[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Boozman):
  S. 653. 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 at top 
land grant universities in each of the 50 States and the U.S. 
territories. These institutes created a grant program and provided 
opportunities for applied water supply research. The bill I introduce 
today would reauthorize the grant program for the next 5 years and 
would add a program focused on research and development of green 
infrastructure.
  Water and the availability thereof is a defining characteristic of 
U.S. landscape, culture, wealth, and security. Clean water is a 
relatively rare and invaluable resource. Last year's funded projects 
included research into the impacts of climate change on water supply 
lakes, the development of better detection methods for pathogens in 
drinking water, and the impacts of drought on farm supply chains. In my 
own State, some of the tools we use for restoration of the Chesapeake 
Bay were products of these same grants in previous years. WRRA 
Researchers across the Mid-Atlantic States have developed ways to keep 
the Chesapeake waters cleaner through urban stormwater treatment, 
improved roadway design, and eco-friendly poultry farming practices. 
WRRA-funded projects develop innovative and cost-effective solutions 
for similar water resources issues across the country. 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 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 leverage non-federal dollars at a minimum ratio of 2 to 
1, but often far beyond that level, as high as 5 to 1.
  The Water Resources Research Act was most recently reauthorized in 
2006, in PL 109-471. In that period, the program was authorized at 
$12,000,000 per year, providing $6,000,000 each to state and 
competitive project grants. Authorization for these grants expired in 
fiscal year 2011. Today's bill would reauthorize both grant programs 
for an additional 5 years by providing $7,500,000 for institutional 
grants and $1,500,000 for national competitive grants. This lower 
authorization level reflects our efforts to adjust for present fiscal 
limitations. The proposed authorization maximizes the economic 
efficiency of the program without compromising its efficacy. An 
independent review panel has judged that the Water Resources Research 
Institutes command significant funding leverage for the modest amount 
of appropriations required to support it. Thus, 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, floods, droughts, and water degradation issues pervade the 
nation. Simultaneously, water resources are increasingly critical for 
production of resources, economic stability, and the health and well-
being of the citizenry. 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 relevant, critical, and 
deserving of 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. 653

       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 2015''.

     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) energy use efficiency;
       ``(D) water use efficiency; and
       ``(E) actions to 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 ``(c) From the'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(c) Grants.--
       ``(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 
     3 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 2015 through 2020''.
       (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 in the first sentence by striking 
     ``$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011'' and 
     inserting ``$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
     2020''.
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