Hill Heat

The purpose of the subcommittee hearing is to receive testimony from the following witnesses on the following bills.

Witnesses:

• David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Terry Turpin, Director, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Legislation:

• S. 1034, A bill to establish the Southwestern Power Administration Fund, and for other purposes. (Moran).
• S. 1242, A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out watershed pilots, and for other purposes. (Wyden).
• S. 2437/H.R. 3857, A bill to amend the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Authorization Act to reauthorize the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program, and for other purposes. (Hickenlooper).
• S. 2753, A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to authorize certain extraordinary operation and maintenance work for urban canals of concern. (Risch).
• S. 3409, A bill to reaffirm that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel, ensuring long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species in the Yellowstone River while protecting the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project and District from undue financial and operational burdens, and for other purposes. (Daines).
• S. 3500, A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to annually submit to Congress a report on the status of ongoing hydropower relicensing applications. (Cortez Masto).
• S. 3518, A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to address certain alterations in, and the maintenance and repair of, project works, to provide for the licensing of micro hydrokinetic energy projects, and for other purposes. (Murkowski).
• S. 3635, A bill to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000. (Daines).
• S. 3684, A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize water power research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities, and for other purposes. (Murkowski).
• S. 3693, A bill to extend the authorization for a large-scale water recycling and reuse grant program. (Cortez Masto).
• S. 3723, A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System, and for other purposes. (Thune).
• S. 3725, A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis and Clark Water System, Inc. (doing business as “Lewis & Clark Regional Water System”), in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. (Thune).
• S. 3732, A bill to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to authorize assistance under the storage program, and for other purposes. (Gallego).
• S. 3736, A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in the States of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and for other purposes. (Rounds).
• S. 3737, A bill to amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible entities for the conduct of innovative approaches to voluntary water partnership agreements among multiple water users and projects conducted by individual agricultural entities, and for other purposes. (Padilla).
• S. 3738, A bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the large-scale water recycling and reuse program, to establish a Water Conveyance Improvement Program, and for other purposes. (Padilla).
• S. 3743, A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and for other purposes. (Lee).
• S. 3792, A bill to provide for the establishment of a Water Project Navigators Program, and for other purposes. (Hickenlooper).
• S. 4040, A bill to amend Public Law 89-108 to modify the authorization of appropriations for State and Tribal, municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies, and for other purposes. (Hoeven).
• S. 4041, A bill to reauthorize the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, and for other purposes. (Daines).

WITNESSES

03/17/2026 at 10:00AM

Subcommittee hearing.

• Day 1, Morning | Afternoon
• Day 2, Morning | Afternoon

Witnesses:

• Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Michael Fairbanks, Chairman, White Earth Nation
• Virgil Wind, Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
• Grant Johnson, Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community
• Bruce Savage, Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Austin Lowes, Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
• Winnay Wemigwase, Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
• John Johnson, President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Jason Schlender, Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
• Whitney Gravelle, President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority
• Aja DeCoteau, Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
• Ashton Picard, Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe
• Donna Thompson, Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
• Chief Allan, Chairman, Coeur d’Alene Tribe
• Stacy Shepherd, Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Audrey Rose Lee, Principal Chief, Sac and Fox Nation
• Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule, Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe
• Kirk Francis, President, United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund
• Brian Harris, Chief, Catawba Nation
• Vivian Korthuis, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents
• Kristina Andrew, Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council
• Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community
• Derrick W. Leslie, Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe
• Duane Clarke, Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona

03/17/2026 at 09:00AM

The Committee on Rules will meet Monday, March 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measures:

• H.R. 1958 – Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify that aliens who have been convicted of defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits are inadmissible and deportable
• H.R. 4638 – Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act of 2025, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien who has been convicted of harming animals used in law enforcement is inadmissible and deportable
• H.R. 556 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (Text, Committee Report)

H.R. 556, the ‘‘Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025,’’ would undermine science-based wildlife conservation by prohibiting federal land managers from regulating lead ammunition and tackle—known pollutants that have devastated wildlife populations across the United States. This legislation ignores decades of scientific evidence demonstrating that lead ammunition and fishing tackle pose grave threats to over 130 species, including iconic birds like bald eagles, California condors, and common loons.

