Committee Will Hear Nominations Amid Water Lobbying

Why it Matters

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on pending nominations on September 24, 2026, as water agencies and advocacy groups intensify lobbying efforts on Cabinet-level confirmations. Water districts and reclamation facilities across the West have retained lobbyists to track nomination announcements and monitor Senate hearings on Cabinet appointments, according to disclosures filed earlier this year. The lobbying activity reflects broader stakes: who leads federal agencies shapes water policy, infrastructure funding, and environmental enforcement across regions dependent on federal resources.

Broader Context

Western water agencies including Contra Costa Water District, Incline Village General Improvement District, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, Clark County Water Reclamation District, and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District all retained Marcus G. Faust PC to lobby on nominations for Cabinet-level positions in the third quarter of 2025 and beyond. Contra Costa Water District paid $60,000 per quarter across three consecutive quarters beginning in the third quarter of 2025, while smaller districts paid between $10,000 and $20,000 per quarter. Some of these districts specifically lobbied on the FEMA Act, signaling concern about federal disaster and infrastructure policy.

The Bottom Line

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on September 24 will take place as these lobbying efforts continue.