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~(this point, I wish to emphasize that we support the entire Col~ ~reclamation budget as contained in the Presidential request of January 17. We are equally concerned that other projects not be suddenly terminated as well. Even as I address this Committee, further deletions may be taking place. If we do not know what is going on, I hope you will forgive us. We have been exposed to one revelation after another in the past few weeks. For example, there was a press article last week which contained the following statement: "Hart (referring to Colorado's Senator Hart) issued a press release Friday night saying that Interior Secretary Cecil Andrus told him personally that two more projects (Narrows and Dallas Creek) have been added to the budget cut list. But another high Interior Department official said it was 'inconceivable' that such a decision could have been made by the White House". The day following this press release, Secretary Andrus reversed himself by denying that such cuts would take place. Yet one day later, inconceivable or not, both projects appeared on the White House hit list. In recent years, Colorado has urged a partnership with the federal government on natural resources issues whereby the state would have an active voice in the numerous federal programs that impact our state. To that end, considerable progress has resulted over these past years. However, the events of the past several weeks have come as a profound shock and disappointment to us. The record speaks for itself -- five projects vital to the well-being of our state and literally planned over decades were suddenly deleted in a wholesale fashion. There was virtually no consultation or discussion with our congressional dele- gation, our water conservancy districts and municipalities, our Indian communities, nor myself. Even more incredibly, the very federal agencies directly charged with planning and managing our water resources also were caught totally in the dark by the decision. The Department of Interior, historically the West's best link to the federal bureau- cracy, was relegated to a rubber-stamping role. It is apparent that these decisions were made behind closed doors, immune from the sunlight of facts and careful scrutiny, by those unwilling to let the American people share in the process. It is remarkable that even today, as we appear here to defend these projects which were lawfully authorized and funded by the United States Congress, we still do not know what facts, rationale, and criteria were used by the President in eliminating these projects. Although our congres- sional delegation and water officials have requested such facts and information, the administration has chosen not to share it. As recently as a few weeks ago, the President told me that the success of our government depends in large measure on the degree to which a genuine partnership can be established between the federal state and local governments. The President pledged that consultatIon with the states would occur at the earliest possible stages to provide significant and fruitful state input. We are hopeful that this sad beginning that I have detailed will be reversed and that our various states will indeed have a voice and impact on the federal process. , In the past, present and future, Colorado has had and will continue to have many painful decisions to make concerning the use of its limited water resources. We have an abundance of people, lands, minerals and other natural resources, but we do not have an abundance -2-