[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6939-H6940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2006

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4588) to reauthorize grants for and require applied water supply 
research regarding the water resources research and technology 
institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows

                               H.R. 4588

       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 ``Water Resources Research Act 
     Amendments of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Scope of Research; Other Activities; Cooperation and 
     Coordination.--Section 104(b)(1) of the Water Resources 
     Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(b)(1)) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(1) plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent 
     applied and peer reviewed research that fosters--
       ``(A) improvements in water supply reliability;
       ``(B) resolutions of other water problems;
       ``(C) the entry of new research scientists, engineers, and 
     technicians into water resources fields; and
       ``(D) the dissemination of research results to water 
     managers and the public.''.
       (b) Evaluation of Water Resources Research Program.--
     Section 104(e) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 
     (42 U.S.C. 10303 (e)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``5'' and inserting ``3''; and
       (2) by inserting ``at producing measured results and 
     applied water supply research'' after ``effectiveness''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 104(f)(1) of 
     the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 
     10303(f)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     this section, to remain available until expended, $12,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.''.
       (d) Additional Appropriations Where Research Focused on 
     Water Problems of Interstate Nature.--Section 104(g)(1) of 
     the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303 
     (g)(1)) is amended by striking ``$3,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2001, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and 
     $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005'' and 
     inserting the following: ``$6,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2007 through 2011''.
       (e) Coordination.--Section 104(h)(2) of the Water Resources 
     Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(h)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(2) Report'' and inserting ``(2) 
     Reports''; and
       (2) by inserting after the first sentence the following: 
     ``As part of the annual budget submission to Congress, the 
     Secretary shall also provide a crosscut budget detailing the 
     expenditures on activities listed under subsection (a)(1) and 
     a report which details the level of applied research and the 
     results of the activities authorized by this Act, including 
     potential and actual--
       ``(A) increases in annual water supplies;
       ``(B) increases in annual water yields; and
       ``(C) advances in water infrastructure improvements.''.
       (f) Administrative Costs.--Section 107 of the Water 
     Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10306) is amended 
     by striking ``15'' and inserting ``5''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H6940]]

  H.R. 4588, sponsored by the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Doolittle), reauthorizes the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 for 5 
years. When originally authorized in 1984, the initial legislation 
established a Water Resource and Technology Institute at each of the 54 
land grant colleges throughout the country to foster research and 
training of future scientists and engineers in the water resources 
field.
  This legislation requires more focus on applied research and more 
oversight to ensure that the research has practical applications, 
improves water supply reliability, and helps to resolve real water 
problems outside the academic world. I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, we support H.R. 4588 to continue support 
of water resources research at public universities.
  I might add that my district is home to one of these institutes, the 
Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific, or 
WERI, at the University of Guam. WERI is integral to water research and 
the protection of water resources in Micronesia, our region of the 
world. This is an excellent partnership between USGCS and institutions 
of higher education across the country, and we are pleased to support 
this reauthorization.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4588, 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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