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. . . Western States Water Council Water Resources Committee Minutes Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 3, 2007 States has been undertaken...a study, such as that proposed in H.R. 135, could be of substantial benefit to the West.... If such a commission is to be successful, it will be important that it represent the diverse interests that exist." The revised letter will be addressed to Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), chair of the House Resources Water and Power Subcommittee. It was moved, seconded and approved. The Committee also recommended that the Council approve a revised and updated position in the form of a letter to express appreciation to Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), the past and present chairs of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees, for their efforts in securing passage in the last Congress of the Rural Water Supply Act of2006 (S.895). The legislation authorizes an assessment of rural water supply needs, potential projects and programs to meet those needs, and authorizes federal loan guarantees to help enable Reclamation project sponsors to obtain private financing for necessary, extraordinary operation and maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement costs. A reference to the Western Governors' Water Report will be added. Jeanine Jones moved recommending the letter to the Council and Roland Westergard seconded the motion. It was approved. Next, the Committee recommended and the Council approved a proposed position in support of legislation to specifically authorize the Water 2025 Program and recognize Reclamation's commitment to a proactive, but non-regulatory approach to encouraging water conservation. The position statement included a reference to the Western Governors' Water Report, prepared by the Council, which addresses the relative merits of water conservation and water use efficiency opportunities. The position statement was moved, seconded and approved. Separately, a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees expressing concern over the Administration's decision to zero out funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Technical Assistance to States (TATS) Program in its FY 2008 budget request had been prepared at the request of the State of Texas. Weir Labatt, a member of the Texas Water Development Board, highlighted the states interest in this federal budget matter. The letter was discussed and approved with an addition also expressing disappointment with the Administration's $11 million request for Reclamation's Water 2025 Program, which is a $3.5 million reduction from the Administration's FY 2007 request of$14.5 million. Sue Lowry moved adoption of the letter, which was seconded by Dave Pope. It was unanimously approved. Since this matter was not noticed 30-day prior to the meeting, it will require unanimous consent to be considered by the Council. The Committee also considered a request that the Council add its name to a letter circulated by a coalition of interests expressing support for the Administration's proposed Rural Water Enhancement Program (RWEP) under the Conservation Title of the proposed 2007 Farm Bill. The letter was circulated and discussed. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Council consider the RWEP proposal and sign the letter. Jeanine Jones also expressed her thoughts on the need for the Council to stay engaged on Farm Bill issues. [See the discussion after the presentation below on the Farm Bill.] Next, the Committee considered and approved a proposed policy position in support of funding for the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program, under the Climate Program Office (CPO) ofthe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was moved by Jeanine, seconded by Ken Slattery and carried as proposed (subsequent to the Executive Committee's pre-mmeeting conference call) with two minor revisions. It describes the importance of the RlSA's applied 3