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[Page S2576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Nomination of Major General Scott Spellmon
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, first of all, I just want to associate
myself with the words of my colleague Senator Blunt. I couldn't say it
as eloquently. I certainly couldn't improve upon it. I am just going to
say I completely agree. Thank you.
The real purpose for my coming to the floor today is to demonstrate
my support for MG Scott Spellmon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
General Spellmon is up for a promotion to Lieutenant General and has
been nominated to become the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General
to replace General Semonite as he retires.
Since coming to the Senate, General Semonite and I have become well
acquainted with each other. While we haven't always agreed, I do
appreciate his service, his very hard work, and his accessibility,
especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.
His retirement is well earned, and I thank him for his service and
wish him well.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Environment and
Public Works Committee, I serve on two of the Army Corps committees of
jurisdiction. As many of my colleagues can attest, it is a rare
occasion that I compliment the Corps. It is an agency that is the
epitome in many cases of cumbersome bureaucracy.
I am not unique in my frustration. During our last EPW hearing with
the Corps, criticism was both bipartisan and tangible. From Rhode
Island to North Dakota to Oregon, each of us expressed frustration with
a seemingly tone-deaf bureaucracy, which either doesn't do what it is
supposed to do or does what it is not supposed to do.
That frustration brings me here today: Major General Spellmon's
pending nomination and promotion. Throughout this process, I have
worked closely with General Spellmon on numerous issues important to
North Dakota and other Western States.
Early on, I spoke with him regarding the Spring Creek embankment in
Central North Dakota. Due to the poor maintenance of relief wells, the
Corps was going to move forward with a water control plan that could
potentially devastate water supply and irrigation needs in eastern
parts of my State.
As per usual, the Corps' decision matrix was overly complicated and
did not adequately reflect the needs and realities of rural America.
When I brought the issue to General Spellmon, he promised to take a
fresh look and reassess the economic impacts of the project. He then
worked with me to craft legislation supporting these efforts, which was
added to the water infrastructure legislation we unanimously passed out
of the EPW not too long ago. He listened to the problem and is working
with me to help solve it.
I also challenged General Spellmon on Western State water rights--a
problem that has plagued Western States that operate under the prior
appropriation doctrine. On a bipartisan basis, Democrats and
Republicans from Western States have been frustrated by an Army Corps
that either ignores States and Tribes or needlessly inserts extra
bureaucracy into decisions that are really not theirs to make. Once
again, General Spellmon listened intently to the concern and provided
thorough, honest responses to be used as a guidepost for Corps policy
moving forward.
Of equal importance, he acknowledged the flaws within his own
organization. In my time in Congress, honesty sometimes seems to be
missing but not with General Spellmon. He has proven he is willing to
listen and be responsive in a forthright manner, and I thank him for
that.
I am confident General Spellmon will continue to listen to Western
States and provide the necessary deference to them pursuant to
congressional intent and to our Nation's Constitution. I have
appreciated getting to know the general, and while my oversight and
questions may not have always been the most enjoyable to him, he has
proven to be up to the task of replacing General Semonite. I support
his nomination and promotion, and I hope his exemplary service will be
replicated by the rest of the bureaucracy he is going to lead.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon