>> chairwoman murkowski, members of the committee, senator gardner quoting from that self-same policy resolution 2014-03, infrastructure planning and permitting guidelines, rules, and regulations should be coordinated, streamlined and sufficiently flexible to allow for timely decisionmaking in the design financing and construction of needed infrastructure, account for regional differences, balance economic and environmental consideration, and minimize the cost of compliance. >> i think there's three legs of the stool to a sound water policy. number one is increased water storage. number two is critical conservation, what we can do to conserve more water, become more water efficient. number three is, that federal, state, local partnership to make sure we are taking advantage of every opportunity we can to conserve, to store additional water. and i mention those other projects. one other project mr. connor, i wanted to ask you about. i had a great conversation with jennifer gymble who spent significant time at the colorado water conservation board now with the department of interior. we

as you heard again from german murkowski -- chairman of murkowski and mr. connor reclamation is estimated that supply shortages could be in effect as early as 20162070. central valley project water deliveries have been significantly cut back affecting junior and senior water users fish and wildlife resources recreation and other industry. smaller projects are also challenged by drought and are experiencing water delivery cutbacks. the basin is example. although there are wide range of options for addressing drought the federal rule in implementing options is not always clear-cut. options often discussed can be categorized as follows. supply driven options that can be demand driven those that involve the governance our institutional structures and those that fund research planning and monitoring activities of support state and local effort. all of these all of these options have their pros and cons and involve trade-offs. for example developing construction of surface and groundwater storage projects may provide more water and opportunity for supply and dema

>> it's not necessarily viewed equally, chairman murkowski. it depends on the contractual language. and the vast majority of contracts contain what is called a shortage clause. and that clause depending on its language but the majority have interpreted to say shortages to contracted amounts due to drought and even regulatory requirements result in reclamation not having to deliver that quantity of water. there are some contracts where the language is different and that has not been told be the case. >> let's use a specific example. i was in the central valley in california and all the discussion there is about release to provide for the delta smelt. in that situation, is that one where the -- where the statutory requirement to protect the smelt overrides the legal contract, again, with the bureau to -- for water for users? >> it is the statutory regulatory requirements as manifested in biological opinions are legal requirements that the bureau has to comply with in part of making water decisions. >> how, then, as we're trying to gather the data to better understand whether we're mak

as you've heard again from chairman murkowski and mr. conner as well reclamation has estimated that supply shortages for the colorado could be in effect as early as 2016 and 2017. meanwhile, central valley project water deliveries, we've also heard have been significantly cut back affecting junior and senior water users fish and wildlife resources, recreation and other industries. smaller reclamation projects are also challenged by drought and experiencing water delivery cut backs. again, we've heard more of that today today. although there are wide range of options for addressing drought, the federal rule in implementing options is not always clear cut. options often discussed can be categorized as follows. they're supply driven options they can be demand driven, those that involve new governance are institutional structures and those that monitor activities that support state and local efforts. all of these options have their pros and cons and involve tradeoffs. for example, developing or augments supplies through construction of surfa

welcome. >> thank you chairwoman murkowski, ranking member cantwell. i'm the executive director of the western governors association, an independent nonpartisan organization representing the governors of 19 western states and three u.s. territories. it is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the critical issue of drought. well over a year ago nevada governor and current chairman of wga brian sandoval announced his attention to devote his energies as chairman of wga as critical issues of drought. this applauded by the western governors because as an issue it speaks to the strengths of wga. it's timely actionable it's bipartisan. it's a top priority of our governors. and unfortunately it's a perennial concern in the west. it's designed by governor sandoval the western governors drought forum is an effort that speaks to the pragmatic nature of governors who as chief executives are focused on practical common sense solutions to state and regional challenges. i will not belabor the severity of the present drought or its impacts. you and other witn

