Business meeting to consider the nominations of William L. Doffermyre, of Texas, to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, and Catherine Jereza, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary (Electricity), and Kyle Haustveit, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary (Fossil Energy), both of the Department of Energy; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine the nominations of Jonathan Brightbill, of Virginia, to be General Counsel, Tina Pierce, of Idaho, to be Chief Financial Officer, and Conner Prochaska, of Texas, to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, all of the Department of Energy, and Ned Mamula, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.

1[Senate Hearing 119-120]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                        S. Hrg. 119-12056                     BRIGHTBILL, PIERCE, PROCHASKA,7                         AND MAMULA NOMINATIONS89=======================================================================1011                                HEARING1213                               BEFORE THE1415                              COMMITTEE ON16                      ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES17                          UNITED STATES SENATE1819                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2021                             FIRST SESSION2223                                   to2425 CONSIDER THE NOMINATIONS OF JONATHAN BRIGHTBILL TO BE GENERAL COUNSEL26OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, TINA PIERCE TO BE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER27  OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CONNER PROCHASKA TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE28ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, AND NED29MAMULA TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE30                                INTERIOR3132                               __________3334                              MAY 14, 202535                               __________3637               [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3839                       Printed for the use of the40               Committee on Energy and Natural Resources4142        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov43                                ______4445                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE464761-236                    WASHINGTON : 20264849               COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES5051                        MIKE LEE, Utah, Chairman52JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming               MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico53JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho                RON WYDEN, Oregon54STEVE DAINES, Montana                MARIA CANTWELL, Washington55TOM COTTON, Arkansas                 MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii56DAVID McCORMICK, Pennsylvania        ANGUS S. KING, Jr., Maine57JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia      CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada58BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana              JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado59CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi        ALEX PADILLA, California60LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska               RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona61JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota6263                  Wendy Baig, Majority Staff Director64            Patrick J. McCormick III, Majority Chief Counsel65                 Jasmine Hunt, Minority Staff Director66                 Sam E. Fowler, Minority Chief Counsel6768                            C O N T E N T S6970                              ----------7172                           OPENING STATEMENTS7374                                                                   Page75Lee, Hon. Mike, Chairman and a U.S. Senator from Utah............     176Heinrich, Hon. Martin, Ranking Member and a U.S. Senator from77  New Mexico.....................................................     47879                               WITNESSES8081Brightbill, Jonathan, nominated to be General Counsel of the82  Department of Energy...........................................     783Pierce, Tina, nominated to be Chief Financial Officer of the84  Department of Energy...........................................    1185Prochaska, Conner, nominated to be Director of the Advanced86  Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy..........    1587Mamula, Ned, nominated to be Director of the U.S. Geological88  Survey, Department of the Interior.............................    198990          ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED9192American Conservation Coalition et al.:93    Letter for the Record........................................    6594Brightbill, Jonathan:95    Opening Statement............................................     796    Written Testimony............................................     997    Responses to Questions for the Record........................    4798Heinrich, Hon. Martin:99    Opening Statement............................................     4100King, Jr., Hon. Angus S.:101    Inside Climate News article entitled ``USGS Water Data102      Centers May Soon Close, Threatening States' Water103      Management'' by Wyatt Myskow, published on April 29, 2025..    37104    Science.org article entitled ``Trump Swings Budget Ax at USGS105      Biology Research'' by Erik Stokstad, published on April 18,106      2025.......................................................    41107Lee, Hon. Mike:108    Opening Statement............................................     1109Mamula, Ned:110    Opening Statement............................................    19111    Written Testimony............................................    21112    Responses to Questions for the Record........................    56113National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association:114    Letter for the Record........................................    67115Pierce, Tina:116    Opening Statement............................................    11117    Written Testimony............................................    13118    Responses to Questions for the Record........................    51119Prochaska, Conner:120    Opening Statement............................................    15121    Written Testimony............................................    17122    Responses to Questions for the Record........................    53123124                     BRIGHTBILL, PIERCE, PROCHASKA,125                         AND MAMULA NOMINATIONS126127                              ----------128129                        WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025130131                                       U.S. Senate,132                 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,133                                                    Washington, DC.134    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in Room135SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Mike Lee, Chairman136of the Committee, presiding.137138              OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE LEE,139                     U.S. SENATOR FROM UTAH140141    The Chairman. This is the seventh hearing for this Congress142on this Committee, and we are going to hear testimony today143from four distinguished Americans who have been nominated by144President Trump for senior offices within our Committee's145jurisdiction, one at the Department of the Interior and three146at the Department of Energy. I am grateful to the President for147sending us all of these nominees.148    First, we will hear from Mr. Jonathan Brightbill. He has149been nominated to be the General Counsel of the Department of150Energy. The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the151Department, providing legal counsel and advice to the Secretary152and other officers at the Department, as well as its many153components, ensuring that the Department carries out its duties154and responsibilities in accordance with the law. Attorneys from155the General Counsel's Office represent the Department in156various matters and work in partnership with attorneys in the157Department of Justice to represent the Department of Energy158whenever it ends up in court. The General Counsel's team also159assists in drafting and reviewing legislation, regulations, and160contracts, as well as upholding the Department's ethical161obligations.162    Mr. Brightbill is a partner at Winston and Strawn LLP, and163happens to be the chair of the firm's environmental litigation164and enforcement practice. From 2017 to 2021, he served in the165Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources166Division, known as ENRD, successively as Deputy Assistant167Attorney General, Principal Assistant Attorney General, and168Acting Assistant Attorney General. Only in a department of169lawyers can you have so many acronyms that themselves have170their own familiar abbreviations, but it's one of the things171that they are known for, in addition to having outstanding172lawyers. In that role, he managed more than 425 attorneys,173handling roughly 6,500 active matters, argued precedent-setting174cases, and oversaw enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act,175CERCLA, and a number of other environmental statutes. Mr.176Brightbill was previously a partner at Kirkland and Ellis, and177clerked for Judge D. Brooks Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals178for the Third Circuit. He holds a juris doctorate, magna cum179laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor of180science, cum laude, in economics from the Wharton School at the181University of Pennsylvania.182    Second, we will hear from Ms. Tina Pierce, who has been183nominated to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the184Department of Energy. The CFO ensures the effective management185and financial integrity of Department of Energy programs,186activities, and resources. She develops, implements, and187monitors policies, procedures, and systems regarding budgets,188appropriations, finance, and accounting. Ms. Pierce is189currently the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Department190of Defense, advising the Pentagon's CFO. She directs policy191development, audit readiness, remediation, enterprise risk192management, production of the DOD agency financial report, and193oversees the DOD's internal control and payment integrity194programs. She previously served as Chief of Financial Reporting195and Compliance at the Defense Health Agency.196    An Idaho native, she served as a Marine Corps officer,197obtaining the rank of Captain. Between her military service and198her return to federal service as a civilian in 2018, she held199finance and accounting leadership positions in both the public200and private sectors across the United States and Europe, with201expertise spanning information technology, energy, education,202and consulting, and was appointed to the Senior Executive203Service in August 2020. Ms. Pierce earned a bachelor of science204in accounting from the University of Utah and an M.B.A. from205Colorado State University. She is a CPA and a Certified Defense206Financial Manager Level 3. Her 22 military decorations include207the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service208Deployment Ribbon, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense209Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. She is also a member of210the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society.211    Third, we will hear from Mr. Conner Prochaska, who has been212nominated to be the Director of the Advanced Research Energy213Agency, also known as ARPA-E. ARPA-E enhances the economic and214energy security mission, as well as the technological215leadership of the United States through the development of216advanced energy technologies. It serves as a launchpad for new217companies and major industry advancements and was founded to218preserve America's technological edge in this area. It is219advancing state-of-the-art energy, science, and engineering,220and finding new opportunities for the commercialization of221advanced energy technologies.222    Mr. Prochaska currently serves as Senior Advisor at the223Department of Energy. He was previously DOE's Chief224Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of225Technology Transitions (OTT), guiding all technology transfer226and commercialization activities across DOE's 17 national227laboratories, production sites, and research centers. He also228served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at ARPA-E, where he229managed day-to-day operations and helped shape the agency's230transformational research and development portfolio. Mr.231Prochaska began his career as an intelligence officer of the232United States Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant while233assigned to the Center for Combating Weapons of Mass234Destruction. His military decorations include the Joint Service235Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint236Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global237War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon,238and a whole bunch of others. He has a very impressive239background. