Scott Tipton

Chairman Tipton, members of the subcommittee, thank you for holding this hearing.

I would like to thank our utility witnesses for making the trip to be with us today, and for sharing their valuable insight on how to improve the existing regulatory framework so we can better protect critical infrastructure, safeguard…

We are actually going to be punishing people through higher rates because of bad policy?

So a lot of money for very little impact.

We need to clearly and definitively get this settled.

Our Governor pointed out that we have the best science on the ground in the State of Colorado, and are achieving recovery.

What was the discrepancy between the State of Colorado and the map produced by Garfield County?

Don't you think that ought to be public, if we are talking about transparency?

We have no certainty in the West for our farm and ranch community when it comes to being able to protect a private property right.

I would encourage you to talk to some of those local communities before some of those road closures actually take place.

I will fight tooth and nail if you continue to implement these programs that eliminates access to all Americans.

Are you taking some efforts to be able to reach out to them for clarity?

I guess frustration, as you say, it is very clear, apparently, some of the people that are trying to be able to get information doesn't feel it is very clear.

Are you aware of that disconnect, that there is some frustration out there?

I appreciate that. It is interesting. I am pleased to be able to hear the comments that we need to be able to work a little more closely.

Mr. Ashe, thank you for taking the time to be here.

Again, I will refer my colleagues to the text of the bill. No Federal water rights that they currently have are going to be impaired. That includes national parks. We continue to hear about the upcoming Polis amendment. The original bill…

We strongly support legislation introduced by Representative Scott Tipton (H.R. 3189), which passed the House of Representatives on March 3, 2014.

I thank the gentleman for his support of this amendment. It speaks to a very important point. We have got to make sure that the agencies are actually doing what the law is requiring. This clarification simply achieves that.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 66, line 1, strike ``The agency'' and insert ``Each year, each agency''. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to…

These programs that confuse businesses and owners and waste taxpayer resources, I believe we can agree that it simply cannot be tolerated.

The best way to be able to have the resources is to be able to assure the American people that we are doing the very best we can to be able to not only grow the economy but be able to handle those limited resources well.

One of the big issues--I think we all have a responsibility for those of us that are serving here in Washington--is to be looking out for the American taxpayer.

We are going to have to be able to have the water for them not only to be able to bathe, but to be able to grow the crops for them to be able to eat.

This shouldn't be a partisan issue. Everybody likes to eat and be able to have crops to be able to grow.