[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 14, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S615-S616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Inhofe):
S. 2104. A bill to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to
reauthorize grants for and require applied water supply research
regarding the water resources research and technology institutes
established under that Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Water Resources
Research Amendments Act. First authorized in 1964, the Water Resources
Research Act established 54 Water Resources Research Institutes across
the country and set up a grant program for applied water supply
research. The act was most recently reauthorized in 2006, in PL 109-
471. The bill I introduce today would reauthorize the grant program for
the next 5 years and would add a program focused on the research and
development of green infrastructure.
The research funded through the Water Resources Research Act has had
lasting impacts on our Nation's waters. In fact, some of the tools we
use today for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay were a product of these
research grants. WRRA Researchers across the Mid-Atlantic States have
developed ways to keep the Chesapeake waters clean through urban
stormwater treatment, improved roadway design, and eco-friendly poultry
farming practices. Moreover, WRRA-funded projects develop innovative
and cost-effective solutions for similar water resources issues across
the country. For example, the technology used in West Virginia's
innovative nutrient trading program utilizes technology developed by
WRRA researchers. Undoubtedly, funding WRRA is an intelligent and
necessary investment in the future of our water resources.
WRRA authorizes two types of annual grants. First, it supplies grants
to each Water Resources Research Institute for research that fosters
improvements in water supply reliability, explores new ways to address
water problems, encourages dissemination of research to water managers
and the public, and encourages the entry of new
[[Page S616]]
scientists, engineers and technicians into the water resources field.
Second, WRRA authorizes a national competitive grant program to address
regional water issues. All WRRA grants must be matched 2 to 1 with non-
federal funding.
In the last authorization period, the program was authorized at
$12,000,000 per year, providing $6,000,000 to each type of grant.
Authorization for these grants expired in fiscal year 2011. Today's
bill would reauthorize both grant programs for an additional five years
by providing $7,500,000 for institutional grants and $1,500,000 for
national competitive grants. This change in authorization levels
reflects our efforts to adjust for present fiscal limitations. The
proposed authorization maximizes economic efficiency of the program
without compromising its efficacy. The Water Resources Research
Institutes across the Nation have 45 years of experience assisting
states and federal agencies through research, education and outreach.
While the Institutes are only required to match Federal funding with
outside sources at a ratio of 2 to 1, they regularly exceed that
proportion, often with ratios of more than 5 to 1. Moreover, Federal
grants are critical for the institutes to be able to leverage funding
from their home State. Consequently, by focusing funds on the Water
Resources Research Institutes, we can be sure that we are supporting
top-notch science while maximizing cost-effectiveness. Moreover, by
funding this network of institutes we are investing in our future. The
Water Resources Research Institutes are the country's single largest
training program for water scientists, technicians, and engineers.
Today water-related issues pervade the nation. Whether it is floods,
droughts, or water degradation, American economies and lives depend on
our water resources. WRRA grants provide us with improved understanding
of water-related issues and better technology to address them. Nearly
half a century after the Water Resources Research grant program was
first put in place, this program is just as relevant, just as critical,
and deserves our support.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2104
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
Amendments Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS.
(a) Congressional Findings and Declarations.--Section 102
of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10301)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as
paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;
(2) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) additional research is required into increasing the
effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment
works through alternative approaches, including--
``(A) nonstructural alternatives;
``(B) decentralized approaches;
``(C) water use efficiency; and
``(D) actions to reduce energy consumption or extract
energy from wastewater;''.
(b) Clarification of Research Activities.--Section
104(b)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42
U.S.C. 10303(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``water-related
phenomena'' and inserting ``water resources''; and
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''.
(c) Compliance Report.--Section 104(c) of the Water
Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(c)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``From the'' and inserting ``(1) In
general.--From the''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Report.--Not later than December 31 of each fiscal
year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on
the Budget of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives a
report regarding the compliance of each funding recipient
with this subsection for the immediately preceding fiscal
year.''.
(d) Evaluation of Water Resources Research Program.--
Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42
U.S.C. 10303) is amended by striking subsection (e) and
inserting the following:
``(e) Evaluation of Water Resources Research Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a careful
and detailed evaluation of each institute at least once every
5 years to determine--
``(A) the quality and relevance of the water resources
research of the institute;
``(B) the effectiveness of the institute at producing
measured results and applied water supply research; and
``(C) whether the effectiveness of the institute as an
institution for planning, conducting, and arranging for
research warrants continued support under this section.
``(2) Prohibition on further support.--If, as a result of
an evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary determines
that an institute does not qualify for further support under
this section, no further grants to the institute may be
provided until the qualifications of the institute are
reestablished to the satisfaction of the Secretary.''.
(e) Authorization 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 ``$12,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2007 through 2011'' and inserting ``$7,500,000
for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017''.
(f) 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 ``$6,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2007 through 2011'' and inserting ``$1,500,000
for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017''.
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