[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5352 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5352
To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and
the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination
programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 6, 2026
Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and
the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination
programs, 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 ``Desalination Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. DESALINATION PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) Duration.--Section 4013 of the Water Infrastructure
Improvements for the Nation Act (43 U.S.C. 390b note; Public Law 114-
322) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``its enactment'' and inserting ``enactment of this Act'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the date of its
enactment; and'' and inserting ``that date of enactment;''; and
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``in sections 4007,
4009(a), and 4009(c).'' and inserting the following: ``under
section 4007 or the amendment made by section 4009(c); and
``(3) projects carried out under paragraph (2) of section
4(a) of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301
note; Public Law 104-298) (as amended by section 4009(a)),
which shall expire on the date that is 15 years after that date
of enactment.''.
(b) Desalination Demonstration and Development.--Section 4(a)(2) of
the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law
104-298) is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting
the following:
``(A) Definition of eligible desalination
project.--In this paragraph, the term `eligible
desalination project' means a project--
``(i)(I) that is located in a Reclamation
State; or
``(II) the construction, operation,
sponsorship, or funding of which is the
responsibility of, and the primary water supply
benefit of which accrues to, 1 or more entities
in a Reclamation State;
``(ii) that involves an ocean or brackish
water desalination facility--
``(I) constructed, operated, and
maintained by a State, Indian Tribe,
irrigation district, water district, or
other organization with water or power
delivery authority; or
``(II) sponsored or funded by any
combination of a State, department of a
State, political subdivision of a
State, or public agency organized
pursuant to State law, including
through direct sponsorship or funding
of not less than 25 percent of the
planning, design, and construction
costs of the project, including through
in-kind contributions; and
``(iii) that provides a Federal benefit in
accordance with the reclamation laws (including
regulations).
``(B) Participation by secretary.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to the
requirements of this subsection, the Secretary
may participate in an eligible desalination
project in an amount equal to not more than 25
percent of the total cost of the eligible
desalination project.
``(ii) No project cost cap.--The Secretary
shall not impose any dollar limitation on
participation in an eligible desalination
project under this subparagraph.''.
(c) Desalination Research Program.--Section 3 of the Water
Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law 104-298) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Advanced Pilot Technology Grants.--
``(1) In general.--In order to validate the effective
performance of innovations in desalination technologies,
including the technologies described in this section, the
Secretary shall provide grants on a competitive basis for the
development and operation of advanced pilot desalination
technologies and first-of-a-kind systems in realistic operating
environments for purposes of establishing technical feasibility
and validating the technical performance and levelized cost of
processes for--
``(A) converting saline water, brackish water,
seawater, or wastewater into usable water; and
``(B) cost-effectively treating, managing, or
disposing of brine discharges.
``(2) Technoeconomic analyses.--In administering grants
under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that all
advanced pilot system studies include rigorous and quantitative
technoeconomic analyses in order to estimate the levelized cost
of water produced by those systems at full scale.
``(3) Engagement of others; prioritization.--Subsections
(c) and (e) shall apply to grants provided under this
subsection.''.
(d) Cost Sharing.--Section 7 of the Water Desalination Act of 1996
(42 U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law 104-298) is amended, in the first
sentence, by striking ``study, or'' and inserting ``study, advanced
pilot, or''.
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