E4TheFuture found that, 
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy efficiency industry employed 
nearly 2.4 million Americans and was adding more jobs than any other 
energy sector. The industry was expected to see another 3% growth in 
2020. Instead, over 18% of the energy efficiency workforce (430,000 
workers) lost their jobs in the initial months of the pandemic. While 
other sectors experienced robust recoveries in the second half of 2020, 
energy efficiency did not: In December 2020, over half of energy 
efficiency workers laid off in the spring (230,000) were still out of 
work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ ACEEE. N.d. Energy Efficiency and Economic Opportunity. 
Retrieved from http://aceee.org/files/pdf/fact-sheet/ee-economic-
opportunity.pdf.
    \3\ https://e4thefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/
EE_Jobs_America_2020.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The residential buildings sector remains a largely untapped 
resource for carbon reduction goals. Residential buildings account for 
21% of total U.S. energy consumption,\4\ consume more electricity than 
any other sector,\5\ and are the largest contributor to peak demand,\6\ 
all of which make this sector particularly important from a carbon 
emissions reduction standpoint. In addition, the occupants of the vast 
majority of homes in the U.S. experience comfort problems, health 
issues, and/or high utility bills. The residential sector's energy 
consumption can be significantly reduced, and other related problems 
addressed, through single-measure and whole-house upgrades. Residential 
energy efficiency jobs were hit particularly hard by the pandemic and 
statewide lockdown orders. Supporting these jobs as part of our 
nation's recovery will be critical.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/mer.pdf.
    \5\ https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_01_02.html.
    \6\ https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f61/bto-
geb_overview-4.15.19.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at DOE 
has advanced innovative technology solutions and helped identify the 
most effective means to increase buildings' energy efficiency in order 
to reduce carbon emissions through research, development, field 
validation, deployment, demonstration, consumer education, and 
technical assistance activities. To ensure that these innovative energy 
technologies, practices, and information can be fully utilized by 
American consumers to reduce carbon emissions, Congress should support 
coordination with the private sector and support demonstration and 
deployment activities that integrate and bring these solutions to 
market.
    Residential energy efficiency programs at the Department of Energy 
deserve the support of the American taxpayer as these programs are 
proven to provide a significant return on investment. When funded they 
will continue to provide energy cost relief to households, support 
American-based industry and American jobs, ameliorate issues with the 
aging electrical grid, and support national security goals. We also 
urge additional funding either through regular appropriations or 
supplemental funding in the event an energy/infrastructure package is 
considered. In the event that opportunity presents itself, we would 
urge funding for the HOPE for HOMES program to advance workforce 
training and residential retrofit rebates supported by the President's 
Budget Request ($2 billion in FY22).
    We respectfully urge funding of $80M for the Residential Building 
Integration program within the Building Technologies Office, which has 
the capacity to fundamentally transform the performance of homes and 
greatly improve the energy efficiency in the 115 million existing 
residential buildings throughout this country. Residential buildings 
account for 21% of total U.S. energy consumption, use more electricity 
than any other sector, and are therefore an essential (albeit often 
overlooked) part of the carbon reduction equation. RBI can 
significantly improve the energy efficiency in the residential sector 
through its partnerships with the thousands of small businesses in this 
sector, the construction trades, equipment, smart grid technology and 
systems suppliers, integrators and state and local governments.
    Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, which advances contractor 
engagement in high efficiency equipment installations, is just one 
example of a crucial residential program within RBI. To date, 
approximately 875,000 energy efficiency improvement projects have been 
completed on existing homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY 
STAR program. We recommend that this program receive a line item in the 
budget for at least $80 million and that the funding be focused on 
facilitating later-stage research, demonstration, and widespread 
deployment of technology solutions in new and existing homes, with an 
emphasis on whole-house energy efficiency retrofits (including 
outreach, engagement and training to private sector contractors) and 
continuing efforts to advance grid-interactive residential buildings 
and smart home technology.
    We encourage the direct engagement with residential contractors and 
home certification businesses, which are crucial to the success of 
buildings programs. We also urge continued efforts to address 
visibility of high performing features in residential buildings as a 
way to ensure that they are properly valued and to create market 
incentives to drive additional improvements. RBI deserves the support 
of the American taxpayer as it is proven to provide a significant 
return on investment and provide economic, health, resiliency, and 
carbon reduction benefits. Again, we respectfully urge Congress to fund 
Residential Building Integration at no less than $80 million.
    DOE's residential energy efficiency programs and initiatives are 
critical to the continued advancement of the energy efficiency 
industry, which contributes to the country's overall economic growth, 
energy independence, and international competitiveness, and also 
represents a significant and largely untapped resource for carbon 
reduction. We once again urge Congress to support these programs with 
robust funding for FY22 so they may continue their important work, 
including continued efforts to address property rating and valuation in 
buildings. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. We look 
forward to working with you.

