04.17.13

Hoeven Meets with OMB Nominee Sylvia Burwell

Senator Presses for Action on Deficit and Debt, Fargo Area Water Issues

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today met with Office of Budget and Management (OMB) Director nominee Sylvia Burwell prior to her Senate confirmation hearing. The senator stressed the need to address the nation’s deficit and debt and also raised two practical and cost-effective water projects important to the Red River Valley.

“We need to work hard toward a comprehensive agreement on the budget that finds real savings and implements both pro-growth tax reform and bipartisan entitlement reform that preserves and protects Medicare and Social Security for future generations,” Hoeven said.

Hoeven also raised two important issues for Fargo and the Red River Valley: the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project and the Red River Valley Water Supply project.

The president’s recently issued budget failed to include funding for the diversion, which Hoeven said would make it harder to secure funding for the project. He said permanent flood control would save federal, state and local governments millions of dollars now spent on an almost annual flood fight. The senator asked Burwell to restore the funding to the president’s budget if she is confirmed by the Senate.

Hoeven also raised the issue of the delayed Record of Decision (ROD) for the Red River Valley Water Supply project, which would provide a reliable, year-round source of water to the rapidly growing Fargo area. OMB has not signed off on the project, which has delayed final approval by the Secretary of the Interior. Hoeven has already contacted new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for help on the Red River Valley Water Supply project.