murkowski: thank you madam president. i also want to speak to how the wotus rule impacts the development of hydropower in the state of alaska. we're looking to find energy solutions, green energy solutions. hydropower is huge for us. alaska has nearly 300 prime locations for hydrodevelopment, nearly 200 in southeast alaska alone, but many of them require the construction of power houses or transmission lines that may rest on wetlands or cross wetlands as defined by the new rule and that's now a big problem. so a good example of this is crater lake near the community of cordova. this is a fishing community down in prince william sound. crater lake is at an elevation of 1,600 feet. it's straight up from the ocean. cordova has been looking at this small hydroopportunity to -- to advance their energy solutions. it's clean it's renewable it's carbon free, it's no fish issues so this is perfect for them. prior to wotus, it was anticipated that it would be about a 12 to 18-month process to permit this small hydroproject. with th

murkowski: thank you. i would request my interns jessica mcnaughton and holly o'brien be be given floor privileges for the balance of the day. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. murkowski: thank you mr. president. when we talk about security issues and the vulnerability we have as a nation, i can think of no other area where we face such challenges and yet such opportunities as when it comes to our energy assets and how we can utilize our energy policies in the intersect with national security. the united states' inability to export oil is a vulnerability to us as a nation. at a time when we have risen to be the world's top producer of oil, our outdated 1970's-era ban on oil exports is causing us to miss out to miss out on a significant energy economic and security-related field of benefits. and, mr. president the good news is, is that we can change this. it's within our power to change that, and that's why i've come to the floor this afternoon. here's a fact: the united states is the only, the

>> chair woman murkowski. quoting from that policy resolution, 2014-03. infrastructure planning and permitting guidelines, rules and regulations, should be coordinated stream lined and flexible to allow for decision making in the design financing and construction of needed infrastructure, account for regional differences, balance economic and environmental considerations and minimize the cost of compliance. >> i think there's three legs of the stool to a sound water policy. number one is increased water storage as we see we need. number two is it critical conservation. what we can do to become more water efficient. number three is with the department of interjor. we spoke about the something that was authorized under president kennedy. has received funding over the past several years, but thousand, now, we've hit the point where we need to move forward or figure out a different way, but the funding issues need to be revolvesolved so we can build this pipeline. what specific actions do the bureau what specific actions did the bureau like to sea at the loca

colleagues who have joined me in this effort, but i particularly want to single out senator lisa murkowski from alaska. she has been a co-champion and a copartner. she sees the same issues among alaska natives as i see among the plains indians in my state and we have named this bill after two great educational and spiritual leaders of our states. in my case, my bill is named after alice spotted bear, former tribal chairwoman of the ricra nation in north dakota. alice was a passionate advocate for native children and a recognized leader in education. unfortunately, she passed away much too soon, but i know her spirit is here in this bill, and i look forward to getting this bill passed in the house of representatives. i i look forward to the report and all of us pulling in the same direction to make sure all of our children are protected all of our children are loved and all of our children are given equal opportunity including those children in native american homes and those children in indian country. thank you mr. chairman. with that i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presi

amendments be called up and agreed to en bloc: mccain 1974, as modified 2047 as a second-degree; murkowski 2030; vitter 1472, as modified; daines 1890, coats 1705; flake 1720; gardner 1708; enzi 1980; paul 1678; hatch 1811, fisher 1825 king, 2020, menendez 2050, as modified, coons 1474, murphy 1901 warren 1902, blumenthal 1563 durbin 1703, tester 1944, as modified; casey 1747; schatz 2006 leahy 1931, ayotte 2011, ben.net 1916. these roadblock agreed to by both sides and i want to thank all members for agreement of this package. i am a sorry it's not larger, but it is equally divided between both sides of the aisle. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. mccain: i ask unanimous consent that all postcloture time on h.r. 1735 expire at 1:45 p.m. today with the time equally divided between the managers or their designees for debate only. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. mccain: madam president, i had asked the members of the committee to convene in the president's room at 1:30, if they would because there is a portion of the bill, the