    [This statement was submitted by Robin LeBaron, Co-Founder, 
President and COO, Pearl Certification.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of San Juan Water Commission
    We are requesting your support for appropriations in the 
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of 
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River 
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery 
Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts requested in the 
President's budget for these programs are described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmers Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the San 
Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Aaron Chavez, Executive Director, 
San Juan Water Commission.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Society for Industrial and Applied 
                              Mathematics
    This written testimony is submitted on behalf of the Society for 
Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) to ask you to continue your 
support of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science with 
funding of $7.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2022. In particular, we 
urge you to provide at least $292 million for Mathematical, 
Computational, and Computer Sciences Research in the Office of Advanced 
Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) within the Office of Science. We 
also emphasize the importance of support for graduate students through 
the Computational Sciences Graduate Fellowship and request that $20 
million be provided in FY 2022.
    On behalf of SIAM, we submit this written testimony for the record 
to the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Appropriations of 
the United States Senate.
    SIAM has approximately 14,000 members, including applied and 
computational mathematicians, computer scientists, numerical analysts, 
engineers, statisticians, and mathematics educators. They work in 
industrial and service organizations, universities, colleges, and 
government agencies and laboratories all over the world. In addition, 
SIAM has over 500 institutional members-colleges, universities, 
corporations, and research organizations. SIAM members come from many 
different disciplines but have a common interest in applying 
mathematics in partnership with computational science towards solving 
real-world problems.
    SIAM appreciates your Committee's leadership on and recognition of 
the critical role of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science 
and its support for mathematics, science, and engineering in enabling a 
strong U.S. economy, workforce, and society. DOE was one of the first 
federal agencies to champion computational science as one of the three 
pillars of science, along with theory and experiment, and SIAM deeply 
appreciates and values DOE activities.
    SIAM is grateful for the strong funding that the Office of Science 
received in FY 2021 and encouraged by the proposed increases in the 
President's FY 2022 budget request. We join with the research community 
to request that you continue this momentum by providing the Office of 
Science with $7.7 billion for FY 2022. The requested amount is 
necessary for ensuring continued support for areas such as mathematics 
and scientific research to help address national priorities, foster 
economic growth, and create jobs.
                 advanced scientific computing research
    Activities within the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing 
Research (ASCR) play a key role in supporting research that begins to 
fulfill the needs described above. Within the overall amount for ASCR, 
we urge you to provide at least $292 million for Mathematical, 
Computational, and Computer Sciences Research in FY 2022. SIAM applauds 
the proposed increases in the President's budget request as this level 
of funding is needed to ensure the long-term health and viability of 
the high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem that DOE relies on for 
conducting groundbreaking discovery science while supporting increased 
investment in priority areas such as quantum computing and artificial 
intelligence.
    Core research activities within ASCR enable the development of 
critical tools for computational science, modeling, and data analysis 
that enhance advanced computing capabilities and seed new areas of 
research with potential for revolutionary advancements. Sustained 
investment in basic research ultimately enabled the global leadership 
in HPC that the U.S. currently enjoys. While our strength in HPC is 
exemplified by the groundbreaking exascale systems currently being 
assembled, this position is increasingly being challenged by overseas 
competitors.
    We strongly support ASCR's reorientation toward longer term 
research as the Exascale Computing Initiative comes to fruition and 
funding for the associated Exascale Computing Project continues its 
planned decline. This shift is underpinned by strategic visioning 
exercises that have produced several recommendations for reinvigorating 
ASCR's research agenda. These include a substantial reinvestment in 
foundational science and increased support for high-risk/high-reward 
research activities, especially at universities.\1\ Such an approach 
will help maintain the long-term viability and vibrancy of the broader 
HPC research community as ASCR looks toward the post-exascale future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (ASCAC), 
Subcommittee on Exascale Transition, ``Transition Report'', https://
science.osti.gov/-/media/ascr/ascac/pdf/meetings/202004/
Transition_Report_202004-
ASCAC.pdf?la=en&hash=5164916FE5158EE8919C26804B4CF7F6
DDA36E9D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition to the critical role that it already plays in priority 
areas like artificial intelligence and quantum information science, 
ASCR's research portfolio will be a critical asset to the Department's 
efforts to drive innovation in climate and Earth systems predictability 
and renewable energy. Specifically, research in applied mathematics and 
computational science will enable new capabilities in environmental 
sensing and edge computing with applications in Earth systems 
prediction and climate forecasting. In addition, advancements in 
modeling, simulation, and optimization can help improve grid 
reliability and the integration of renewable energy sources into the 
broader power distribution system.
        supporting the pipeline of mathematicians and scientists
    SIAM is grateful for the strong support of the Computational 
Sciences Graduate Fellowships (CSGF) and requests that $20 million be 
provided for the Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) in FY 
2022 within the overall amount for research. Researchers trained in 
computational science and working in universities, national 
laboratories, and industry are essential to propel advances in many DOE 
critical research areas. This program helps ensure the existence of an 
adequate supply of scientists and engineers with strong computational 
research experience and close ongoing ties to DOE to meet future 
national workforce needs.
    CSGF has been flat-funded at $10 million since FY 2015, even as 
computational techniques continue to permeate every area of science and 
increasingly contribute to the advancement of DOE mission priorities. 
SIAM is pleased to see support for CSGF within the President's FY 2022 
budget request to increase the number of fellows in AI and Quantum and 
participation of individuals from under-represented groups. The 
increase we are requesting to CSGF reflects the growing need for an 
expanded workforce in emerging areas of importance to DOE such as 
artificial intelligence and data science. As international competition 
in science and engineering intensifies, maintaining U.S. leadership in 
these areas will increasingly depend on our ability to cultivate a 
scientific workforce with strong research experience and close ties to 
DOE. An increase in funding to CSGF would also enable ASCR to address a 
consistent oversubscription in the program and advance diversity, 
equity, and inclusion through expanded outreach to minority serving 
institutions.
    the role of mathematics in meeting health, energy, and security 
                               challenges
    Support for applied mathematics and computational science is 
critical to sustaining the nation's global scientific and technological 
leadership, energy production capabilities, and national security. By 
exploiting DOE's world class supercomputing capabilities, 
mathematicians and computational scientists supported by the 
abovementioned programs pioneer new modeling and simulation techniques 
that enable substantial breakthroughs in materials synthesis, energy 
distribution, and human physiology among other complex areas where 
laboratory experiments or field observations are too costly, time 
consuming, or simply insufficient. This was demonstrated recently in 
the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Researchers at Oak Ridge 
National Laboratory (ORNL) developed a computational model of the novel 
coronavirus. They then ran the model on ORNL's supercomputer, Summit, 
and were able to identify 77 molecular compounds that could serve as 
the basis for therapeutic drugs to counter COVID-19.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://chemrxiv.org/articles/
Repurposing_Therapeutics_for_the_Wuhan_
Coronavirus_nCov-2019_Supercomputer-Based_Docking_to_the_Viral_S--
Protein_and_
Human_ACE2_Interface/11871402/3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               conclusion
    The programs in the Office of Science, particularly those discussed 
above, are important elements of DOE's efforts to fulfill its mission. 
They contribute to the goals of dramatically transforming our current 
capabilities to develop new sources of energy and improve energy 
efficiency to ensure energy independence and facilitate DOE's effort to 
increase U.S. competitiveness by training and attracting the best 
scientific talent into DOE headquarters and laboratories, the American 
research enterprise, and the clean energy economy.
    Thank you again for your ongoing support of the DOE Office of 
Science. The DOE Office of Science needs sustained annual funding to 
maintain our competitive edge in science and technology, and therefore 
we respectfully ask that you continue your support of these critical 
programs. We appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony to the 
Committee on behalf of SIAM and look forward to providing any 
additional information or assistance you may ask of us during the FY 
2022 appropriations process.

    [This statement was submitted by Dr. Susanne C. Brenner, President; 
Dr. Anne Gelb, Vice President for Science Policy; and Dr. Suzanne L. 
Weekes, Executive 
Director, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Subcommittee 
members:
    The Southern Ute Indian Tribe requests your support for 
appropriations in the President's budget request for FY 2022 to the 
Bureau of Reclamation--Upper Colorado Region for the San Juan River 
Basin Recovery Implementation Program and the Upper Colorado River 
Endangered Fish Recovery Program (``Recovery Programs'').
    The importance of the Recovery Programs cannot be overstated. 
Westerners' water supply relies on water projects that store, channel, 
and pump water where it is needed. These Recovery Programs were 
established to recover endangered fish species while simultaneously 
allowing water use and development to proceed in compliance with the 
Endangered Species Act. The Recovery Programs provide Endangered 
Species Act compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the 
Upper Colorado River Basin, including every Reclamation project 
upstream of Lake Powell. That includes projects such as the Animas La 
Plata Project in southwest Colorado, where tribes are partners with 
Reclamation. The San Juan Program in particular was critical to the 
settlement of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's water rights and is 
fundamental to future tribal water development.
    The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget 
for these programs are described below.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
include:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and conserve 
        genetic integrity through hatcheries and stocking efforts, 
        manage non-native and sport fish, and research and monitoring 
        to provide the scientific basis to guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities needed 
to recover endangered fish species. This includes $2,500,000 for 
construction of a fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion 
structure on the San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for 
floodplain habitat development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan 
River, $2,550,000 for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at 
the Grand Valley Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River 
near Grand Junction Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program 
Management for contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract 
administration, tracking expenditures, and addressing issues and 
concerns associated with capital project construction.
    These programs have been highly successful in achieving their 
purpose. For example, two of the fish species that the programs were 
designed to recover--the Razorback Sucker and the Humpback Chub--are in 
the process of being downlisted from ``endangered'' to ``threatened.'' 
The programs are a success not just on the biological front. They are 
also a positive example of the value of cooperation. The partners in 
these programs include four federally recognized Indian tribes (the 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Jicarilla Apache 
Nation, and Navajo Nation); four states (New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, 
and Wyoming), multiple federal agencies, including the Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; water and power 
interests; and environmental groups. The partners have pooled 
resources--including funding, in-kind donations, and staff--to ensure 
the success of these Programs.
    The Southern Ute Indian Tribe appreciates the Subcommittee's past 
support and requests the Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 
funding to ensure the Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial 
participation in and provision of federal cost sharing for these 
vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Melvin J. Baker, Chairman, 
Southern Ute 
Indian Tribe.]
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the Southwestern Water Conservation District
    The Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) appreciates the 
opportunity to submit this letter of support for appropriations in the 
President's recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of 
Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River 
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery 
Implementation Program. SWCD is a political subdivision of the State 
that was established by the Colorado General Assembly in 1941 to 
protect, conserve, use and develop the water resources of the San Juan 
and Dolores River Basins as well as to safeguard all waters to which 
the state of Colorado is equitably entitled.
    We are requesting your support for appropriations in the 
President's budget for these programs described below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes $8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream flows, 
maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and conservation of genetic 
integrity through hatcheries and stocking efforts, manage non-native 
and sport fish, and research and monitoring to provide the scientific 
basis to guide decision making. This funding for the recovery programs 
is authorized by P.L. 106-392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell. Because these objectives align with our statutory mandate, SWCD 
has been a steadfast supporter of the Upper Colorado and San Juan 
Recovery Programs since their inception in 1988 and 1992, respectively.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Steve Wolff, General Manager, 
Southwestern Water Conservation District.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Tri-County Water Conservancy District
    The Tri-County Water Conservancy District is requesting your 
support for appropriations in the President's recommended budget for FY 
2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region for the Upper 
Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River 
Basin Recovery Implementation Program. The budget items and amounts 
requested in the President's budget for these programs are described 
below.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    We appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Mike Berry, General Manager, Tri-
County Water Conservancy District.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 
 Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation 
                                Program
    I am requesting your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. 
The budget items and amounts requested in the President's budget for 
these programs are described below.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and 
environmental interests. The programs' objectives are to recover 
endangered fish species while water use and development proceeds in 
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The programs provide ESA 
compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects in the Upper Colorado 
River Basin, including every Reclamation project upstream of Lake 
Powell.
    Endangered Species Programs: The Endangered Species Program also 
provides $5.7 million for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River 
Endangered Fish Recovery programs for construction of facilities need 
to recover endangered fish species: $2,500,000 for construction of a 
