BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Approve the Recommended Position on the Nomination of Camille Calimlim Touton to be Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt a position of “Support” on the Nomination of Camille Calimlim Touton to be Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Body
SUMMARY:
Nomination of Camille Calimlim Touton to be Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Recommendation: Support
Priority Recommendation: 2
On June 18, 2021, President Joseph Biden nominated Camille Calimlim Touton to be Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Ms. Touton has served as Deputy Commissioner and acting Commissioner since January. Prior to serving as Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Touton worked as a top aide on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House Committee on Natural Resources, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. She also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior under President Obama. A native of Nevada, she holds bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University. If confirmed, she would be the first Filipino American to lead Reclamation.
Status:
On June 18, 2021, President Biden announced his nomination of Ms. Touton to be Commissioner. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will now consider her nomination, but no hearing date has been set. Given that the Board will not meet again until August, however, staff recommends supporting her nomination now so that staff can submit a letter of support to the committee in advance of the hearing, which could happen in July.
Importance to Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water):
Valley Water has a long-standing and close working relationship with Ms. Touton from her extensive experience on Capitol Hill and in the Obama administration working on Western water issues. Staff has worked with her for many years and knows her to be a thoughtful, pragmatic leader who knows our issues well and is a partner for advancing our interests. Her background and experience make her an ideal candidate for this position, particularly at a time when Valley Water needs a strong partner to lead Reclamation and partner with agencies like ours to help get us through the current drought, and navigate complex water resources issues over the short- and long-term.
Pros:
• Valley Water already has a strong working relationship with Ms. Touton and it would serve our agency’s interests to have her in this leadership role.
• Ms. Touton has extensive experience working on the authorizing committees for the Bureau of Reclamation, so she knows the issues, the players, and the legislative process very well. Having these relationships could help facilitate a closer partnership between these committees, Reclamation, and agencies like ours on critical water supply issues. In addition, having these open lines of communication with Reclamation, under Ms. Touton’s leadership, during this emergency drought period will be crucial to advancing Valley Water’s interests.
• Ms. Touton has the necessary experience and education to make her a strong and capable leader for the agency.
Cons:
• None identified at this time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Don Rocha, 408-630-2338