[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5826 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5826

 To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative to 
 ensure clean and reliable water for future generations, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2012

   Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself and Ms. Edwards) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                     Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative to 
 ensure clean and reliable water for future generations, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Coordinating Water Research for a 
Clean Water Future Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President shall begin to implement a National Water 
Research and Development Initiative through the Council, the 
Coordination Office, and appropriate Federal agencies. The Initiative 
shall--
            (1) establish the goals, priorities, and metrics for the 
        evaluation of Federal water research and development and other 
        activities related to water;
            (2) invest in Federal research and development activities 
        related to water to achieve the goals established under the 
        Strategic Plan; and
            (3) provide for interagency coordination of Federal water 
        research and development and other activities related to water 
        undertaken pursuant to the Initiative.
    (b) Initiative Activities.--The Initiative shall carry out, at a 
minimum, the following activities:
            (1) Conducting research on how to ensure the systematic and 
        coordinated collection of publicly available data on regional 
        and national water resources, including information about the 
        quantity, availability, and quality of ground and surface water 
        resources.
            (2) Conducting research on, development of, and 
        demonstration of technologies and practices to enhance reliable 
        water supply, water reuse, pollution prevention, water quality, 
        water use efficiency, and energy efficiency in water use.
            (3) Conducting research on and development of tools and 
        best practices to assist regional, State, local, and tribal 
        water resource managers in planning for changing and future 
        water availability, use patterns, and infrastructure impacts.
            (4) Conducting research on the social, behavioral, and 
        economic barriers to the sustainable use of water resources, 
        including public acceptance of water technologies and practices 
        and conflict resolution solutions for competing water resource 
        management requirements.
            (5) Conducting research to enhance the understanding of 
        water-related ecosystems, ecosystem services, and the impact on 
        water resources of invasive species, chemical contaminants, 
        natural disasters, long-term ice coverage, and changing water 
        levels.
            (6) Analyzing the energy required to provide reliable water 
        supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy 
        supplies.
            (7) Providing guidance to minority serving institutions on 
        funding opportunities to perform research as part of the 
        Initiative.
    (c) Program Management.--The Council shall oversee the planning, 
management, and coordination of the Initiative. The Council, itself or 
through an appropriate subgroup it designates or establishes, shall--
            (1) establish goals and priorities for the Initiative based 
        on national needs;
            (2) coordinate all Federal research, development, 
        demonstration, data collection and dissemination, education, 
        and technology development and transfer activities pertaining 
        to water;
            (3) coordinate the activities of the Initiative with the 
        water-related research and development activities of the United 
        States Global Change Research Program;
            (4) develop the Annual Report under subsection (d);
            (5) develop the Strategic Plan under section 5; and
            (6) through the Coordination Office, provide for public 
        input and outreach to be integrated into the Initiative, 
        including the convening of workshops.
    (d) Annual National Water Research Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall submit the Annual 
        National Water Research Report to Congress at the time of the 
        President's budget submission for each fiscal year. The Council 
        shall consider and utilize information from regional, State, 
        local, and tribal governments and other stakeholders in the 
        development of the Annual Report.
            (2) Specific requirements.--The Annual Report shall 
        include--
                    (A) for each Federal agency that participates in 
                the Initiative--
                            (i) the Initiative budget for the current 
                        fiscal year; and
                            (ii) the proposed coordinated Initiative 
                        budget for the next fiscal year;
                    (B) an analysis of the progress, and indicators 
                used to measure such progress, made toward achieving 
                the goals and priorities established for the Initiative 
                in the Strategic Plan; and
                    (C) an analysis of the extent to which the 
                Initiative has incorporated the recommendations of the 
                Advisory Committee and the public.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM COORDINATION.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish a National Water 
Research Coordination Office with a Director and full-time staff.
    (b) Functions.--The Coordination Office shall--
            (1) provide technical and administrative support to--
                    (A) the Council, including support needed for the 
                development of the Strategic Plan and the Annual 
                Report; and
                    (B) the Advisory Committee;
            (2) serve as the primary point of contact on Federal water 
        research and development activities for regional, State, local, 
        and tribal government agencies, organizations, academia, 
        industry, public-private collaborations, commercial end users, 
        and others to exchange information related to the Initiative;
            (3) conduct public outreach, including the dissemination of 
        findings of research based on the activities conducted pursuant 
        to the Initiative and recommendations of the Advisory Committee 
        through a publicly accessible Web site;
            (4) solicit input and recommendations from a wide range of 
        stakeholders during the development of each Strategic Plan and 
        Annual Report through the solicitation of public comments and 
        the convening of at least 1 workshop with invitees from 
        academia, industry, Federal laboratories, regional, State, 
        local, and tribal governments, and other relevant organizations 
        and institutions; and
            (5) promote access to and early application of innovations, 
        best practices, and expertise derived from Initiative 
        activities.
    (c) Source of Funding.--
            (1) In general.--The operation of the Coordination Office 
        shall be supported by funds contributed from each agency 
        represented on the Council.
            (2) Specifications.--The portion of the total budget of the 
        Coordination Office that is provided by each agency for each 
        fiscal year shall be in the same proportion as each such 
        agency's share of the total budget for the Initiative for the 
        previous fiscal year, as specified in the Annual Report.
