Water and Power

The Water and Power Subcommittee is a specialized panel within the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that focuses on a narrow but critical slice of federal water and energy policy. As a subcommittee, it conducts initial hearings and reviews legislation before matters move to the full committee, which has final authority to report bills to the Senate floor. The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers irrigation, reclamation projects, power marketing administrations like Bonneville Power and Southwestern Power, hydroelectric power generation, groundwater management, and the energy-related aspects of water infrastructure.

The subcommittee's work is particularly important for western states, where federal water infrastructure—including dams, canals, and recharge systems—underpins agriculture, municipal water supplies, and economic development. Recent hearings have examined drought preparedness, water storage and conservation, cyber threats to water infrastructure, and legislation addressing tribal water access, Colorado River management, and rural water supply programs. The subcommittee also provides oversight of the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency responsible for managing water projects across the West.

Chaired by Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) with Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) as Ranking Member, the 13-member subcommittee includes senators from both parties with strong interests in western water issues. The subcommittee's recent activity reflects ongoing challenges in the region, including drought management, aging infrastructure, and balancing water needs across competing uses.