[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2728 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2728

  To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and 
 develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address 
                          future water needs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2008

  Mr. Isakson introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and 
 develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address 
                          future water needs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Twenty-First Century Water 
Commission Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Nation's water resources will be under increasing 
        stress and pressure in the coming decades;
            (2) a thorough assessment of technological and economic 
        advances that can be employed to increase water supplies or 
        otherwise meet water needs in every region of the country is 
        important and long overdue; and
            (3) a comprehensive strategy to increase water availability 
        and ensure safe, adequate, reliable, and sustainable water 
        supplies is vital to the economic and environmental future of 
        the Nation.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Twenty-First 
Century Water Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    The duties of the Commission shall be to--
            (1) use existing water assessments and conduct such 
        additional assessments as may be necessary to project future 
        water supply and demand;
            (2) study current water management programs of Federal, 
        Interstate, State, and local agencies, and private sector 
        entities directed at increasing water supplies and improving 
        the availability, reliability, and quality of freshwater 
        resources; and
            (3) consult with representatives of such agencies and 
        entities to develop recommendations consistent with laws, 
        treaties, decrees, and interstate compacts for a comprehensive 
        water strategy which--
                    (A) respects the primary role of States in 
                adjudicating, administering, and regulating water 
                rights and water uses;
                    (B) identifies incentives intended to ensure an 
                adequate and dependable supply of water to meet the 
                needs of the United States for the next 50 years;
                    (C) suggests strategies that avoid increased 
                mandates on State and local governments;
                    (D) eliminates duplication and conflict among 
                Federal governmental programs;
                    (E) considers all available technologies and other 
                methods to optimize water supply reliability, 
                availability, and quality, while safeguarding the 
                environment;
                    (F) recommends means of capturing excess water and 
                flood water for conservation and use in the event of a 
                drought;
                    (G) suggests financing options for comprehensive 
                water management projects and for appropriate public 
                works projects;
                    (H) suggests strategies to conserve existing water 
                supplies, including recommendations for repairing aging 
                infrastructure; and
                    (I) includes other objectives related to the 
                effective management of the water supply to ensure 
                reliability, availability, and quality, which the 
                Commission shall consider appropriate.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 
members who shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. Member shall be appointed as follows:
            (1) 5 members appointed by the President;
            (2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, in consultation with the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives; and
            (3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate, in consultation with the minority leader of the Senate.
    (b) Qualifications.--Members shall be appointed to the Commission 
from among individuals who--
            (1) are of recognized standing and distinction in water 
        policy issues; and
            (2) while serving on the Commission, do not hold any other 
        position as an officer or employee of the United States, except 
        as a retired officer or retired civilian employee of the United 
        States.
    (c) Other Considerations.--In appointing members of the Commission, 
every effort shall be made to ensure that the members represent a broad 
cross section of regional and geographical perspectives in the United 
States.
    (d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
designated by the President.
    (e) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve 
for the life of the Commission.
    (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall not affect its 
operation, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment provided under subsection (a).
    (g) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission 
shall serve without compensation, except members shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57, United States 
Code.

SEC. 6. MEETINGS AND QUORUM.

    (a) Meetings.--The Commission shall hold its first meeting not 
later than 60 days after the date on which all members have been 
appointed under section 5, and shall hold additional meetings at the 
call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
    (b) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

SEC. 7. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

    A Director shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation 
with the minority leader and chairmen of the Resources and 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committees of the House of 
Representatives, and the minority leader and chairmen of the Energy and 
Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works Committees of the 
Senate. The Director and any staff reporting to the Director shall be 
paid a rate of pay not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for GS-
15 of the General Schedule.

SEC. 8. POWERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission shall hold no fewer than 10 hearings 
during the life of the Commission. Hearings may be held in conjunction 
with meetings of the Commission. The Commission may take such testimony 
and receive such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate to 
carry out this Act. At least 1 hearing shall be held in Washington, DC, 
for the purpose of taking testimony of representatives of Federal 
agencies, national organizations, and Members of Congress. Other 
hearings shall be scheduled in distinct geographical regions of the 
United States and should seek to ensure testimony from individuals with 
a diversity of experiences, including those who work on water issues at 
all levels of government and in the private sector.
    (b) Information and Support From Federal Agencies.--Upon request of 
the Commission, any Federal agency shall--
            (1) provide to the Commission, within 30 days of its 
        request, such information as the Commission considers necessary 
        to carry out the provisions of this Act; and
            (2) detail to temporary duty with the Commission on a 
        reimbursable basis such personnel as the Commission considers 
        necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, in 
        accordance with section 5(b)(5), Appendix, title 5, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 9. REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
first meeting of the Commission, and every 6 months thereafter, the 
Commission shall transmit an interim report containing a detailed 
summary of its progress, including meetings and hearings conducted in 
the interim period, to--
            (1) the President;
            (2) the Committee on Resources and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the 
        Committee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
    (b) Final Report.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 3 
years after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall transmit a final report containing a detailed 
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, and 
recommendations for legislation and other policies to implement such 
findings and conclusions, to--
            (1) the President;
            (2) the Committee on Resources and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the 
        Committee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the Commission transmits a final report under section 
9(b).

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 to carry out 
this Act.
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