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a240bachelor of arts in political science, was elected student body241president, and was inducted into the General O.R. Simpson Corps242Honor Society. He later received his law degree from the243Georgetown University Law School.244    Finally today, we will hear from Dr. Ned Mamula, nominated245be the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey within the246Department of the Interior. Dr. Mamula has over 35 years'247experience in the fields of energy and mineral exploration,248production, and resource policy. He has experience in both the249Federal Government and private industry, as well as academia,250with critical and strategic minerals, oil, gas, shale, natural251gas hydrates, coal, and uranium. During his long career, he has252worked as Chief Geologist at GreenMet, a company focused on253achieving mineral security, and owned and worked at Terra254Dynamics Corporation. From 2019 to 2023, Dr. Mamula directed255the Critical Mineral and Rare Earth program for Leonardo256Technologies, on contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.257    Dr. Mamula has considerable experience at the U.S.258Geological Survey, the entity that he is now asked to lead by259President Trump, having served the agency as a research260geologist from 2007 to 2009 and earlier in his career from 1977261to 1987. He was only 12 years old at the time--a prodigy, I am262told.263    [Laughter.]264    The Chairman. He also served in the Central Intelligence265Agency as a geoscientist and intelligence analyst from 2009 to2662015. At the CIA, Dr. Mamula received a Deputy Director of267Intelligence Medal of Service in Afghanistan and multiple268exceptional performance awards for superior accomplishments and269valuable service. He also previously served as a geoscientist270at the Department of Homeland Security, where he received a271meritorious service award for providing intelligence support272for U.S. Coast Guard and DHS operations and interagency273coordination, as well as a commendation for meritorious service274while fulfilling a broad spectrum of intelligence support275missions. He also received the Assistant Commandant for276Intelligence Performance Award.277    A Pennsylvania native, Dr. Mamula received a bachelor of278science in geology from Slippery Rock University in 1973 and279later received a master of science in geosciences from Penn280State University in 1980. Dr. Mamula also earned a Ph.D. in281geosciences from Texas A&M University in 1986 and a master of282international public policy and strategic resources from Johns283Hopkins University in 2005.284    All the nominees we will hear from today are well-qualified285for the offices for which they have been nominated, and they286represent exactly the type of bold leadership that America287needs, uniquely, right now.288    All right, we are almost to the point where we have a289voting quorum present. I will ask now--the Ranking Member is290correct. We don't yet have the votes we need.291    [Laughter.]292    The Chairman. We are almost there.293    I will ask Ranking Member Heinrich if he would like to make294an opening statement.295296          OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MARTIN HEINRICH,297                 U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO298299    Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Chairman Lee, and welcome, Mr.300Brightbill, Ms. Pierce, Mr. Prochaska, and Dr. Mamula.301    Confirmation hearings enable Senators to advise and consent302on presidential nominations. They also remind us of the great303breadth and importance of the functions that we entrust to304presidential appointees. The nominations before us this morning305are no exceptions. Today, we have three nominees before us who306have been nominated to important positions at the Department of307Energy. I want to hear from today's nominees about how they308plan to use their positions to do good for the American people.309At the very minimum, that is what we should want, what we310should demand from our public servants. That is not what we are311seeing currently at DOE. In the last few days, DOE announced312plans to cut dozens of energy efficiency rules that have saved313consumers hundreds of dollars a year on their utility bills.314The administration claims it is cutting red tape. Instead, we315are seeing it stop real progress.316    The President has nominated Mr. Brightbill to be General317Counsel at the Department of Energy. The General Counsel is the318chief lawyer for the Department. The Department's General319Counsel must not only be a skilled advocate, but also a wise320counselor. He is the keeper of the Agency's conscience, who321ensures that the Department follows the law, upholds the322Constitution, and protects the public interest.323    The President has nominated Ms. Pierce to be the324Department's Chief Financial Officer. The CFO is the guardian325of the public's money within the Department, who ensures that326it is properly obligated and disbursed as Congress has directed327in the law.328    The President has nominated Mr. Prochaska to be the329Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, or ARPA-E,330as it is known here. ARPA-E is our investment in the future.331Its mission is to overcome barriers to developing332transformative science and technology solutions to our energy333and environmental problems.334    My colleagues are fond of talking about energy dominance.335Dinosaurs were once dominant. Not so much today. We will not336remain a great nation by clinging to the past. If we want to337remain dominant, we must embrace the future and invest in it338today. ARPA-E is our investment in the future scientific339advances that will ensure our scientific and technological340dominance into the 22nd century and beyond.341    Finally, the President has nominated Dr. Mamula to lead the342U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS is our nation's trusted source343of data on natural hazards, weather, water, ecosystems, and our344mineral wealth. It must remain non-partisan and independent,345and the integrity of its science is essential for informed346decision-making across the government and industry alike. Dr.347Mamula has stated he plans to shrink the agency's mission and348has dismissed conservation efforts and public land withdrawals349as a left-wing tool to block mining. Additionally, some of his350past statements, particularly his accusation that hostile351foreign entities fund domestic environmental lawsuits, raise352questions about how he would uphold USGS's commitment to353impartial science-based work. The USGS should not be turned354into a vehicle for deregulation or industry favoritism. We need355a director who will defend its core mission, not politicize it.356    I look forward to hearing from each of our witnesses this357morning and I appreciate their willingness to take on these358important and challenging responsibilities.359    Thank you, Mr. Chair.360    The Chairman. Thanks so much, Senator Heinrich.361    We will now proceed to the business meeting as part of362today's hearing.363    [RECESS]364    The Chairman. All right, let's turn to the hearing today.365    The world is in a race. It is a race for resources, for366technological supremacy, and for control over the supply chains367that power our daily lives. In this race, there are no368consolation prizes. America will either lead or it will be369led--led by powers that don't always share our interests or our370values.371    Unfortunately, we have seen and experienced, painfully,372what happens when energy policy is driven by ideology rather373than reality. Rolling blackouts, soaring prices, families374struggling at the gas pump. American workers have been375outsourced. Our mineral resources are locked away, with376producers forced to jump through decades of procedural hoops,377all while China tightens its grip on global supply chains. This378is not the America we believe in. We believe in an America379where our energy isn't hostage to foreign interests, where380innovation is rewarded, and where workers lead the world--our381workers. That is why we are here today. We are assembling a382dream team, a roster of American patriots, who know the stakes383are high and can outwork, outsmart, and outlast America's384adversaries.385    Each of these nominees will be responsible for critical386roles in our energy future, overseeing the legal strategy of387the Department of Energy, ensuring financial integrity across388multibillion-dollar energy programs, driving groundbreaking389research at ARPA-E, and securing our critical minerals through390the U.S. Geological Survey. Their decisions will impact391everything from keeping the lights on in American homes to392unlocking the next generation of energy innovations. These are393not ceremonial posts. These are positions of consequence.394    We on this Committee are processing nominees more than395three times faster than the last Congress. By the close of this396hearing, we will have reported 16 critical energy leaders out397of this Committee, compared to just four at this point in 2021.398We know what is at stake, and that is why we are moving fast.399And we are moving at a breakneck speed because America can't400afford to wait, and our leadership on the world stage cannot be401taken for granted. It must be earned, secured, and defended402every single day. Our adversaries are watching. They, of403course, hope that we will fumble, that we turn inward, that we404abandon the competitive edge that has made America the global405leader. We won't give them that satisfaction. We must not. We406will lead with strength, with resolve, and with an unshakable407commitment to American energy dominance.408    American energy dominance means American security, American409jobs, and American leadership. It means no more pleading with410global adversaries, no more dependency on unreliable supply411chains, and no more surrendering our future to global412competitors. America's energy future must be American-made.413That means putting leaders in place who understand our414resources are a strength, our workers are an asset, and our415technology is unmatched. We have the resources. We have