fish barrier at the Farmer's Mutual Ditch diversion structure on the 
San Juan River in northwest New Mexico, $500,000 for floodplain habitat 
development in northwest New Mexico on the San Juan River, $2,550,000 
for rehabilitation of the fish screen and passage at the Grand Valley 
Irrigation Company diversion on the Colorado River near Grand Junction 
Colorado, and $150,000 for Upper Colorado Program Management for 
contracting, budgeting, reporting, contract administration, tracking 
expenditures, and addressing issues and concerns associated with 
capital project construction.
    Colorado River Compliance Activities: The President's budget 
requests $21,400,000 for Colorado River Compliance Activities that 
includes:
  --$8,640,000 for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish 
        Recovery Programs to restore critical habitat, enhance stream 
        flows, maintain fish ladders and screens, augment and 
        conservation of genetic integrity through hatcheries and 
        stocking efforts, manage non-native and sport fish, and 
        research and monitoring to provide the scientific basis to 
        guide decision making.
  --$11,360,000 for the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program for 
        scientific investigations, experimentation using Glen Canyon 
        Dam releases and other tasks required to increase understanding 
        of how to operate Glen Canyon Dam to meet statutory 
        requirements, and experimental flow research.
  --$1,400,000 for water quality and consumptive use studies to provide 
        data required to meet legal agreements that regulate the flow 
        and quality of the river and support consumptive use studies of 
        water for municipal, industrial, agricultural uses.
    This funding for the recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-
392, as amended.
    I appreciate the Subcommittee's past support and request the 
Subcommittee's assistance for fiscal year 2022 funding to ensure the 
Bureau of Reclamation's continuing financial participation in and 
provision of federal cost sharing for these vitally important programs.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Mike King, Chief External Affairs 
Officer.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of the WateReuse Association
    Thank you for providing the opportunity to submit written testimony 
on Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations. I write today on behalf of the 
WateReuse Association and its members to highlight the importance of 
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (USBR) Title XVI-WIIN Water 
Reclamation and Reuse Competitive Grants Program. The Title XVI-WIIN 
program has helped communities across the West build drought 
resilience, keep nutrients and other pollutants out of sensitive 
waterways, save billions of dollars relative to importing water, and 
grow sustainable economies. It is a key economic and climate resiliency 
tool, but is hamstrung by insufficient funding.
    Given the critical role that water recycling plays in water 
resources management and the overwhelming demand for projects as 
authorized in section 4009(c) of Public Law 114-322, we urge you to 
include at least $100 million for this program in Energy and Water 
Development appropriations legislation for FY 2022.
    The WateReuse Association is a not-for-profit trade association for 
water utilities, businesses, industrial and commercial enterprises, 
non-profit organizations, and research entities that engage in and on 
water recycling. WateReuse and its state and regional sections 
represent more than 200 water utilities serving over 60 million 
customers, and over 300 businesses and organizations across the 
country. Our mission is to engage our members in a movement for safe 
and sustainable water supplies, to promote acceptance and support of 
recycled water, and to advocate for policies and funding that increase 
water reuse.
    The USBR's Title XVI program is the only federal program with water 
reuse as its sole focus. Since Title XVI's inception in 1992, Congress 
has authorized 53 Title XVI recycling projects producing more than 
400,000 acre-feet of drought-resistant water supply. To date, Congress 
has appropriated over $700 million in federal funding, which has been 
leveraged with non-federal funding to implement more than $3.3 billion 
in water reuse improvements--a nearly 5:1 leverage ratio.
    In 2016, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation 
(WIIN) Act established a mechanism, colloquially known as Title XVI-
WIIN, to enable new projects to apply for competitive grants within 
Title XVI. Due to the popularity of Title XVI-WIIN in its first few 
years, the program now has a large and growing backlog exceeding $700 
million in federal cost share for eligible projects, and demand is 
expected to grow as more projects become eligible.
    Water projects funded through the Title XVI program have been used 
to increase the supply of fresh drinking water, generate sustainable 
irrigation water for landscaping and agricultural use, restore 
sensitive ecosystems, and help industries expand and create jobs, among 
other purposes. The program is not limited to the reuse of municipal 
wastewater--it also helps communities identify beneficial uses for 
industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater, as well as impaired 
ground and surface water. Investments through the Title XVI competitive 
grants program have helped both urban and rural communities across the 
West build a strong and secure economic future.
    A recent GAO report (GAO-19-110) highlighted a number of 
illustrative Title XVI projects. For example, program investments 
helped one drought-stricken water district in California develop 
infrastructure to use more than 2 billion gallons of recycled water to 
irrigate sports fields, golf courses, parks, school grounds, and 
medians. Another project is providing drought-resistant recycled water 
to farmers to irrigate 45,000 acres of farmland, reducing demand on the 
area's over-drafted groundwater basin. Other Title XVI projects have 
been used to prevent saltwater intrusion into aquifers, restore 
marshes, wetlands, and other habitat, and create potable drinking 
water.
    In addition to increasing funding for the Title XVI-WIIN program, 
we ask for your support in securing robust funding for USBR's 
Desalination and Water Purification Program in FY 2022. The 
Desalination Program invests in projects in Reclamation states that 
involve ocean or brackish water desalination. In the arid West, 
desalination is an important tool that can help communities increase 
their water supply.
    Thank you for considering our requests and please do not hesitate 
to reach out if you have any questions.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Greg Fogel, Policy Director, 
WateReuse 
Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the Western Governors' Association
    Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the 
Subcommittee, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) appreciates the 
opportunity to provide written testimony on the appropriations and 
activities of the federal agencies under the Subcommittee's 
jurisdiction, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Bureau of 
Reclamation (BOR), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WGA is an 
independent organization representing the Governors of the 22 
westernmost states and territories. The Association is an instrument of 