The scientific consensus is clear: when lead ammunition is used in hunting, bullets fragment and contaminate gut piles that scavenger animals consume, while lead fishing tackle is mistaken for food or grit by waterbirds. It takes only tiny amounts of lead to kill large birds, making this a significant conservation concern on federal lands specifically managed to protect wildlife.

Rather than supporting evidence-based land management, H.R. 556 would strip federal agencies of their fundamental authority to regulate pollutants on lands under their stewardship. This legislation would effectively handcuff land managers from protecting wildlife on National Wildlife Refuges—areas explicitly managed with the mission of conserving wildlife. By requiring agencies to prove that wildlife population declines are ‘‘primarily caused’’ by lead ammunition in each specific management unit, the bill would create an impossibly high and cost-prohibitive standard that most land units lack the budget or staff capacity to meet.

Ironically, as written, this bill could also preempt the authority of states to limit the use of lead in hunting or fishing. At least 38 states currently have lead ammunition and tackle restrictions in place, demonstrating that this is not a federal overreach but a widespread conservation strategy. States like Arizona, New Hampshire, Maine, and Minnesota have demonstrated remarkable success with lead fishing tackle bans, protecting wildlife while ensuring continued access for sportsmen and women through gear exchange programs, non-lead materials discounts, and incentives for lead removal.

By blocking federal agencies from using the best available science to make determinations about lead restrictions, this bill prioritizes ideology over evidence and threatens the long-term stewardship of our public lands and wildlife. The legislation could have numerous unintended consequences, including forcing land closures to protect species that could otherwise be managed through targeted lead restrictions.

This bill represents a dangerous step backward for wildlife conservation at a time when we should be building on the proven success of existing lead reduction programs. Rather than addressing the documented impacts of lead on wildlife, H.R. 556 would make conservation and management more difficult while undermining the very lands and wildlife that provide hunting and fishing opportunities for future generations.

Previous analyses have shown no significant price difference between lead-free and lead-core ammunition in popular calibers, with annual cost differences for anglers of only $5–25 per year 3—comparable to other minor hunting expenses. In contrast, the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs on imported metals and ammunition components are driving up costs for all ammunition—both lead and non-lead—making the modest price differences between ammunition types a negligible concern compared to the broader affordability crisis facing sportsmen and women.

The robust body of scientific literature supporting lead restrictions reflects decades of research and successful implementation. H.R. 556 ignores this evidence and sets a troubling precedent for politics to override science in federal land management decisions, ultimately threatening both wildlife conservation and sustainable hunting and fishing opportunities.

03/16/2026 at 04:00PM

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee executive session on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. ET (approx.) to consider the following nominations:

Agenda:

• Matthew Anderson, of Colorado, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Michael Graham, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
• Richard Kloster, of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board
• Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology
• Arvind Raman, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Coast Guard Promotions (PN 716, PN 769, PN 846)

The nomination hearing for Seval Oz took place on July 23rd. Oz was Head of Global Strategic Partnerships for Google [X]’s Self-Driving Car Program from 2011 to 2014, where she supported business and marketing efforts for the initiative that later became Waymo. Oz recently served on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc., an advanced driver-assistance systems software company. She is Mehmet Oz’s sister. A vote on her nomination had been been scheduled for October, November, and December but was repeatedly delayed. She was renominated in January.

Mike Graham is a current member of the NTSB, appointed in Trump’s first term. His nomination hearing took place on September 17th. A vote on his nomination had been been scheduled for October, November, and December but was repeatedly delayed. He was renominated in January.

