00:00Thank you, Senator. Thank you for taking the gavel there. We're all running back and forth today.
00:06So, Senator Kelly, you're up. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Tell, good seeing you again. Thanks
00:12for coming by my office. I want to talk about some priority infrastructure projects that we
00:18have in Arizona. First, as we discussed in my office, we talked about Winslow, the Winslow
00:26levy project. The Army Corps of Engineers is constructing this new levy system that will
00:31remove the town of Winslow from a hundred-year floodplain. This project's authorized and it's
00:37fully funded under the bipartisan infrastructure law, and they have the local match. Will you
00:45commit to ensuring that the Corps moves as quickly as possible to complete this infrastructure project?
00:51Senator, of course, if confirmed, I'll follow the law and work with you and your constituents to
00:58make sure we provide that facility as quickly as we possibly can. Thank you. And then second,
01:02in last year's Word of Bill, we secured some new emergency authorities for the Army Corps to ensure
01:09that the Corps can exercise your regulatory authorities differently in regions experiencing drought. What
01:16I'm talking about are the flood control curves that we discussed. These changes have the potential to
01:21save hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water in certain years in the West. Will you commit to
01:29working with my office to ensure that the Corps' implementation guidance reflects congressional intent so
01:36the Corps moves quickly to respond to conditions in drought-stricken regions? Senator Kelly,
01:44thank you for the question. As I've testified today on a number of occasions, the primary missions of
01:50the Corps of Engineers are navigation, flood control, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. Water supply can be
01:56a secondary mission of the Corps, but I think I would point out the provision that you worked to include
02:02in a recent WERDA bill that said in times of drought emergency, there could be an exception made to that
02:08policy. I think it makes sense, especially for communities in areas like your state that at
02:16times can be so desperate for water. And so I look forward to working with you to make sure that we
02:21follow the law and get that provision implemented, the guidance and the rulemakings and other processes
02:28that are required to bring that to bear. I look forward to working with you to make sure we get it right.
02:32Thank you. And then finally, we also talked about Rio de Flag, which is a another flooding issue in Flagstaff, Arizona.
02:42And so we've got this project. It's downtown Flagstaff. It's been funded. Phase one of the projects should be
02:50ready for construction next year. But we may run into a issue with the 902 limit. If a post-authorization change
02:59report is required for this project, will you commit to working with the city of Flagstaff to find a way
03:04to continue advancing phase one of the project without delay? Senator, thank you for the question.
03:10And I look forward to learning more about the change that you describe and certainly across the board,
03:16as has been discussed on numerous occasions here today, and the senator right before you made the
03:22point that time is money. And I'm sure that's the case in this project too. So I look forward to working
03:27with you and I commit to doing everything we can to get it right, even with changes.
03:32And if a packer is required, will you commit to ensuring that the report is complete completed as
03:40quickly as possible so that it's provided to Congress in time for word of 2026? Senator, thank you.
03:46Thank you for that question as well. And this is another topic that I think I've heard on a bipartisan
03:52basis is of interest, which is even if we whether we like the answer you're going to give us or not,
03:57give us an answer. And I believe in that. And so I look forward to trying to be transparent and clear
04:04with you about the progress of the projects of interest to you. And so that even if the answer
04:09is not something that you would have preferred, you can potentially work to mitigate the concerns
04:15that may exist. Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tell. And then Mr. McMaster,
04:21thanks for coming by my office as well. When we met, we discussed this 22nd Street Bridge project
04:26in Tucson. It's a classic example of the type of project which Congress on a bipartisan basis
04:34intended to fund when we passed the bipartisan infrastructure law. This project replaces this
04:40aging bridge over Union Pacific's main rail line that goes east to west through Tucson. And right now,
04:47the bridge is in such poor shape that as we talked about school buses, ambulances don't go over it.
04:52We, the city of Tucson has submitted a draft grant agreement to the Federal Highways Administration for
05:02their review, which included all of the NEPA documents and utility and right-of-way clearances,
05:08yet the city has not yet received any feedback on this submitted documentation since December,
05:13and they have not been able to meet with anybody. And I know you're not in the building yet,
05:19but anybody with the staff. But if confirmed, will you commit to prioritizing completing finalized grant
05:26agreements that have been caught up in this haphazardly implemented funding freeze like the 22nd
05:34Street Bridge? Yes, Senator. I appreciated the conversation in your office. I will commit to you
05:40that I look forward to supporting the Secretary and his efforts to move these projects from award to
05:44agreement as quickly and expeditiously as possible. Lives and money are impacted with any possible
05:51delay. As it relates to this specific project, I look forward to following up the Federal Highway
05:54Administration on the current status of that effort, and then I will follow up with you directly
05:58afterwards. And will you also commit that your office will follow the law and implement any other
06:05discretionary grant programs as Congress intended? I commit to following the law with the intent of
06:11Congress. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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