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FEDERALhearing transcript

2017 Budget Hearing: Bureau of Reclamation

Original title: ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2017

January 1, 2016

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing sets the stage for how federal funds are allocated to manage water and power infrastructure in the western United States, which directly impacts agricultural, industrial, and municipal water access.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Western United States residents

Residents rely on the Bureau of Reclamation for municipal, industrial, and agricultural water and power supplies.

Bureau of Reclamation

The agency must operate within the budget constraints and policy directives set by the appropriations committee.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript from a 2016 House hearing regarding the fiscal year 2017 budget request for the Bureau of Reclamation. The hearing focused on the challenges of maintaining aging water and power infrastructure while balancing environmental requirements and limited federal funding.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on February 11, 2016, to discuss the fiscal year 2017 budget request for the Bureau of Reclamation.
  • The Bureau of Reclamation is tasked with managing aging infrastructure while meeting new environmental requirements for fish runs and habitat restoration.
  • The subcommittee chairman noted that the Bureau's budget has not seen a significant increase in several years.
  • Commissioner Estevan R. Lopez and Director Robert Wolf were the primary witnesses representing the Bureau of Reclamation.
  • The Bureau is required to submit responses to questions for the record within four weeks of receipt.
  • Members of the subcommittee were given until the close of business on February 11, 2016, to submit additional questions for the record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bureau of Reclamation's primary challenge according to the hearing?
The Bureau faces the challenge of maintaining aging infrastructure while simultaneously meeting new environmental requirements and managing water resources with a stagnant budget.
What was the purpose of this hearing?
The purpose was to review the fiscal year 2017 budget request and discuss the agency's accomplishments and operational challenges.

Why It Matters

The hearing sets the stage for how federal funds are allocated to manage water and power infrastructure in the western United States, which directly impacts agricultural, industrial, and municipal water access.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Infrastructure Maintenance Focus

The hearing highlights a shift from the historical focus on building new infrastructure to the current necessity of maintaining aging systems.

Connected Entities

personEstevan R. LopezCommissioner of the Bureau of ReclamationMap →
personMichael K. SimpsonChairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water DevelopmentMap →
personRobert WolfDirector of Program and Budget OfficeMap →
organizationBureau of ReclamationFederal agency responsible for water and power infrastructureMap →
organizationCommittee on AppropriationsHouse committee overseeing federal spendingMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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