[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''.
                                 ______