the416talent. We have the will. Soon, we will have the team to417reclaim our position as the global energy superpower.418    Senator Heinrich. Mr. Chair, I would say that the reality419is that the Department of Energy is hobbling our energy420leadership and this administration is sidelining the majority421of our energy projects and killing jobs--for example, the422Empire Wind Project, which was fully permitted--and raising423energy costs on consumers. This is threatening our leadership,424not only in the field of energy, but also in artificial425intelligence. So I look forward to hearing from our nominees426today on how they would manage these positions.427    The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Heinrich. I look forward428to hearing from them as well, and having spent time with them,429I am confident that each of them will serve our country very,430very well.431    Now, the rules of the Committee require that all nominees432be sworn in connection with their testimony. So if you would433all rise and raise your right hand.434    Do you solemnly swear that the testimony that you are about435to provide to the Committee will be the truth, the whole truth,436and nothing but the truth, so help you God?437    [Witness panel sworn.]438    The Chairman. Thank you.439    And then, we will have you begin your opening statements in440a moment, but before we do that, I ask the witnesses three441questions that are posed to all nominees appearing before this442Committee.443    First, will you be available to appear before this444Committee and other congressional committees to represent445departmental positions and respond to issues of concern to446Congress?447    [Witnesses respond, ``yes.'']448    The Chairman. Second, are you aware of any personal449holdings, investments, or interests that could constitute a450conflict of interest or create the appearance of such conflict,451should you be confirmed and assume the office to which you have452been nominated by the President of the United States?453    [Witnesses respond, ``no.'']454    The Chairman. And third, are you involved in or do you have455any assets in a blind trust?456    [Witnesses respond, ``no.'']457    The Chairman. Thank you.458    We will note here for the record that each nominee459responded in the affirmative to the first question and in the460negative to the two subsequent questions.461    Now, as I turn to the witnesses, we will have each of you462speak for five minutes, starting with Mr. Brightbill and moving463to my right--your left--in that order, and as you do so, I464invite you, as you may prefer, to introduce any family members465who may be here with you today.466    We will start with you, Mr. Brightbill.467468     STATEMENT OF JONATHAN BRIGHTBILL, NOMINATED TO BE469        GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY470471    Mr. Brightbill. Thank you, Chairman Lee, Ranking Member472Heinrich, and distinguished members of the Committee. It is an473honor to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee474for General Counsel of the Department of Energy. I am deeply475grateful to President Trump and Secretary Wright for this476nomination, recognizing that, under our Constitution, your477advice and consent are essential for me to assume this position478of trust. I look forward to today's hearing and any further479discussions that may be needed, and I hope to earn your480support.481    I want to thank my family, who have supported me and482tolerated the long hours and frequent absences that my work has483required over the years. Thank you foremost to my wife, Nicole,484who manages to balance everything in our family, in addition to485her own demanding professional obligations. I want to recognize486my children: Tamsin, finishing her junior year in high school,487Chip, a freshman, and Davis, our fifth grader. Every day, these488three blessings from God remind me of the greatness and the489promise of America and inspire me to do what I do.490    One of the most unexpectedly difficult questions I received491during this process was to identify the state from which I492hail. Having lived in Virginia for 20 years now, with my three493children born and raised there, I responded, ``the Commonwealth494of Virginia.'' I somewhat regret having done so, because I was495born and raised in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, and really496consider myself, like Senator McCormick, a proud son of that497other great commonwealth. With me today as well is the498Honorable David Chip Brightbill, my father, and my stepmother,499the Honorable Donna Long Brightbill, whose own dedication to500public service in Pennsylvania inspired me to that same call501here today.502    With one senator and one judge already in the family, that503left the only option open for me to maintain the Constitution's504separation of powers was to pursue service in the executive505branch. I also want to thank my mother, Carol, who is back home506in Pennsylvania, though she couldn't be here today, as well as507my brother Christian for coming down from Pittsburgh to help. I508also want to thank Deputy Secretary Danly for his role in509including me as part of the great team that he and Secretary510Wright are assembling for the Department of Energy.511    I ask for this Committee's support because I think I can512help the Department of Energy and the country at this moment,513when I think that there is a bipartisan consensus that the514United States needs more energy to meet our challenges in the515world. My training to help address these challenges began at516the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business,517where I concentrated on public policy and management. My first518public service was as an executive policy specialist for519Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge at his Department of520Environmental Protection. There, I traveled the state and521learned so much about the energy industry so critical to the522economy of that state and this country and first cut my teeth523on the many public policy issues still impacting energy524development.525    After graduating magna cum laude from Georgetown University526Law Center, I clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the527Third Circuit for the Honorable D. Brooks Smith. And for my528first 15 years, I practiced law in D.C. here at Kirkland and529Ellis before joining the Department of Justice in 2017. At the530Environment and Natural Resources Division, I first had the531privilege of working with the Department of Energy's General532Counsel, including Bill Cooper, as well as many other533officials, there, like Ted Garrish, Eric Fygi, and others,534effectively in the role of outside counsel for the Department535of Energy across a range of matters. DOJ was also my first536opportunity to serve as a senior manager in government, where I537helped lead ENRD's 425 lawyers and 600 employees, managing5386,500 active matters, cases, investigations, and the like, and539a budget of $150 million a year. Over the last four years, I540have been privileged to be a partner at the law firm of Winston541and Strawn, here in D.C., where my practice has continued to542include many energy industry clients and matters across the543range of energy technologies and across different areas of the544energy sector.545    If confirmed as General Counsel, it would be my privilege546to assist President Trump and Secretary Wright in achieving547their vision of American energy dominance. I would also look548forward to working with this Committee and Congress and other549stakeholders to undertake sound energy policy reforms to our550laws, regulations, and programs, to advance the interests of551the American people first, but ultimately through American552greatness and leadership, to better all human lives.553    Thank you all again for the honor to appear before you here554today, and I look forward to your questions.555    [The prepared statement of Mr. Brightbill follows:]556557    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]558559    The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Brightbill.560    We will hear now from Ms. Pierce.561562   STATEMENT OF TINA PIERCE, NOMINATED TO BE CHIEF FINANCIAL563              OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY564565    Ms. Pierce. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member566Heinrich, and members of the Committee, for the opportunity to567appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Chief568Financial Officer at the Department of Energy.569    Before I begin my official remarks, I would like to570introduce the members of my family who have joined me here571today: my husband of 26 years, Scott Pierce, who is a retired572Marine Colonel, and someone who, at the age of 19, worked in573the oil fields of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota; my574stepdaughter Elisa, son Thomas, and daughter Isabel. I would575also like to recognize my son Jackson, daughter-in-law Ellen,576and my amazing parents, Robert and Judy Morgan, who are unable577to be here today.578    I am honored to be nominated by the President and humbled579to be considered by the Senate for an office of such great580trust and responsibility to the American people, and, if581confirmed, to play a role in unleashing American energy582dominance to better all human lives. Energy Secretary Wright583asked me what I would consider success if I were to be584nominated and confirmed as the Energy Department's CFO. My585answer was simple--to provide the Secretary with timely and586accurate financial information that allows him to make prudent,587well-informed decisions so that we can legally and responsibly588steward the taxpayer dollars that the Congress entrusts to us589to advance America's energy interests.590    I would like to share with you a little bit of the story591that brought me here today. I grew up on a small farm in Rigby,592Idaho. I am the first person in my family to earn a college593degree. I studied accounting on a Naval ROTC scholarship at the594University of Utah. Eager for challenge and discipline, I chose595to serve in the United States Marines after graduation. The596Marine Corps wisely put this round peg in a round hole, making597me a financial management officer. I proudly led Marines in598Hawaii and California and deployed to Kuwait as the comptroller599for the contingency Operation Desert Thunder.600    I left active duty, a month later exchanged wedding vows,601and two days later, my husband Scott and I were on our way to602his next assignment in the Netherlands. As the wife of a Marine603infantry officer and a mom of three, every couple of years, I604had to pack up our house and kids--often by myself--quit my605job, and start over someplace new. And through it all, I was606able to continue to pursue my professional passion--using607accounting to drive business decisions.608    In Europe, I worked as a financial manager in a609multinational IT firm. In North Carolina, we experienced the610shock of 9/11. My husband deployed to the Middle East, and I611was called back to active duty. In Kansas, I earned an M.B.A.612from Colorado State University, graduating at the top of my613class, and staying on as a remote instructor, a job I could614take with me. In the Sierra of eastern California, I commuted615over an 8,000-foot mountain pass, with morning sickness and616altitude sickness, to serve as a county deputy controller, and617in southern California, I worked in the energy sector as a618senior financial analyst for a nuclear generation plant and a619major public utility. I became and am a Certified Public620Accountant.621    When the Marine Corps brought us to Washington, DC, we622decided it was time to give our children the stability that we623had when we grew up, so we settled down. I started over as a624junior contractor, reviewing Army pay records on a laptop at a625crowded conference room table with 20 other analysts. I was626soon recruited to work on the Air Force health services627financial remediation team and then entered the federal628workforce at the Defense Health Agency. My performance at DHA629led to a senior executive position with the Department of the630Air Force, overseeing financial operations and audit631remediation. Since July of last year, I have served as the632Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Defense,633where we have made great strides in bringing the entire634Department closer to a clean audit opinion.635    If confirmed, I look forward to bringing my broad financial636experience in both government and the private sector to the637Department of Energy. If confirmed, I pledge that I will apply638the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility for the funds639entrusted by this Congress. I will do everything in my power to640work with this Committee and Congress to facilitate the641oversight required by our Constitution. And with that, Mr.642Chairman, I look forward to answering any questions the643Committee may have.644    [The prepared statement of Ms. Pierce follows:]645646    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]647648    The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Pierce.649    Mr. Prochaska.650651STATEMENT OF CONNER PROCHASKA, NOMINATED TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE652 ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY653654    Mr. Prochaska. Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and655distinguished members of the Committee, it is an honor and a656privilege to appear here today as President Trump's nominee to657serve as Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency at658the Department of Energy, or ARPA-E. I would like to thank659President Trump and Secretary Wright for the confidence and660trust that they have placed in me with this nomination.661    Before I begin, I would like to introduce the most662important people in my life--my family. Here today with me is663the love of my life, who is the most amazing wife, mother, and664true life partner I could ever imagine. Kate, I am in awe of665your ability to balance a successful career and provide a666loving home for our family. I love you and thank you. Also here667today are my four-year-old son, Crawford, and my two-year-old668daughter, Henley, whom you have already heard from. They are669the light of my life, and my world spins around them, whether I670want it to or not. I would also like to recognize my parents,671who have joined us from Texas. They have protected, provided,672and guided me throughout my life. Mom and Dad, the words673``thank you'' can never express the gratitude I have for the674sacrifices you both made to raise me and my three amazing675brothers, Frankie, Tate, and Joey, who are home with their676families in Texas, watching. And I would like to thank the677Honorable Paul Dabbar for attending and for all those who678texted their support over the last few days for this effort. It679means the world.680    As an Eagle Scout from a patriotic family, I was instilled681with a sense of service at a young age. The sense of service682was further ingrained during my time at Texas A&M, where the683core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty,684respect, and selfless service are paramount, and I strive to685live them every day. My love for the United States led me to be686commissioned in the United States Navy, where I saw firsthand687the devastating effects of energy scarcity. The Navy was also688where I was first acquainted with the DOE, through the nuclear689weapons program as a Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction690Intelligence Officer. Following law school, I was honored to691serve in President Trump's first term as ARPA-E's Chief of692Staff and Senior Advisor, ushering in many of the programs and693projects that exist today at ARPA-E, including the first694nuclear technology projects.695    After my time at ARPA-E, I was privileged to be selected as696the Department's first Chief Commercialization Officer and also697the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions. In this698role, I worked closely with this Committee and staff on699ushering DOE technology out of labs and into the daily lives of700Americans, maximizing their impact, from Augusta to Albuquerque701to Anchorage. Following my time at DOE, I continued my career702in emerging technologies, as I helped co-found a quantum703technology company spun out of Caltech.704    If confirmed, it will be a true humbling honor to lead the705talented, innovative, and dedicated team at ARPA-E. When I left706ARPA-E to become the Department's Chief Commercialization707Officer, I told the staff that the fact that my name would be708associated with theirs and the organization was one of the709proudest accomplishments of my professional career, and I feel710the same today. As members of this Committee and staff are well711aware, energy and critical technologies are at an inflection712point. Quantum, artificial intelligence, fusion, small modular713reactors, geothermal--the list can go on, but these714technologies will fundamentally change how the country and the715world consume and produce energy. The Department of Energy's716role in advancing these technologies through our work with our717national labs, industry partners, and the university ecosystem718has never been more critical. ARPA-E is uniquely positioned to719lead high-risk, high-reward research, leading to technological720developments that will better human lives throughout the United721States and across the globe.722    The Trump Administration's forward-leaning approach to723innovation and technology will require an interagency effort to724ensure the United States continues to spearhead energy and725critical and emerging technologies around the world. ARPA-E's726unique authorities and structure will allow for flexibility and727nimble action to address these challenges in a timely and728effective manner.729    If confirmed, I intend to work closely with this Committee730and Congress to effectively and efficiently lead ARPA-E and its731talented and dedicated staff, who I consider the elite of the732energy research community, to help drive innovation, maintain733American leadership in critical technology areas, and unleash734American dominance.735    Chairman, under Secretary Wright's leadership, we will not736fumble.737    Thank you for your time and the opportunity to appear738before you today. I look forward to your questions.739    [The prepared statement of Mr. Prochaska follows:]740741    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]742743    The Chairman. Thanks so much, Mr. Prochaska.744    Dr. Mamula, we will hear from you next.745746 STATEMENT OF DR. NED MAMULA, NOMINATED TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE747       U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR748749    Dr. Mamula. Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and750Committee members all, good morning, and thank you very, very751much for your time and the opportunity to be in front of this752Committee. I am very honored and humbled to be here and very753proud of the agency that I have been nominated to lead, the754U.S. Geological Survey. My deepest thanks to Secretary Burgum755and President Trump for the confidence they have reposed in me.756    And Mr. Chairman, behind me are my wife Terri, my son Noah,757and his wife Mariah. My son Aaron is joining us remotely, and758my friend J.J. Brown is with us as well, and they have been a759great source of strength.760    But for me, the path to today has been basically an761incredible personal and professional journey, starting out as a762steelworker in my native Pittsburgh before attending college,763becoming an entry-level geologist, and later working in the764energy industry all over the country and the world. My academic765work included major research in studies in Iceland and later in766Wyoming's Bighorn Basin as part of my training at Penn State767and Texas A&M University--two of our country's premier geology768programs. Years later, I was privileged to help stand up a new769mineral sustainability division within DOE Fossil Energy,770established for the purpose of characterizing ore deposits for771their critical mineral and rare earth element content. Then,772for the past three years, I have been serving as Chief773Geologist at GreenMet. Finally, Mr. Chairman, my co-author Ann774Bridges and I produced two recent thought-provoking books on775the issue of America's critical mineral import dependence and776our desperately needed path to mineral independence.777    Mr. Chairman, I am ready for this next assignment at the778Geological Survey, should I be confirmed. That agency, the U.S.779Geological Survey, or ``the Survey'' as we USGS veterans780affectionately call it, is one of the oldest and most storied781of our federal agencies. It is 150 years old. The success of782the four great geological surveys of the American West during783the 1870s provided the impetus for President Rutherford Hayes784to sign--on March 3, 1879--the congressional bill appropriating785money for the formation of the U.S. Geological Survey within786the Department of the Interior. President Hayes's signature787approved the Organic Act of the U.S. Geological Survey, a788unique combination of mission responsibilities elegantly789described in only 19 words, which are: ``classification of the790public lands, examination of the geological structure, mineral791resources, and products of the national domain.'' These Organic792Act functions were critical in 1879 because the Federal793Government had title to more than a billion acres of land794across the West, of which only 200 million acres, or about 17795percent, had been surveyed. But after decades of adding more796states and more federal lands, approximately four-fifths, or 80797percent, of our country still does not have geological map798coverage at a scale that is necessary for detailed exploration799of minerals and other resources. Therefore, we can appreciate800more fully the absolute importance of the USGS Organic Act801today, and the need to laser focus our attention on the hard802work of geologic mapping, discovery of energy and mineral803resources, and inventorying other products or endowments of our804national domain.805    Mr. Chairman, the USGS appears to be more important today806than it was in 1879, particularly given the recent explosion of807demand for energy, critical minerals, rare earth elements, and808technology metals, not to mention America's very, very risky809critical mineral import overreliance, much of it from810adversarial nations. Little wonder America's national security811and economic stability will remain highly dependent on the812original mission of the U.S. Geological Survey.813    As our Secretary Doug Burgum says, ``Map Baby Map!'' and he814is absolutely correct because the all-important geologic815mapping must always precede the long road of exploration,816discovery, and startup production of energy and minerals.817Therefore, the Survey needs to dramatically reinforce its818institutional strength in mapping across geology, but also in819the other core missions.820    Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, leading one of our821nation's preeminent scientific agencies has never been and will822never be easy. But my love and support for it, and the strong823support of my USGS colleagues, my fellow scientists, and824others, will be extremely helpful, should I be confirmed.825Furthermore, I pledge to this Committee, to Secretary Burgum,826and especially to President Trump, who graciously nominated me827to this post, to uphold the USGS mission to the best of my828ability.829    Mr. Chairman, with that, I look