[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10110-H10111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend spend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1743) to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 
1984 to extend the authorizations of appropriations through fiscal year 
2000, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1743

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Section 102 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 
     U.S.C. 10301) is amended--

[[Page H 10111]]

       (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, productivity of 
     natural resources and agricultural systems,'' after 
     ``environmental quality'';
       (2) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6);
       (3) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (7) 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) long-term planning and policy development are 
     essential to assuring the availability of an abundant supply 
     of high quality water for domestic and other uses; and
       ``(9) the States must have the research and problem-solving 
     capacity necessary to effectively manage their water 
     resources.''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       Section 103 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 
     U.S.C. 10302) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) encourage long-term planning and research to meet 
     future water management, quality, and supply challenges.''.

     SEC. 3. GRANTS; MATCHING FUNDS.

       Section 104(c) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 
     (42 U.S.C. 10303(c)) is amended by striking ``one non-Federal 
     dollar'' and all that follows through ``thereafter'' and 
     inserting ``two non-Federal dollars for every Federal 
     dollar''.

     SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 104(f)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 
     1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``of 
     $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 
     1989, through September 30, 1995,'' and inserting ``of 
     $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $7,000,000 for fiscal years 
     1997 and 1998, and $9,000,000 for fiscal years 1999 and 
     2000''.

     SEC. 5. COORDINATION.

       Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 
     U.S.C. 10303) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h)(1) To carry out provisions of this Act, the 
     Secretary--
       ``(A) shall encourage other Federal departments, agencies 
     (including agencies within the Department of the Interior), 
     and instrumentalities to use and take advantage of the 
     expertise and capabilities which are available through the 
     institutes established by this section, on a cooperative or 
     other basis;
       ``(B) shall encourage cooperation and coordination with 
     other Federal programs concerned with water resources 
     problems and issues;
       ``(C) may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and 
     other transactions without regard to section 3709 of the 
     Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5);
       ``(D) may accept funds from other Federal departments, 
     agencies (including agencies within the Department of the 
     Interior), and instrumentalities to pay for and add to grants 
     made, and contracts entered into, by the Secretary;
       ``(E) may promulgate such rules and regulations as he deems 
     appropriate; and
       ``(F) may support a program of internships for qualified 
     individuals at the undergraduate and graduate level to carry 
     out the educational and training objectives of this Act.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall report to Congress annually on 
     coordination efforts with other Federal departments, 
     agencies, and instrumentalities under paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Nothing in this Act shall preempt the rights and 
     authorities of any State with respect to its water resources 
     or management of those resources.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Doolittle] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle].
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, the primary intent of H.R. 1743 is to 
extend the authorization for the State Water Resources Research 
Institutes. Through the act, the institutes have established a Federal/
State partnership in water resources, education, and information 
transfer. There are 54 of these institutes located at the land grant 
university in each of the 50 States and several of the territories. 
These institutes are a primary link between the academic community, the 
water-related personnel in Federal and State government, and the 
private sector. The institutes provide a mechanism for promoting State, 
regional, and national coordination of water resources research and 
training. They also serve as a network to facilitate research 
coordination and information transfer. Their programs are coordinated 
with the general guidance of the Secretary of the Interior.
  This is a popular program because research from the water institutes 
is often directed at finding solutions to water problems that have 
local and regional relevance. Research results from the program are 
often applied to real-world problems in water management.
  H.R. 1743 would expand the act's findings and focus on the need for 
long-term planning and policy development, support for States in water 
resources management, and maintaining productivity of natural resources 
and agricultural systems.
  H.R. 1743 sets forth new requirements for the Interior Department to 
coordinate and cooperate with other departments and agencies of the 
Federal Government on water resources problems and requires an annual 
report on these efforts to Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, again, on this legislation, 
H.R. 1743, the Water Resources Research Act reauthorization, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle], the subcommittee Chair, has 
accurately described the bill, and it has bipartisan support, and I 
believe bipartisan support both here and in the Senate.
  We would urge the passage of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1743, a bill to amend the 
Water Resources Research Act of 1984.
  This legislation extends the authorization of this important program 
for 5 years and also provides new flexibility for the program. New 
cost-sharing requirements are also specified in this legislation.
  The Water Research Program has provided us with extraordinary 
benefits for 30 years. We now have water research institutes in every 
State, as well as in the Virgin Islands, Guam, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The program supports our educational 
institutions by training engineers and scientists skilled in all 
aspects of water research and management.
  With help from the Water Research Program and the State research 
institutes, we have improved our capability to manage floods and to 
plan community growth to avoid flood damages. We have improved our 
ability to clean up chemical contamination of our water supplies. And 
we have trained hundreds of scientists, technicians, and engineers to 
help us solve complex water management problems.
  The Water Resources Research Program authorized by H.R. 1743 is a 
cost-effective and inexpensive program. Costs of operating the program 
are shared with non-Federal interests. The program provides valuable 
research that is useful to local and State water managers throughout 
the Nation. The water research program has given us years of service 
and deserves our continued support.

  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1743.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] for 
his support on this.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1743, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof), the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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