the Governors for bipartisan policy development, information-sharing 
and collective action on issues of critical importance to the western 
United States.
    The agencies within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction wield 
significant influence over the American West and the development of 
energy and water resources in the region. Western Governors recognize 
the importance of a close and productive working relationship between 
states and the federal government and understand that more effective 
intergovernmental cooperation depends on federal recognition of states 
as co-sovereigns and partners. The promotion of a greater partnership 
between states and the federal government is central to the mission of 
WGA and is reflected in WGA Policy Resolution 2021-01, Strengthening 
the State-Federal Relationship.
    States possess the primary legal authority for the allocation, 
management, protection and development of water resources within their 
borders. Congress and the federal judiciary have consistently and 
expressly recognized, and deferred to, this state authority. Federal 
policy must respect and preserve state authority to manage water, as 
well as recognize state law and the financial, environmental and social 
values of water resources to citizens of the western states.
    The following recommendations are intended to ensure that taxpayers 
realize a meaningful return on the investment of limited discretionary 
resources. This goal will be more readily achieved to the extent that 
federal agencies effectively leverage state authority, resources and 
expertise.
    State Authority Over Groundwater: States have exclusive authority 
over groundwater within their borders and are primarily responsible for 
protecting, managing, and otherwise controlling the resource. WGA 
encourages the Subcommittee to prohibit the use of appropriated funds 
for any activity that would, or has the potential to, usurp state 
authority over groundwater resources. Federal agencies must work with 
the states to address any groundwater-related needs and concerns. The 
federal government has long recognized the right to use water as 
determined under the laws of the various states; Western Governors 
value their partnerships with federal agencies as they operate under 
this established legal framework.
    Water Data: Western states need reliable information on the status, 
trends and projections of water availability. Accordingly, Western 
Governors support funding for improved predictive and adaptive 
capabilities for extreme weather variability and related effects, 
including improvements to sub-seasonal and seasonal precipitation and 
water supply forecasting. Forecasting improvements will better support 
water management decision-making and emergency preparedness. Data 
collection, monitoring and communications is most effective when 
coordinated across federal agencies and with state agencies.
    Water Infrastructure: The need for new water projects, as well as 
for improvements to aging water, wastewater and hydropower facilities, 
is becoming increasingly urgent. Infrastructure investments are 
essential to our nation's continued economic prosperity, electric 
generation capacity and environmental protection, and they assist 
states in meeting federally mandated environmental standards. The 
Subcommittee should continue to fully use receipts accruing to the 
Reclamation Fund for their intended purpose: the conservation, 
development and use of resources to meet western water-related needs. 
Western Governors support the construction of congressionally 
authorized BOR rural water projects and facilities that are part of 
congressionally authorized Indian water rights settlements.
    The Subcommittee can promote greater investment in water 
infrastructure by using such tools as loan guarantees, revolving funds, 
infrastructure banks, water trust funds, and the Water Infrastructure 
Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Western Governors urge that 
capital budgeting and asset management principles be used to determine 
funding priorities based on long-term sustainability and not annual 
incremental spending choices. Federal investments in infrastruture need 
to be supported by dedicated sources of funding and guided by 
appropriate financing, cost-sharing, pricing and cost recovery 
policies.
    Aquatic Invasive Species: The spread of invasive quagga and zebra 
mussels continues to be a major threat to western water resources. The 
containment of these invaders at infested waters in the West depends 
upon the collaboration and cooperation of federal, state and local 
agencies. Many state-led containment programs benefit from federal 
cooperation and funding. Western Governors request that the 
Subcommittee provide BOR with the necessary funding to collaborate with 
western states to contain the spread of aquatic invasive species in 
western waters.
    Waste Isolation Pilot Project: Continued funding for DOE's Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Transportation Safety Program is essential 
to the expeditious cleanup and disposal of transuranic (TRU) waste from 
U.S. nuclear weapons complex facilities in western states, including 
Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory in New 
Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and the 
Hanford Site in Washington. DOE must continue to provide sufficient and 
timely in-kind, financial, technical and other appropriate assistance 
to states and tribes through whose jurisdiction TRU waste will be 
transported. This assistance is integral to planning, developing and 
implementing the WIPP Transportation Safety Program. The safe and 
uneventful transportation of TRU waste is a priority of Western 
Governors, and WGA encourages the Subcommittee to provide adequate 
funding to ensure that the important work of the WIPP Transportation 
Safety Program continues.
    Energy: Western Governors support federal programs designed to: 
reduce reliance on oil imports by increasing North American production 
and improving fuel efficiency; develop renewable and alternative fuels; 
and increase innovation and application of energy storage. Congress 
should also: ensure adequate funding and resources for state emergency 
planning, response, and recovery; maintain funding for the State Energy 
Program (SEP), Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP), and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP); and provide appropriations for effective cybersecurity 
infrastructure, education, and workforce development programs. Congress 
should also refrain from advancing the interim storage of commercial 
nuclear waste through the appropriations process without requiring the 
consent of affected Governors. The Subcommittee can also help ensure 
that DOE and other agencies create opportunities for ongoing, 
substantive, and meaningful state consultation in the West-wide energy 
corridor process.
    Western Governors and federal agencies deal with a complex web of 
interrelated energy and water resource issues. It is an enormous 
challenge to judiciously balance competing needs in this environment, 
and Western Governors appreciate the difficulty of the decisions this 
Subcommittee must make. The foregoing recommendations are offered in a 
spirit of cooperation and respect, and WGA is prepared to assist you as 
the Subcommittee discharges its critical and challenging 
responsibilities.