forward to your Committee's830questions.831    [The prepared statement of Dr. Mamula follows:]832833    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]834835    The Chairman. Thank you, Dr. Mamula.836    I like your description, by the way, of the Survey. The837insiders call it ``the Survey.'' That's great. I had a friend838years ago who was a big fan of Mountain Dew, and I asked him839whether he agreed with the assessment that it was the ``nectar840of the gods.'' And his response was curious. It reminded me of841what you just said. He said, ``Yes, but the gods just call it842nectar, because to them, that's what it is.'' So ``the Survey''843it is.844    All right, we will now begin alternating rounds of five-845minute questions. Republicans, then Democrats, in order of846seniority, subject to the earlybird rule, and I will begin.847    Mr. Brightbill, why don't we start with you? Let's talk848about NEPA for a moment. NEPA is a significant law and one that849has to be followed. It requires agencies to ``ensure that850presently unquantified environmental amenities and values may851be given appropriate consideration in decision-making, along852with economic and technical considerations.'' That's from NEPA,853Section 102, of course. Now, some NEPA experts argue, based on854the plain text of that, that if a cooperating agency is855substantively analyzing an environmental effect so that it can856issue a permit, let's say, for example, a 404 permit under the857Clean Water Act, then the agency need not assess the effects of858the action on the waters covered by the 404 permit because859those effects are not presently unquantified, or to whatever860degree and whatever circumstances in which they are not861presently unquantified.862    I know that you are no stranger to NEPA, having worked863previously in various government and private-sector positions864in the law, working in this area, so I would welcome your865thoughts on this observation.866    Mr. Brightbill. Yes, thank you very much, Senator, and867first of all, thank you very much for taking the time on Monday868evening to meet with me prior to the hearing today, and as you869know, based on our discussions, I absolutely agree that NEPA870reform is a critical need for us to ultimately move forward in871our reform of infrastructure and advancement of energy. I know872a variety of bills have been circulated and proposals873circulated on the Hill, but as someone who has both worked in874government, litigating a tremendous volume of NEPA cases,875candidly, once you are in the Federal Government and at the876Environment and Natural Resources Division, as well as an877individual who has litigated NEPA over the years on behalf of878private entities and consulted many, many more than I have even879actually litigated, there is a lot of talk about permitting880reform.881    Permitting reform is really a euphemism when you actually882go and talk to industry players about the risks for NEPA883reform. And NEPA reform really ought to be a euphemism for NEPA884litigation reform because it is the NEPA litigation that885creates the unquantifiable and incalculable risk of undertaking886NEPA. Based on my many years of experience working both with887federal agencies as well as private-sector entities, they are888happy to try to quantify risks and assess risks, but889ultimately, the real problem with NEPA is the unknowable back-890end tail that comes from a judicial review system that has been891created by common law, rather than really by a congressionally892designed review apparatus, Senator. And as you and I discussed,893I think that's an area where there is a lot of opportunity for894reform that could advance all manner of energy infrastructure895projects--transmission, generation, distribution, throughout.896    The Chairman. Right, great observations. So it's more than897just permitting. Very often, more specifically, people are898referring to NEPA, and when they are referring to the delays899they encounter, those are more often the result of the900litigation stage, rather than the pre-issuance of the record of901decision stage. That's helpful.902    Mr. Prochaska, let's turn to you next. During the first903Trump administration, you were Chief of Staff and Senior904Advisor for ARPA-E, the entity to which you have now been905nominated. As I understand it, in the past, ARPA-E has funded906R&D within the nuclear space, and if we are to meet the907significant anticipated demand for baseload electric power in908the coming decade, innovations in the nuclear sector could play909a really critical role. Can you talk to us a little bit about910the work of ARPA-E and the things that ARPA-E funded during the911first Trump administration to increase the efficiency and912output of traditional generating resources, such as nuclear?913    Mr. Prochaska. Thank you very much for the question,914Chairman, and thank you also for the time in your office. It915was very valuable to hear your insights on ARPA-E and where we916can go with the energy dominance that we are looking for.917    It was a privilege in the first Trump administration to be918part of the leadership team of ARPA-E, and in that role, one of919the proudest programs and projects we started was about920advanced reactors and understanding, simulating, and testing921some of the more untraditional problems that come with those922advanced reactors. But one of the key things that we did there923was, we worked with the Office of Nuclear Energy to make sure924that we weren't duplicating efforts within the Department. And925I think one of the things that I would look forward to, if926confirmed for ARPA-E, is because of my knowledge from my time927at OTT and as Chief Commercialization Officer at the928Department, I worked with every single office and every single929lab at the Department of Energy, and I know the complex to a930very, very good degree. And I come into ARPA-E with eyes wide931open of what ARPA-E's capabilities are, what other offices in932the Department do, and how we can help to work on the advanced933high-risk, high-reward items that need to be attacked, whether934it's in nuclear, whether it's in fossil energy, whether it's in935fusion, whether it's in small modular reactors, which is936nuclear, or geothermal. You can go through the list, but the937ARPA-E portfolio is broad--the authorities are broad--and if938confirmed, I intend to make sure that we attack all of those939technologies as best as we possibly can.940    The Chairman. Great. Thank you.941    I have more questions, including for the other two I942haven't asked questions to yet. Hopefully, we will be able to943get to those in a subsequent round later in the hearing, but in944the interest of time, since I am over, I am going to hand it945over to Senator Heinrich.946    Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Chairman.947    Mr. Brightbill, at the legal direction of Congress, DOE has948developed energy efficiency standards that have saved American949families hundreds of dollars annually on utility costs. The950current Administration is set on reversing these cost-saving951efforts, and announced this week that they will eliminate many952of these standards, which will undoubtedly raise energy costs953for American families. Do you believe the actions announced by954the Administration are consistent with the federal judge's955orders to update those standards, and how would you approach956enforcing energy efficiency standards in your new role, if you957are confirmed?958    Mr. Brightbill. Senator, thank you.959    At this point, I am not at the Department of Energy, and so960I have not been advising the Secretary and the program managers961who are at the agency at this time regarding the actions they962have undertaken. And I have not had an opportunity to review963those executive orders or the legal bases for the actions that964have been taken. I know within the context of those statutes,965there are statutory reforms that were undertaken by Congress in966the later part of the early aughts that related to those967statutes that actually enhanced the capacity of the Department968to consider economic considerations, and some of that post-969dates some of the case law that I know is on the books and970which many people point to in that area.971    So, at this point, Senator, what I can commit to you is972that, should I be fortunate enough to be confirmed as the973General Counsel, that I will, of course, work with existing974career staff and advisors at the Office of General Counsel to975understand their existing legal reviews and then advise the976Secretary and the program officials who are responsible for977those policy decisions on their obligations under the laws and978statutes, as well as the authorities that they have.979    Senator Heinrich. Mr. Prochaska, with electricity demand980expected to grow for the next decade, I think many of us981believe that we are going to need every electron that we can982get for the foreseeable future. If confirmed, how will you make983sure that ARPA-E is investing in a complete portfolio of next-984generation energy technologies and not picking winners and985losers?986    Mr. Prochaska. Thank you very much for the question,987Senator, and that is a very big part of the way ARPA-E988operates. The way ARPA-E operates is, we bring in the best989program managers that we can find. And those program managers990bring the best ideas that they can, and they are forced through991a crucible of internal debates and external reviews to come out992with some of the best possible programs and projects we993possibly can. And part of that analysis is, how does this make994sense in the overall energy portfolio and move the ball forward995on behalf of the United States and the world, because these996technologies do go and help the world at the end of the day, in997many cases.998    And so, to answer your question, one of the reasons is, we999are going to take the best projects, and I promise that that's1000going to be the process with which, if I am confirmed, ARPA-E1001continues to move forward with the best projects, and not1002picking winners and losers necessarily, but understanding what1003makes sense in the energy portfolio that is affordable, secure,1004reliable, and gets us to the end goals.1005    Senator Heinrich. Mr. Brightbill, Congress has important1006oversight responsibilities over the Department, obviously. If1007confirmed, will you commit to responding to members of this1008Committee's request for information regarding DOE's compliance1009with the law?1010    Mr. Brightbill. Senator, if I am confirmed, I can--if I am1011fortunate enough to be confirmed--yes, I can assure you that we1012will comply with the law, and insofar as the Department is1013required to make responses to requests, we will do so.1014    Senator Heinrich. Thank you. That is the right answer.1015    On May 5th, I, along with a number of other Members of1016Congress, sent Secretary Wright a letter regarding the1017Department's suspension of energy programs, cancellation of1018executed awards and contracts, as well as mass reductions in1019staffing and changes to contracting policies, and I very much1020look forward to receiving a full and complete response to that1021letter.1022    The Chairman. Senator McCormick.1023    Senator McCormick. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking1024Member Heinrich, and welcome and congratulations to our four1025nominees. Mr. Brightbill, good to see you in Pennsylvania, and1026I think our fathers may have served together when your dad was1027Majority Leader. So it's great to have you here, and another1028Pennsylvanian and two members of our Armed Services. We have1029got a great lineup here.1030    I want to start with you, Mr. Mamula. The most recent U.S.1031Government assessment of the Marcellus Shale, from 2019,1032showcased the effects of technological advancements. In that1033assessment, the government estimated natural gas availability1034in the Marcellus rose from two trillion to 84 trillion to 971035trillion in under 20 years. Now, knowing where those energy1036resources are located and how much exists is crucial to1037informing our strategy for energy dominance and energy1038independence. Unfortunately, USGS government resource1039assessments can lag behind industry developments. So my1040question is, what is your plan to ensure timely and regionally1041relevant updates to those assessments, and do you anticipate a1042need to adapt the resource evaluation framework to better1043account for unconventional sources of natural gas, like shale1044gas?1045    Dr. Mamula. Thank you for that question. Thank you very1046much, Senator McCormick.1047    The thing that people need to understand is that technology1048sweeps through one field after another, after another, and it1049swept through the oil industry. It is sweeping through mining,1050timbering, and many other areas. When technology sweeps1051through, we have to back up and look at another methodology or1052modify the methodologies used to do resource assessments1053because the newer technologies allow us to basically get at1054more of that resource, and eventually, when proven, we call it1055a reserve. So, if confirmed, I want to make sure of the date of1056these resource assessments at USGS, what they contain, and how1057they could be improved, and, most importantly, do we have a1058bridge over to the private sector? Do we understand that1059technology that's right under our noses? And have our1060scientists gone out into the fracking fields and other places1061and looked at these things? Very important, and it's going to1062inform the way we do resource evaluation--actually, resource1063assessment, as we call it. So, that is an absolute definite1064thing that I would do, if confirmed, right away.1065    Senator McCormick. Thank you.1066    Dr. Mamula. Yes, sir.1067    Senator McCormick. Mr. Prochaska, let me turn to energy1068demand and the fact that it's expected to grow radically,1069primarily driven by AI data center demand, and I believe1070nuclear energy, in which, of course, Pennsylvania plays a very1071dominant role, will help meet that demand. Pennsylvania is1072second in the nation for nuclear energy production and home to1073much of the technology included in every nuclear energy reactor1074in the United States. You have already talked about this in1075previous questions, but let me ask you to be a little more1076specific. How do you anticipate ARPA-E supporting the1077development of nuclear energy technologies, and in particular,1078innovations in fuel cycle technologies, and how would you think1079about the process for prioritizing and investing most heavily1080in the appropriate technologies?1081    Mr. Prochaska. Thank you very much for the question,1082Senator.1083    Going back to one of the things that I worked on, that came1084to fruition following my time at ARPA-E as Chief of Staff, was1085working on expanding some of the authorities of ARPA-E to1086address some of these challenges, exactly, particularly nuclear1087waste and the cycle that exists there. As the industry1088develops, there will be--and this is where kind of the tricky1089part of ARPA-E is, because we want to move technologies into1090industry, but we also want to work with industry partners to1091understand what they are not doing. And so, what I believe1092would help that cycle, and to answer your question, is engaging1093the industry, engaging the people that are on the cusp or even1094doing some of these activities and understand what their big1095pain points are and build that relationship, which is a lot of1096what I did as the Chief Commercialization Officer of the1097Department, is work with public-private partnerships, work with1098private industry to understand where their pain points are to1099make sure that we are not doing something that we are just1100taking something off the plate of private industry that they1101could do, but something that really is the ARPA-E motto, high-1102risk, high-reward technology, to get further down the path of1103making those actionable and efficient technologies that can1104really utilize and maximize the nuclear fuel, the nuclear1105process, and the nuclear industry as a whole.1106    Senator McCormick. Thank you.1107    The Chairman. I believe Senator Hickenlooper is up next.1108    Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to1109all of you for your willingness to put yourselves through this1110and take on these challenges.1111    Mr. Brightbill, I am a strong proponent of bipartisan1112permitting reform that includes targeted litigation reforms on1113various issues. In the House bill, they have proposed a radical1114overhaul of our judicial review system by proposing a kind of1115pay-to-play, or pay-for-play scheme. In your view, if someone1116pays, or a company pays 125 percent of the estimated costs of1117your environmental review, the idea is that judicial review1118would no longer apply. Do you believe that allowing companies1119to pay for the right to avoid judicial oversight or judicial1120scrutiny gives communities and tribes sufficient ability to1121amend or challenge or change specific projects?1122    Mr. Brightbill. Senator, first of all, I appreciate the1123opportunity to continue to talk about NEPA reform. As Senator1124Lee knows from my time in his office, I could geek out about1125this for a very, very long time. As to the specific House bill1126that you are referencing, I candidly have not seen the bill or1127the provision that you are referring to, and based on what you1128are describing to me, I am not, candidly, able to respond to it1129in total because I am not aware of what the ultimate policy----1130    Senator Hickenlooper. It's just basically if you pay a1131higher rate, you are exempt from judicial oversight. In other1132words, the courts have no role in approving the permit.1133    Mr. Brightbill. I think, Senator, I candidly want to look1134at the entirety of the bill and what the other reforms are and1135see how they tie in----1136    Senator Hickenlooper. Okay.1137    Mr. Brightbill [continuing]. With other provisions of the1138bill before I would opine as to that particular provision and1139want to understand the total context.1140    Senator Hickenlooper. Okay.1141    Mr. Prochaska, I am a big fan of ARPA-E. I think you are1142going to--you know, you have the opportunity to catalyze1143transformational energy technologies and accelerate some of the1144commercialization of those things, and I think that's just1145going to be a big part of our future here, and hopefully it1146will involve a lot of Colorado companies in there as well. How1147can you ensure ARPA-E continues to serve as a springboard for1148these high-impact startups, the companies that really can be1149transformational, without sufficient long-term dependence on1150financing--federal financing?1151    Mr. Prochaska. Senator, first off, thank you very much for1152the question. And I have no doubt that Colorado will play a1153huge role in that ecosystem. One of the things, from an1154outsider's point of view, that I have always admired about1155Colorado is the major research institutions, whether it's NREL,1156Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State, University of1157Colorado--the list goes on. All are very well coordinated, not1158to mention outside of energy, but the quantum that is going on1159in the state is quite fascinating as well. So I commend the1160state on the efforts that go into that.1161    To answer your question, I talked a little bit about it1162earlier, that part of the crucible of becoming an ARPA-E1163project is the review process. And what we also do is, once you1164are an ARPA-E project, if confirmed, we will continue this1165active project management. That is continuous evaluation of1166these projects. It is a high-risk, high-reward effort, and you1167talked about how do we make sure some of these companies and1168products and technologies become companies. Part of that high-1169risk, high-reward means there is a high-reward at the end, but1170in between the high risk and the high reward, a lot of things1171fall off, and that's part of kind of the ARPA-E ethos, which1172is, we are going to continue to actively manage projects, put1173the best minds toward it, look at it with a fresh point of view1174as often as possible.1175    And then, to your last point, to make sure it's not on a1176long-term federal pipeline of funding to continue on for1177eternity----1178    Senator Hickenlooper. Right----1179    Mr. Prochaska. We want to make sure we are engaging with--1180whether it's venture capital, investors--that we are continuing1181to keep communicating with them and keep them educated on what1182we are doing at ARPA-E.1183    Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you.1184    And Dr. Mamula, first, just an idle curiosity--you went to1185Penn State. Did you do field geology camp?1186    Dr. Mamula. Yes, sir.1187    Senator Hickenlooper. Which one did you go to?1188    Dr. Mamula. Well, they had Yellowstone/Bighorn.1189    Senator Hickenlooper. Research----1190    Dr. Mamula. They also----1191    Senator Hickenlooper. So you went to the YBRA?1192    Dr. Mamula. YBRA, I have been there and I have also been to1193the other one across the Appalachians.1194    Senator Hickenlooper. Right, yeah, I haven't been to that1195one, but I did do my geological field work through the1196Yellowstone/Bighorn. There can be no closer tie than having1197done the same field geology camp.1198    USGS is obviously critical for so much we are working on. I1199am going to be very brief in this question. Water-focused1200science is key for us in Colorado and the drought prone West,1201just because if you can't measure something, you are not going1202to be able to manage it. And yet, we have seen severe cuts at1203the USGS that threaten this essential work and the integrity of1204these long-term data resources. Keeping that data in place is1205critical. Are you willing to say, absolutely, you will make1206that a priority to maintain those systems of measure that we1207have been using and to expand those datasets?1208    Dr. Mamula. Oh, Senator, absolutely. Look----1209    Senator King. Can you get your mic a little closer?1210    Dr. Mamula. Yes, Senator, this has to be a priority, and if1211confirmed, I am going to make it my business to make sure it1212is. Now, the dataset integrity, is what you are getting at?1213    Senator Hickenlooper. Well, the cuts in funding--they have1214cut almost a third of the budget, and part of that means that1215they are talking about just getting--we don't need to save this1216data because it doesn't seem relevant now. Whereas, in science,1217mostly, as you know, oftentimes data that doesn't seem relevant1218today, five years from now, seems really relevant.1219    Dr. Mamula. Right. If confirmed, and I am going out there,1220and we are going to look at our data collection, and you know,1221with the capacity of data storage today, there is really no1222need to dispose of data. We can hang on to data as long as we1223need to, and by the way, there is plenty of data that can be1224digitized and put to work, again, years and years after it was1225first published. So this is a priority. USGS is a data factory.1226So this is--what is produced there should be also saved and----1227    Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you.1228    Dr. Mamula. Yes.1229    Senator Hickenlooper. I appreciate it very much.1230    And Ms. Pierce, I have questions for you, but I will put1231them in writing.1232    I yield back. Thank you.1233    The Chairman. We will turn now to Senator Hoeven, who twice1234in the last couple of weeks has been my stunt