Pangasinan 4th District Representative Christopher de Venecia has congratulated Camille Calimlim Touton, the new deputy commissioner of the US Bureau of Reclamation, who was appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden, making her the first Filipino-American to take a leadership role in the agency.
“The appointment of Camille Calimlim Touton brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also the entire Philippines,” De Venecia said in Resolution 1513 that he had filed at the House of Representatives recently.
“Touton’s work focuses on complicated issues of Western water policy and the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles.”
The veteran legislator said Touton’s work focuses on complicated issues of Western water policy and the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles.
The Bureau of Reclamation is a water management agency under the US Department of the Interior, which oversees dams, canals, and hydroelectric plants across the Western US.
It is the largest wholesaler of water in the US and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the Western US.
“Touton’s parents, Carl and Marlene Bangsal Calimlim, are from Barangay Tebeng, Dagupan City.”
The seasoned lawmaker said Touton’s parents, Carl and Marlene Bangsal Calimlim, are from Barangay Tebeng, Dagupan City.
He added that Touton holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from George Mason University, Virginia.
Before joining the Bureau of Reclamation, she had worked as a former professional staff member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (2019-2021) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (2017-2019), a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science (2016-2017) and a former counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science (2014-2016) of the US Department of the Interior, a former senior adviser of water and power policy of the House Natural Resources Committee (2013-2014), a former professional staff member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Water and Power Subcommittee (2011-2013), a former legislative staff member of the House Natural Resources Committee (2007-2011), and a former legislative correspondent of former US senator Harry Reid (2006-2007), de Venecia said.