    [This statement was submitted by James D. Ogsbury, Executive 
Director, Western Governors' Association.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the Western Resource Advocates
    Dear Chairman Feinstein and Senator Kennedy:
    We request your support for appropriations in the President's 
recommended budget for FY 2022 to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper 
Colorado Region, to fund the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 
Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation 
Program. The programs' goals are to recovery four species of endangered 
fish and provide ESA compliance for approximately 2,500 water projects 
in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
    These highly successful, cooperative programs are ongoing 
partnerships among the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and 
Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, hydropower and 
environmental interests. The conservation group Western Resource 
Advocates (WRA) has been a partner in the program for nearly twenty 
years.
    WRA requests full funding for these programs, including $5.7 
million in the FY22 budget request for capital construction activities 
through the Upper Colorado Region's Endangered Species Recovery 
Implementation Program. WRA also appreciates the Subcommittee's efforts 
since FY19 to fund environmental programs for the Colorado River at 
$21.4 million, a portion of which supports the Upper Colorado River 
Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery 
Implementation Program. WRA requests continued funding for these 
activities, at that level or above, in FY22. This funding for the 
recovery programs is authorized by P.L. 106-392, as amended.
    Sincerely.

    [This statement was submitted by Bart Miller, Healthy Rivers 
Program Director, Western Resource Advocates.]
                                 ______
                                 
         Prepared Statement of the Western States Water Council
    Chair Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the 
Subcommittee, on behalf of the Western States Water Council (WSWC) we 
welcome the opportunity to provide written testimony on federal agency 
activities and appropriations under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction. 
The WSWC is a government entity; an instrumentality of each and every 
participating state advising western governors of water policies and 
programs. Members are appointed and serve at the pleasure of their 
respective governors. The WSWC appreciates the opportunity to provide 
written testimony on activities and appropriations for the U.S. Bureau 
of Reclamation (USBR).
                            reclamation fund
    Recognizing the critical importance of water in the development of 
the West, the Congress passed the Reclamation Act on June 17, 1902 and 
provided monies ``reserved, set aside, and appropriated as a special 
fund in the Treasury to be known as the 'reclamation fund,' to be used 
in the examination and survey for and the construction and maintenance 
of irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and development of 
water for the reclamation of arid and semiarid land...'' in seventeen 
western states, to be continually invested and reinvested.
    The Council requests that the Subcommittee recommend fully 
appropriating the receipts and collections accruing to the Reclamation 
Fund, pursuant to the Reclamation Act and other acts, for their 
intended purpose in the continuing conservation, development and wise 
use of western resources to meet western water-related needs. ``Needs'' 
may include Reclamation project dam safety costs, financing 
extraordinary maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure 
(including transferred works), funding authorized rural water supply 
projects, and the construction of Reclamation facilities incorporated 
as part of a Congressionally approved Indian water right settlements. 
We also support an investigation of converting the Reclamation Fund to 
a true revolving trust fund.
    The Reclamation Fund was envisioned as the principal means to 
finance federal western water and power projects with revenues from 
western resources. Its receipts are derived from water and power sales, 
project repayments, certain receipts from public land sales, leases and 
rentals in the seventeen western states, as well as certain oil and 
mineral related royalties--but these receipts are only available for 
expenditure pursuant to annual appropriation acts. With receipts 
outpacing expenditures for authorized Reclamation purposes, the 
unobligated figure gets larger and larger, while the money is spent 
elsewhere for other federal purposes, contrary to the Congress' 
original intent. The actual unobligated balance at the start of FY2020 
was $17.668 billion, and was estimated to have been $17.689 billion at 
the beginning of FY2021 and $17.794 billion at the beginning of FY2022.
                      rural water supply projects
    The Council strongly supports funding to expedite construction of 
long-authorized Reclamation rural water supply projects in a timely 
manner, including projects that meet tribal trust and other federal 
responsibilities, while recognizing and continuing to defer to the 
primacy of western water laws and tribal settlements in allocating 
water among users. There are six authorized and active rural water 
projects located in Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South 
Dakota, of which five have yet to be completed at an estimated federal 
cost of around $898 million. Construction costs continue to increase 
due to delays, inflation and the rising costs of materials and labor. 
At current levels of funding, completion of some projects could be 
delayed by decades. There is a Federal responsibility to complete 
authorized rural water projects, particularly those intended to fulfill 
in part a solemn Federal promise and trust responsibility to compensate 
States and Tribes for lost resources as a result of the construction of 
federal flood control projects and other actions.
            project maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation
    The average age of Bureau of Reclamation dams is 70 years, with 
most requiring maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) estimated 
at $2.9 billion. We support federal investments and collaborative 
efforts in water-related infrastructure projects and programs that 
deliver adequate supplies of suitable quality water, and provide jobs 
and economic security, while protecting the environment. We also 
support dedicated federal water infrastructure funding. Reclamation 
operates hundreds of dams, reservoirs, and related infrastructure in 
the West, supplying water and power to millions of people, irrigating 
millions of acres for food and fiber, providing flood control and 
recreation, and supporting wildlife and habitat. The importance of 
these projects cannot be overstated.
    Many of Reclamation's facilities are nearing, or have already 
exceeded, their original design lives and are in need of MR&R, in order 
to minimize risk to public safety and continue to serve their 
authorized purposes. MR&R needs refer to both maintenance that has been 
deferred and future projections or anticipated maintenance, repair and 
rehabilitation work. Reclamation's existing funding, and the funding 
from non-federal partners, which operates two-thirds of Reclamation's 
infrastructure under contract, are not sufficient to address all MR&R 
needs. We support stable and continuous funding streams for 
maintenance, rehabilitation and repair of Reclamation dams and related 
infrastructure, as well as updated evaluations of priority needs
                               dam safety
    The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 provides Reclamation 
with authority to preserve and maintain the structural safety of dams 
under its stewardship. The WSWC supports ongoing coordination of state 
and federal efforts to strengthen dam safety programs. We support 
actions that provide stable and continuous federal funding streams for 
Reclamation dam safety work and related infrastructure.
                 forecast informed reservoir operations
    The WSWC supports the use of innovative and forecast informed 
reservoir operations by Reclamation and other public and private 
entities at all levels. This would help to maximize the effective and 
efficient use of our existing and future infrastructure to benefit our 
myriad and growing economic uses of water, while at the same time 
balancing and protecting our need for public health and safety, as well 
as a resilient and healthy environment.
                                 openet
    In the West, the predominant consumptive use of water is 
evapotranspiration (ET) from irrigation. The WSWC supports a $5M 
request under Reclamation's WaterSMART program for development of an 
Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET) software system and data platform 
through an operational use partnership (https://openetdata.org/). 
OpenET involves scientists from federal agencies and academic 
institutions using satellite and weather data to map evapotranspiration 
at the individual field scale. With these funds, Reclamation would be 
able to partner with the OpenET consortium and with a broad network of 
collaborators to refine, develop applications, and operationalize the 
use of OpenET, providing credible, transparent, automated, and easily 
accessible consumptive water use data across the West. No such system 
exists today. There is a need for developing new monitoring 
technologies that provide more timely data availability and more 
refined spatial coverage.
    Currently, access to satellite and ET data is limited and 
expensive, keeping it out of the hands of many water users and 
decision-makers. OpenET will allow water managers to assess how much 
water is being used via a cost-effective and easy-to-use web-based 
platform, filling a critical water data management gap.
                                agrimet
    We also support $1million in funding for Reclamation's Agrimet 
network of weather stations that provide data that serves as an 
important and efficient ground-truthing, calibration, and model 
validation tool for analysis of information products derived from 
satellite platforms such as OpenET. Agrimet provides basic data on 
precipitation, temperature, solar radiance, wind speed and humidity 
required to calculate reference ET and inform remote-sensing platforms. 
The Agrimet weather observing network suffers from the challenges of 
aging instrumentation infrastructure, deferred maintenance, need for 
technology upgrades, and funding that fails to keep up with these 
needs, making it difficult to maintain data continuity and coverage for 
users.
                                drought
    As the Subcommittee members are aware, much of the West is again in 
the grip of severe to exceptional drought. We support Reclamation's 
Drought Response Program, authorized under the Water Sustain and Manage 
America's Resources for Tomorrow (WaterSMART) program and the Science 
and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance 
(SECURE) Water Act, and urge the Subcommittee to provide funding for a 
comprehensive and coordinated national drought preparedness and 
response program on par with federal efforts to address other natural 
disasters.
                               hydropower
    We support reasonable hydropower projects and programs that enhance 
our electric generation capacity and promote economic development 
through streamlined permitting processes, while appropriately 
protecting environmental resources, consistent with States' law and 
certification authority under the Clean Water Act Section 401.
                       energy and water planning
    Finally, we support integrating water and energy program and 
project planning, including improved data on water and energy supply 
and demand, that promotes conservation and use efficiency while seeking 
to minimize economic, environmental, and other costs.
    Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony.