double as I have1235been called into other hearings.1236    [Laughter.]1237    The Chairman. I am told he is going to do his questions1238today entirely in Spanish, which should be exciting.1239    Senator Hoeven. Muchas gracias, mi amigo.1240    Thanks, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, I appreciate both1241of you. Thanks to all of our witnesses who are here.1242    Mr. Mamula, thanks for coming in to visit with me1243yesterday. And I do have to warn you before Hickenlooper gets1244out of the room, that you have got to be careful with him1245because I think he is a geologist too. So you can't spoof him1246like you do the rest of us, you know? He knows his stuff. And1247he was a Governor, too, so we really like him a lot.1248    [Laughter.]1249    Senator Hoeven. So thanks again for being here. You know1250the story in the Bakken, in my state?1251    Dr. Mamula. Right.1252    Senator Hoeven. You know, when I was Governor back there in12532000, you know, there wasn't the horizontal drilling, and the1254shale plays could be produced from a technological standpoint--1255you could get oil out of them, but you couldn't do it on a1256commercially viable basis. And so, we actually started with our1257state geological survey to do that analysis. It actually had1258been done off some work Price had done in Colorado, in Senator1259Hickenlooper's state, which you are probably familiar with, and1260then, we followed up at the state level and actually started1261making inroads. And they tried in Montana a little bit because1262they thought maybe the geology was a little better, but it1263proved it wasn't, plus the fact that they had more regulatory1264burden over there because we really created an environment with1265incentives and a favorable regulatory environment.1266    But the geological analysis was critical, and then, once we1267finally got it going, we got the U.S. Geological Survey to1268engage. And then, once they did it, of course, then companies1269really started coming in, and it took off. That was about 2006,12702008. So it shows the importance of what you do in terms of1271producing more energy in this country because that was1272critical. And I kept trying to get them to come in, and that is1273how we eventually did it.1274    So now we are in situations in the shale plays where we1275have to put legs on those shale plays, right, in the1276unconventional areas, because of the declines and the curves1277and all that. So, will you work with us and tell us how you1278will work with us to make sure that we are able to go in with1279tertiary recovery methods? So for example, pulling the1280CO2 off coal plants and putting it downhole for a1281CO2 flood. And talk about that, because this is a1282big deal if we are going to get this energy dominance and1283sustain it. Talk to me about how you can help us get that done.1284    Dr. Mamula. Okay. Great question, Senator Hoeven, and thank1285you.1286    When you add the North Dakota Geological Survey and the1287schools that you have there to my Texas A&M and Penn State, we1288are ready to rock on these reserve estimates.1289    Senator Hoeven. No pun intended with the ready to rock?1290    [Laughter.]1291    Dr. Mamula. But Senator, the more the USGS is engaged with1292our industry, the better for both sides of that equation. Look,1293the USGS has a great ability to look at a map, produce a cross1294section, and give us a 3D block view of that piece of real1295estate and the minerals, oil, gas, and other endowments in1296that. So in the case of North Dakota, I think, if there was any1297hesitation, perhaps maybe part of that was not on federal land,1298maybe they felt they wouldn't, you know, but federal land,1299absolutely, that is the USGS Organic Act. Go off of federal1300land, maybe it wasn't quite as--but if I am confirmed, Senator1301Hoeven, I am going out there, and it's going to be all hands on1302deck for all lands because there is no need or reason to strand1303a resource.1304    And to your point on tertiary recovery, if we have excess1305carbon dioxide here and a need for it over here to drive1306tertiary recovery, we get a two-fer. We take it from here and1307we put it over there. We don't want to waste our resources.1308Things that don't come out of the ground, Senator, as I said to1309you yesterday, their value is essentially zero.1310    Senator Hoeven. Yeah, no, that's right-on. It's a two-fer.1311Would you be willing to come to North Dakota with me? We have1312state, we have--fortunately, we have a lot of private, and I1313know that's a frustration for our Chairman, because they have1314so much public, but we have a lot of private, state, Native1315American, and federal, and they are all intertwined, and one1316can impede the other if we don't all work together.1317    Dr. Mamula. If confirmed, Senator, I commit to you to come1318up there and look at it, and I commit to the Survey that we1319reexamine land ownership and maybe dispatch with the1320boundaries. As far as geology, they are kind of artificial1321anyway.1322    Senator Hoeven. Right.1323    Dr. Mamula. An ore deposit doesn't care whether it's1324located on federal, state, or private land, but it's sitting1325there saying, ``Wow, develop me.'' So this is something I will1326look into, and you have my word on that.1327    Senator Hoeven. Mr. Chairman, just one final quick1328question, if I can beg your indulgence?1329    The geothermal--we are doing a lot more in geothermal. Is1330there any synergy that you see between the energy industry, in1331terms of oil and gas, and the geothermal? Opportunities?1332    Dr. Mamula. Senator Hoeven, sometimes if you have an1333abandoned well in the oil industry, in the energy industry, or1334a gas well, oil well, whatever, that may well serve a dual1335purpose. Maybe it has another life and it has deepened into the1336geothermal pool that's available. In North Dakota, I don't1337know, we are going to take a look at your geothermal resources1338there. Then, we are going to say, okay, if we can get this1339amount, then you have geothermal reserves, and then the easiest1340way to get to it is maybe to use something that's already in1341place.1342    Senator, if I may, it's kind of like mine tailings or metal1343mine dumps laying on the ground. To me, they are nothing but1344ore deposits on the surface. And it's the same with your1345geothermal resources there. If we can get at it in an easier1346way, we should take advantage of it, absolutely. And you have1347my commitment to work with you on that.1348    Senator Hoeven. Right, some of our wells are two miles1349deep, and then we go out vertically for three miles or more in1350multiple directions, with 12 miles on one pad. So it might1351create some opportunities.1352    Dr. Mamula. I think it's setting a stage for another energy1353play in North Dakota, i.e., geothermal.1354    Senator Hoeven. Yes, thank you, sir.1355    Again, thanks, Mr. Chairman, appreciate it.1356    The Chairman. Senator Cortez Masto.1357    Senator Cortez Masto. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1358    Mr. Prochaska, let me start with you. Do you support an1359all-of-the-above energy approach?1360    Mr. Prochaska. Thank you very much for the question,1361Senator.1362    I support an all-of-the-above energy approach if it's1363reliable, affordable, and secure. I think we need to look at1364the portfolio.1365    Senator Cortez Masto. Do you think solar and wind are1366reliable and affordable and secure?1367    Mr. Prochaska. There are some cases where that very well1368could be and there are also enabling technologies that could1369maybe enhance certain technologies--not particularly those1370two--but I think that is part of the opportunity ahead of us is1371to make sure we find out what is keeping, if anything, from1372affordable, reliable, and secure technologies and help that.1373    Senator Cortez Masto. Thank you.1374    Are there any specific areas of research that you believe1375ARPA-E must prioritize to remain competitive?1376    Mr. Prochaska. I would have to look at the portfolio1377because your question is as if we have to maintain. I am not1378well in depth in the whole portfolio right now, as it stands,1379from many years ago when I was there. And looking at those1380projects as they evolve, that would be part of the evaluation.1381    Senator Cortez Masto. Okay.1382    In your written testimony, you acknowledged that new1383critical technologies are at an inflection point. I couldn't1384agree more, absolutely. And please know that Nevada entities1385have leveraged ARPA-E funding in recent years to uncover1386exciting solutions, such as innovative research with Nevada1387Gold Mines and the University of Nevada Reno to study new1388techniques for the separation of rare earth elements from ores.1389There is so much going on. There is so much opportunity. But1390here's my question for you. In President Trump's Fiscal Year13912026 budget, he calls for a 57 percent cut to ARPA-E--a 571392percent cut. So my question to you, if confirmed, how would you1393manage that, and what specific actions would you take to stand1394up for your agency and the tools it needs, and will you then1395have to make priorities on which areas of research that you1396would support? And I would be curious what those areas would1397be.1398    Mr. Prochaska. Senator, I think within--to first start with1399the areas, I would not dare sit here today and say I know. I1400think in something like an ARPA-E, an advanced research1401projects agency, and this high-reward, high-risk technology,1402the most dangerous thing that someone can say is, particularly1403prior to----1404    Senator Cortez Masto. Can I stop you? I'm sorry, because I1405only have so much time.1406    Mr. Prochaska. Yes, Senator.1407    Senator Cortez Masto. You keep talking about high-risk,1408high-reward. What is that? What projects are those? What are1409you talking about, specifically?1410    Mr. Prochaska. I think it's the ability to put dollars for1411an exponential return to impact on the United States taxpayer1412and ensure that we are making the biggest bang for the buck.1413And really, shooting, as we talk about sometimes, moonshot-type1414technologies. To answer your question, we will maximize the1415resources that are at ARPA-E to make sure we are effectively1416and efficiently accomplishing the mission to deliver the best1417we possibly can for the U.S. taxpayer.1418    Senator Cortez Masto. I only have so much time, so I am1419going to jump to--and I apologize, I don't get the chance to1420ask you all questions, so we will submit some for the record.1421    But Ms. Pierce, I did have one for you, but we will submit1422it for the record because I know you are patiently waiting1423here.1424    But there is one that I have to ask Dr. Mamula about1425because, as you know, Nevada is at the forefront of developing1426our nation's critical mineral supply chain and reducing1427dependence on China. And I have heard all of you comment to1428some extent that that is absolutely necessary. The mining1429industry in Nevada is bolstered by invaluable research1430conducted at our universities, including the Mackay School of1431Mines at the University of Nevada, Reno through grants from1432USGS programs such as Earth MRI, STATEMAP, and the National1433Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program. Our1434universities are able to create publicly available data1435regarding the location of critical mineral resources, to1436archive mineral compositions of different regions, and1437accelerate mine permitting by providing baseline geological1438data for prospective projects. I fear that without this1439research, Nevada and the rest of the United States may fall1440further behind in the race to develop reliable critical mineral1441supply chains.1442    Unfortunately, in the President's Fiscal