The nomination hearing for Richard Kloster took place on November 6th. Kloster, a Republican, is president and founder of Integrity Rail Partners, Inc., a consultant on railroads and rail equipment based in Charles Town, W. Va. Kloster is on the executive board of the National Industrial Transportation League shipper trade group, as well as the board of the Railway Supply Institute. His nomination lapsed at the end of the year, and he was renominated in January.

The nomination hearing for Anderson and Raman took place on March 5th.

Anderson is a corporate Space Force lobbyist.

As the dean of Purdue Engineering, Raman has been actively involved in CHIPS Act investments in Indiana and new collaborations with the Silicon Valley industry. NIST is currently roiled by new Trump rules barring hundreds of foreign scientists from working at the federal institute. Raman immigrated from India to attend Purdue for his graduate studies.

03/12/2026 at 11:30AM

Oversight hearing on “Examining Federal Policies Governing Indian Water Rights Settlements,” and legislative hearing to receive testimony on S. 953, Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025.

The $5 billion package to “secure water rights for Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribal members in northeastern Arizona and to give the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe a reservation” is a re-introduction of the same bill from 2024, which died at the end of that year after a furious last-ditch effort.

On paper, tribal nations in the Colorado River basin have senior rights to about one-fourth of the Colorado River’s water.

03/11/2026 at 02:30PM

Full committee business meeting.

Nominees:

• Dr. Wesley Brooks, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
• William “Billy” Long, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland
• Robert Sweeney, of Texas, to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the Rank of Ambassador

Added nominees:

• Frank Garcia, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs)
• Lee Lipton, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines
• Asel Roberts, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Slovenia
• Troy Edgar of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador
• Jared Novelly, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Niue

The nomination hearing was February 12th. Fellow nominee Jeremy Carl’s nomination was stalled by bipartisan opposition to his overt white supremacism.

03/11/2026 at 10:30AM

On Wednesday, March 11, at 10:00 a.m., U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, will hold a hearing to examine S. 3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act, to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to authorize manufacturers of certain vehicles to suspend engine derate or shutdown functions in prolonged cold weather conditions.

Witnesses:

• Ryan Anderson, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• Todd Fornstrom, President, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• John Walke, Director for Clear Air Programs and Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council

03/11/2026 at 10:00AM

Full committee hearing.

Witnesses:

• Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Greene County, GA
• Scott Metzger, President, American Soybean Association, Williamsport, OH
• Cathy Burns, CEO, International Fresh Produce Association
• Jed Bower, President, National Corn Growers Association, Washington Court House, OH
• Nathan Reed, Chairman, National Cotton Council, Marianna, AR
• Matt Perdue, President, North Dakota Farmers Union, Ray, ND

03/10/2026 at 03:00PM

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing to consider nominations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Nominees:

• Matthew Anderson, of Colorado, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Arvind Raman, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Anderson is a corporate Space Force lobbyist.

As the dean of Purdue Engineering, Raman has been actively involved in CHIPS Act investments in Indiana and new collaborations with the Silicon Valley industry. NIST is currently roiled by new Trump rules barring hundreds of foreign scientists from working at the federal institute. Raman immigrated from India to attend Purdue for his graduate studies.

03/05/2026 at 10:00AM

On Wednesday, March 4, at 10:00 a.m., U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, will hold a hearing to examine a discussion draft of S.__ the Toxic Substances Control Act Fee Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2026

The House Energy and Commerce’s Environment subcommittee held a related hearing on January 22.

• Toxic Substances Control Act Fee Reauthorization and Improvement Act Discussion Draft

The proposed TSCA Fee Reauthorization and Improvement Act introduces higher evidentiary standards, such as a “more likely than not” threshold for regulating toxic risks, which could hinder the EPA from taking action against harmful chemicals. The draft also narrows the scope of risk reviews to manufacturer-defined uses, limits worker protections by restricting the EPA from assuming noncompliance with outdated OSHA standards, and introduces fast-track exemptions that prioritize industry data.

03/04/2026 at 10:05AM