Senior leaders from the Department of the Interior’s Office of Water and Science and the Bureau of Reclamation participated in the Family Farm Alliance’s (FFA) annual conference, February 24-25, to highlight the implementation of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and reinforce the importance of partnerships.

Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo delivered the day#1 keynote address and discussed how infrastructure law funding will improve western water infrastructure and promote more sustainable food systems. In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Trujillo highlighted how the department is marshaling new and existing resources and working with state, local, and Tribal governments to address the needs of communities suffering from drought-related impacts. She acknowledged the complex nature of relations between the federal government and Family Farm Alliance’s members, stressing the need for collaboration and transparency throughout implementation the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "We have a historic opportunity to make investments that will help local, state, and Tribal communities respond to drought. I am grateful for this opportunity to speak directly with our partners regarding how to make the best use of these new resources," said Trujillo.

The “Reclamation Roundtable” featured Assistant Secretary Trujillo and leaders from each of Reclamation’s five regions discussing how the infrastructure law’s historical funding ($1.2 trillion) will benefit family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts and allied industries in 17 western states. The roundtable opened with recorded remarks from Commissioner Touton that highlighted Reclamation’s ongoing efforts to support agriculture producers and bolster food security. In her remarks, Commissioner Touton emphasized that Reclamation's $8.3 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocation represents a generational investment to address the vast infrastructure challenges facing the western water and power communities. She noted the key to the law’s successful implementation is maintaining consistent and effective dialog with partners and stakeholders. The panel discussion concluded with regional leaders expertly outlining their priorities and affirming their commitment to working with all partners, Tribes, and communities to advance food security.

Following the “Reclamation Roundtable,” professional staffers from the Senate and House committees on energy and natural resources provided details about infrastructure law funding and ongoing efforts to schedule a detailed congressional hearing about its implementation. The first day of the conference also included a discussion with the architects of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that focused on lessons learned; concluding with a conversation about the Administration’s 30x30 initiative to reverse the negative impacts of climate change by protecting more natural areas.

The final day of the conference included the participation of senior officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Army, Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the “Federal Leaders Panel” to showcase the Administration’s whole-of-government approach to implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Assistant Secretary Trujillo led the discussion with her interagency counterparts about the complexities of our food systems and the ongoing collaboration across the federal government. Each leader explained how the law supports their agency priorities and discussed ways to continue advancing better approaches to food security; and that small, rural, and underserved communities must have access to innovative programs and resources.

The federal leaders made clear throughout the conference that working with farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts and allied industries to address the impacts drought will remain an Administration priority.

To learn more about Reclamation’s implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law please visit www.usbr.gov/bil