Year 2026 budget,1443he proposes to slash the USGS by about half a billion dollars1444and cut funding to universities. Yet, it says the Agency will1445focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals.1446Now, I understand that you are not currently at the Agency, but1447can you explain how cutting critical research like this will1448actually help the U.S. achieve dominance in energy and critical1449minerals, and how would you manage that cut to your budget?1450    Dr. Mamula. Senator Cortez Masto, thank you for the1451question, and by the way, Nevada is a great geology state. I go1452there every year, and I know the people in your state1453geological survey.1454    To answer your question, let me take it this way--the1455federal funds from USGS flow down to the state geological1456surveys. That's one of the greatest partnerships you can1457believe, and it's just fabulous. The state surveys are the1458engine behind much of our mapping. So we have state and federal1459working together. Senator, I am not privy, or I don't1460understand the nuances of the President's budget because I am1461not in there yet, but I will make it a very number one priority1462to look at that budget and make sure that we have the money to1463drive the program forward, which is the President's priority,1464that is, to make the critical minerals, rare earth, and1465technology metals a national priority because it is a national1466security priority, and that would be my focus from day one,1467minute one, when I walk in that building, if confirmed.1468    Senator Cortez Masto. Will you promise me this? If you,1469once you get in there, and the cuts are made--and they are1470going to be significant cuts to you, including cuts to grant1471funding--that whatever little funds you do have for grant1472funding, that you do not make a decision that you are going to1473pick blue states over red states.1474    Dr. Mamula. Senator, I need to take a look at that. I can't1475envision, when we do geology and funding and cooperation1476between state and federal, that there's a blue state/red1477state--Senator, let me just go on the record and say that1478critical minerals, our energy, our rare earths, and our1479technology metals--I hope, and sometimes secretly I pray, that1480this is the greatest non-partisan issue before us in our time.1481We have to----1482    Senator Cortez Masto. And you would commit to keeping it1483non-partisan?1484    Dr. Mamula. Senator, we are scientists, and if we get into1485the weeds of politics, it kind of spoils our credibility, and I1486would never do that to the USGS.1487    Senator Cortez Masto. Thank you.1488    The Chairman. Senator King.1489    Senator King. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1490    One of the sages of New England, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said,1491``What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you1492say.'' I have never been at a hearing where what is being done1493is at such variance with what is being said.1494    Mr. Prochaska, you waxed eloquent about the talented and1495dedicated staff of ARPA-E and all the great work that they have1496done. Their budget is being cut by 57 percent. How do you1497justify all this nice talk about what you are going to do when1498your agency is being cut more than in half? You can talk until1499you are blue in the face, but what speaks here is--57 percent1500cut. Tell me--and you went through your entire testimony, all1501of your answers to your questions, until you got to Senator1502Cortez Masto, and never once mentioned renewables, the fastest1503growing, cheapest source of electricity in the United States1504today. And let me read from the budget document: ``Green New1505Scam technologies are not supported.'' That's in the ARPA-E1506budget document. ``Green New Scam technologies are not1507supported.'' That means no renewables, right? You've got an1508order from the President of the United States, no renewables.1509Is that correct?1510    Mr. Prochaska. That is not correct, Senator.1511    Senator King. So, he didn't mean--what does he mean,1512``Green New Scam'' technologies? He is talking about solar and1513wind. Everybody knows that.1514    Mr. Prochaska. Senator, I can't opine on what the1515definition of that language is. I can commit to, if confirmed,1516that the ARPA-E and the portfolio that we investigate and look1517into will include all technologies that I mentioned to the1518Senator----1519    Senator King. So, it was just a coincidence that when you1520listed the technologies, the nearest you got to renewables was1521a mention of geothermal last. You never mentioned solar and1522wind, and you used the code word ``reliable,'' which is a new1523code word for ``we don't like solar and wind because they are1524intermittent,'' but as you indicated in your answer to Senator1525Cortez Masto, when you have batteries with solar and wind, it1526is baseload. Is that correct?1527    Mr. Prochaska. Senator, it very well could be. It depends1528on the situation. But the portfolio that we will investigate1529will include all technologies, and reliable is important to the1530energy that we need for the future to fund some of the emerging1531technologies that we have talked about.1532    Senator King. I appreciate what you are saying here. What I1533am going to watch is what you do, because budgets are policy.1534And this budget, the policy of this budget is a drastic cut--1535drastic cut--more than half in ARPA-E, I think one of the most1536important agencies in the U.S. Government. It is where fracking1537started, the shale revolution started with research funds from1538the Department of Energy. And we are talking about a more than1539half cut. So I am going to watch what you do and not what you1540say.1541    Now, Mr. Mamula, you talked about the importance of data1542and science and all of those kinds of things, and yet, there1543have been reports in the last few weeks that biological1544research in the USGS is being cut entirely and 25 Water Science1545Centers, which_stream gauges, measuring storms.1546    [The reports referred to follow:]15471548    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]15491550    Senator King. I get the feeling this is like, if we don't1551measure anything on climate change, it will go away. Is that1552what is going on here?1553    Dr. Mamula. I don't think so, Senator. Thanks for the1554question. Let's discuss it. Again, I am not at the Survey, but1555I want to take a look. If confirmed, I want to go out and look1556at each and every single program, its budget, and cuts1557proposed, and----1558    Senator King. Well, somebody's already done that and cut1559your budget 37 percent before you even walk in the door.1560    Dr. Mamula. Yeah, well, again----1561    Senator King. That's done.1562    Dr. Mamula. The cut----1563    Senator King. Assuming Congress agrees, which, I hope they1564won't.1565    Dr. Mamula. Yeah, I don't know about that either, I am not1566familiar. But the program, the contents of the program that has1567a cut associated with it, I am not familiar, I don't know1568what's being cut.1569    Senator King. I thought you were pretty familiar with USGS.1570    Dr. Mamula. I am, but I don't know what is----1571    Senator King. Do you believe it's appropriate to cut all of1572their biological research programs?1573    Dr. Mamula. Well, I have to see what they are talking1574about. If they are talking about----1575    Senator King. All means all, as I understand.1576    Dr. Mamula. Yeah, well, still, I would be more comfortable,1577once confirmed, looking at that and saying, okay, is this a cut1578deserved, or should we actually have a plus-up, or what?1579    Senator King. How about eliminating 25 Water Research1580Centers around the country? Is that a good idea? You talked1581rhapsodically to Senator Hickenlooper about data and how1582important data is. This is critically important data that it1583appears we are not going to collect anymore.1584    Dr. Mamula. I want to see again what cuts they are talking1585about. That will tell me where the data is either being cut or1586not being cut, and then what's left on the table, and then we1587say, yes, we can still do our mission with what has not been1588cut.1589    Senator King. It looks to me like what is being cut is data1590that will be produced to demonstrate the danger of climate1591change to our economy, to our people, to our country, to our1592environment. And you know, not collecting the data doesn't mean1593the problem isn't going to be there. Collecting the data can1594alert us to where there are problems and where we can deal with1595them. I hope that you--you say you are going to look at this--1596the problem is, as I say, you are walking into a shop that has1597already been cut by more than a third.1598    So, Mr. Chairman, you know, this isn't personal for you1599people. I don't know you. I am sure you want to do the right1600thing, but let's get real here and try to face the reality. And1601to come in here and talk, you know, about how wonderful USGS is1602and how wonderful ARPA-E is, which I think it is, at the same1603time that it's being cut, these two agencies are being cut--in1604one case by over 50 percent, in the other case by more than a1605third--it just doesn't pass the straight-face test.1606    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1607    The Chairman. Thanks so much, Senator King.1608    We are going to wrap up in a moment. Any additional1609questions that we may have had will be submitted in writing.1610    Before I do the closing wrap-up, I am going to turn to1611Senator Heinrich for some additional thoughts.1612    Senator Heinrich. I have a number of questions I will be1613happy to submit for the record for the rest of you. I think1614what you are hearing from Senator King and others on this panel1615is the fact that budgets are a reflection of our values. And1616what we see in this budget is a disregard for science. When you1617are saying that two of the most preeminent institutions of1618science that have benefited our economy over and over again1619should get an almost 40 percent and almost 60 percent cut, you1620are saying we don't value science. And I hope this Congress1621will send a very different message.1622    The Chairman. Thanks, Senator Heinrich.1623    I would like to thank the witnesses for attending today.1624Each of you comes with a wealth of knowledge and has been very1625helpful today. So thanks for your cooperation. Thanks to the1626Senators, also, for being here and taking the time to cast the1627votes and to question.1628    Questions for the record for the hearing will be due by16296:00 p.m. this evening. The record for the hearing will remain1630open for statements until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.1631    Thanks again to the members of the Committee. On behalf of1632the Committee, I am pleased to extend congratulations to all of1633the nominees, including those we recommended favorably to the1634floor today and those who have gone through the process today1635during the hearing portion.1636    I look forward to working with all the Senators on the1637Committee as we continue to consider each of the President's1638nominees within the jurisdiction of the Committee in such a1639productive manner. I hope every Senator on the Committee will1640work with me to help persuade leadership on both sides of the1641aisle to bring these nominations to the floor as soon as1642possible.1643    The meeting stands adjourned. Thank you.1644    [Whereupon, at 11:08 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]16451646                      APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED16471648                              ----------16491650[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]16511652                                 [all]