       LIST OF WITNESSES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PREPARED STATEMENTS

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Aclara Technologies, LLC, Prepared Statement of..................    75
American:
    Geophysical Union, Prepared Statement of the.................    78
    Indian Higher Education Consortium, Prepared Statement of the    79
    Society for Microbiology, Prepared Statement of the..........    81
    Society of Plant Biologists, Prepared Statement of the.......    83
Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Dry Prairie 
  Rural Water System, Prepared Statement of the..................    86
Aurora Water, Prepared Statements of 

Building Performance Association, E4TheFuture, and the Building 
  Performance Institute, Prepared Statement of the...............    89
Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Prepared Statement of 
  the............................................................    92

Carbon Utilization Research Council, Prepared Statement of the...    93
Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Prepared Statement 
  of the.........................................................    96
Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition, Prepared Statement of the.......    98
Collins, Senator Susan M., U.S. Senator From Maine, Questions 
  Submitted by...................................................    68
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control:
    Forum, Prepared Statement of the.............................   100
    Program, Prepared Statements of the 



Colorado River Board of California, Prepared Statement of the....   104
Colorado Springs Utilities, Prepared Statements of 



Colorado Water Congress, Prepared Statement of the...............   107
Columbia:
    Basin Development League, Prepared Statement of the..........   108
    River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Prepared Statement of the   109

Dolores Water Conservancy District, Prepared Statement of........   112

Edison Electric Institute, Prepared Statement of the.............   113
Electric Drive Transportation Association, Prepared Statement of 
  the............................................................   116
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Prepared Statement of the   118

Federal Energy Management Program, Prepared Statement of the.....   121
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 
  Prepared Statement of the......................................   122
Feinstein, Senator Dianne, U.S. Senator From California, Opening 
  Statements of 



Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association, Prepared Statement of 
  the............................................................   123

Grand Valley Water Users Association, Prepared Statement of the..   125
Granholm, Hon. Jennifer, Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
  Department of Energy...........................................    35
    Prepared Statement of........................................    40
    Questions Submitted to.......................................    67
    Summary Statement of.........................................    38

Hagerty, Senator Bill, U.S. Senator From Tennessee, Statements of



Hannon Armstrong, Prepared Statement of..........................   126
Hyde-Smith, Senator Cindy, U.S. Senator From Mississippi, 
  Statement of...................................................    37

Izaak Walton League of America, Prepared Statement of the........   129

Kennedy, Senator John, U.S. Senator From Louisiana, Statements of




Leahy, Senator Patrick, U.S. Senator from Vermont, Questions 
  Submitted by...................................................    71

Methane Action and Remineralize the Earth, Prepared Statement of.   131
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Prepared 
  Statement of the...............................................   133
Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, Prepared Statement of 
  the............................................................   135
Mni Wiconi Project, Prepared Statement of the....................   136

National:
    Association for State Community Services Programs, Prepared 
      Statement of the...........................................   139
    Association of State Energy Officials, Prepared Statement of 
      the........................................................   142
    Hydropower Association, Prepared Statement of the............   145
    Marine Manufacturers Association, Prepared Statement of the..   147
    Water Resources Association, Prepared Statement of the.......   149
Nature Conservancy, Prepared Statement of The....................   151
Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, Prepared Statement of the......   154

Oregon Water Resources Congress, Prepared Statement of the.......   156

Palumbo, Mr. David, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Bureau of 
  Reclamation, Department of the Interior........................    14
    Prepared Statement of........................................    15
Pearl Certification, Prepared Statement of.......................   158
Pinkham, Mr. Jamie, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil 
  Works), Department of Defense--Civil...........................     1
    Prepared Statement of........................................     8
    Summary Statement of.........................................     5

San Juan Water Commission, Prepared Statement of.................   159
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Prepared 
  Statement of the...............................................   160
Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Prepared Statement of the.............   162
Southwestern Water Conservation District, Prepared Statement of 
  the............................................................   163
Spellmon, Lieutenant General Scott A., Chief of Engineers and 
  Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...............    10
    Prepared Statement of........................................    11

Tester, Senator Jon, U.S. Senator From Montana, Statement of.....     5
Tri-County Water Conservancy District, Prepared Statement of the.   164

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San 
  Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program, Prepared 
  Statement of the...............................................   165

Verdon, Dr. Charles P., Acting Under Secretary of Energy for 
  Nuclear Security and Acting Administrator for the National 
  Nuclear Security Administration................................    35
    Questions Submitted to.......................................    74

WateReuse Association, Prepared Statement of the.................   166
Western:
    Governors' Association, Prepared Statement of the............   167
    Western Resource Advocates, Prepared Statement of the........   168
    Western States Water Council, Prepared Statement of the......   169

                             SUBJECT INDEX

                              ----------                              

                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL

                         Department of the Army

                       Corps of Engineers--Civil

                                                                   Page

Construction Program.............................................    12
Emergency Management.............................................    12
Investigations Program...........................................    12
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program..........................    12
Regulatory Program...............................................    12
Reimbursable Program.............................................    13

                               __________

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                        Office of the Secretary

Additional Committee Questions...................................    66
Advanced Manufacturing...........................................    69
American Jobs Plan, The..........................................    41
Cybersecurity....................................................    68
Energy Storage...................................................    68
Fiscal Year 2022 President's Budget Request......................    42
Offshore Wind....................................................    69
Renewable Fuel Standard//Small Refinery Exemptions...............    67

                               __________

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                         Bureau of Reclamation

Account Level Details............................................    18
California Bay-Delta Restoration Fund: $33,000,000...............    19
Central:
    Utah Protection Completion Act (CUPCA).......................    20
    Valley Project Restoration Fund (CVPRF): $56,499,000.........    19
Policy and Administration: $64,400,000...........................    20
Water and Related Resources--$1,379,050,000......................    18

                               [all]