    (d) Report.--Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
transmit to Congress a report on the funding of the Coordination 
Office. The report shall include--
            (1) the amount of funding required to adequately fund the 
        Coordination Office;
            (2) the adequacy of existing mechanisms to fund the 
        Coordination Office; and
            (3) the actions taken by the Director to ensure stable 
        funding of the Coordination Office.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--There shall be established a National Water 
Research Initiative Advisory Committee.
    (b) Qualifications.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall appoint as members of 
        the Advisory Committee individuals that are--
                    (A) qualified to provide advice and information on 
                water research, development, demonstrations, technology 
                development and transfer, and commercial application; 
                and
                    (B) primarily from academic institutions, industry, 
                nongovernmental institutions, and regional, State, 
                local, and tribal governments.
            (2) Recommendations.--In appointing members to the Advisory 
        Committee, the President may seek and give consideration to 
        recommendations from Congress, industry, the scientific 
        community (including the National Academy of Sciences, 
        scientific professional societies, and academia), the defense 
        community, regional, State, local, and tribal governments, and 
        other appropriate organizations.
    (c) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall advise the President and 
the Council on matters relating to the Initiative, including assessing 
the following:
            (1) Trends and developments in water research and 
        development.
            (2) Progress made in implementing the Initiative.
            (3) The need to revise the Initiative.
            (4) The balance among the activities of the Initiative 
        described in section 2(b), including funding levels for the 
        Federal programs developed to address the goals and priorities 
        of the Initiative.
            (5) Whether the goals and priorities are enabling the 
        Initiative to help maintain a reliable and clean supply of 
        water for the United States.
            (6) Whether the Initiative is enabling an adequate 
        workforce to help maintain a reliable and clean supply of water 
        for the United States.
            (7) The management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Initiative.
            (8) Whether the concerns of regional, State, local, and 
        tribal governments are being addressed adequately by the 
        Initiative.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 3 
        fiscal years, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the 
        President and the Council a report on its assessment under 
        subsection (c) and its recommendations for ways to improve the 
        Initiative.
            (2) Initial deadline.--The first report under this 
        subsection shall be submitted not later than 18 months after 
        the date of enactment of this Act.
            (3) Transmittal to congress.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a copy of each 
        report under this subsection to Congress.
    (e) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--Non-Federal members of 
the Advisory Committee, while attending meetings of the Advisory 
Committee or while otherwise serving at the request of the head of the 
Advisory Committee away from their homes or regular places of business, 
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code, for individuals in the Government serving without pay. Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit members of the Advisory 
Committee who are officers or employees of the United States from being 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with existing law.
    (f) Exemption From Sunset.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) In General.--The Council, with the assistance of the 
Coordination Office, shall develop, within 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and update every 3 years thereafter, a 5-year 
National Water Research and Development Strategic Plan to guide the 
activities of the Initiative described under section 2(b).
    (b) Goals.--The Strategic Plan shall specify near-term and long-
term goals for the Initiative, the anticipated timeframe for achieving 
the near-term goals, and the metrics to be used for assessing progress 
toward the goals.
    (c) Priorities.--The Strategic Plan shall prioritize the research 
and development activities in section 2(b) related to the enhancement 
of reliable and clean water supply systems.
    (d) Content.--The Strategic Plan shall describe how the Initiative 
will--
            (1) coordinate and reduce nonbeneficial duplication of 
        multiagency activities of the Initiative;
            (2) foster the transfer of research and development results 
        into new technologies and applications for the benefit of 
        society, including through cooperation and collaborations with 
        regional, State, local, and tribal governments conducting 
        water-related research and development and other water-related 
        activities;
            (3) encourage and support mechanisms for interdisciplinary 
        research and development in water availability and water 
        quality technology;
            (4) address long-term challenges of regional importance for 
        which solutions require large-scale, long-term, 
        interdisciplinary research and development;
            (5) place emphasis on innovative projects having the 
        potential for substantial societal and ecological returns on 
        the research investment;
            (6) strengthen all levels of water research, development, 
        demonstration, technology transfer, and education and training 
        programs to ensure an adequate, well-trained workforce; and
            (7) attract more women and underrepresented minorities to 
        pursue postsecondary degrees in water-related research and 
        development.
    (e) Considerations.--In developing the Strategic Plan, the Council 
shall take into consideration the recommendations of the--
            (1) Advisory Committee; and
            (2) stakeholders whose input was solicited by the 
        Coordination Office through the public comment period and the 
        workshop convened for that purpose.
    (f) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall transmit to the Advisory Committee and Congress 
the Strategic Plan.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the National Water Research Initiative Advisory Committee 
        established by section 4(a).
            (2) Annual report.--The term ``Annual Report'' means the 
        Annual National Water Research Report established by section 
        2(d).
            (3) Coordination office.--The term ``Coordination Office'' 
        means the National Water Research Coordination Office 
        established by section 3(a).
            (4) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National 
        Science and Technology Council, or an appropriate subgroup 
        designated by the National Science and Technology Council under 
        section 2(c).
            (5) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the National 
        Water Research and Development Initiative established by 
        section 2.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (7) Minority serving institutions.--The term ``minority 
        serving institutions'' means institutions that are eligible 
        institutions under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
            (8) Strategic plan.--The term ``Strategic Plan'' means the 
        National Water Research and Development Strategic Plan 
        established by section 5.
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