[House Report 104-242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    104-242
_______________________________________________________________________


 
            WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995

                                _______


 September 8, 1995.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1743]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred 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, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that 
the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

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

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1743 is to amend the Water Resources 
Research Act of 1984 to extend the authorization of 
appropriations through fiscal year 2000.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Water Resources Research Act (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) 
was originally enacted in 1964. The Act authorizes a program of 
water-related research and training of scientists and engineers 
to enter the fields of water research and management. This is 
accomplished in two ways. First, the Act authorizes 
establishment of water resources research institutes at land 
grant colleges. Second, the Act authorizes the award of grant 
funds for research projects. The program addresses water 
resource management problems such as the abundance and quality 
of our water supplies, the sources of water contaminants and 
methods of remediation and the training of research scientists, 
engineers and technicians.
    Pursuant to the Act, 54 water resources research institutes 
have been established: one in each State, as well as the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The 
institutes are responsible for carrying out research and 
training activities, and working closely with colleges and 
universities. They are under the general guidance of the 
Secretary of the Interior. The institutes receive grants 
disbursed by the Secretary which must be matched dollar-for-
dollar, by non-Federal dollars.
    This is a useful program because research from the water 
institutes is often directed at finding real solutions to water 
problems. In addition, the program is popular because land 
grant colleges in every state benefit from the program, and a 
relatively small annual Federal investment is needed to 
maintain the program. Research results from the program are 
often applied to real-world problems in water management. 
Congressional action is needed if the program is to be 
continued since the current authorization expires at the end of 
this fiscal year.
    In 1991, the National Academy of Science's National 
Research Council released a report with recommendations to 
advise the Water Resources Division (WRD) of the U.S. 
Geological Survey (USGS) on how it could marshal its resources 
most effectively to confront emerging water resources problems. 
The National Research Council believes WRD should continue to 
administer the grants program authorized under the Water 
Resources Research Act. The report stated that the arrangement 
between USGS and the institutes is a benefit to the university 
research community, states and regions where institutes are 
located, and to the water resources profession in general.
    In administering the state water resources research 
institute program, the Interior Department and USGS have 
distributed funds appropriated for the institutes equally among 
participants. The state institutes, in turn, award research 
funds through a competitive, peer review process. Each 
institute maintains one or more advisory panels comprised of 
local, state, and Federal water officials, and representatives 
from water user groups, among others. Annually these groups 
develop research priorities and review the allocation of funds 
among various competing projects. In this way, individual state 
institutes are able to focus grants on research that addresses 
the most pressing water problems and issues affecting the host 
state.
    This plan has worked well, but, as funding to support water 
resources research becomes more limited, the Department should 
develop plans to strengthen competition in the distribution of 
Federal funds to the water resources research institutes. Since 
the research agenda for this program is established by each 
state to meet the individual state's needs, the Department 
should take great care to ensure that it does not impose new 
restrictions on state water resources research programs and 
that it considers the priorities and funding recommendations of 
the state advisory panel. The Department shall maintain a level 
of funding for the institutional grants at each institute 
sufficient to maintain the basic network infrastructure for 
efficient state, regional, and national research coordination, 
collaboration, education and information transfer.
    States are also encouraged to continue their interstate 
cooperation under this program to address regional and national 
issues affecting their individual states. By continuing these 
collaborative efforts, they can address critical issues on 
long-term water planning and supply that may exceed the 
resources of one state. The Committee anticipates that the 
Department and other Federal agencies will also cooperate with 
the institutes on these issues.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 1743 was introduced on June 6, 1995, by Congressman 
Doolittle. The bill was referred to the Committee on Resources, 
and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on Water and Power 
Resources. On June 8, 1995, the Subcommittee held a hearing on 
H.R. 1743, where the Administration testified in opposition to 
the legislation, since ``funds for the Institute Program have 
been proposed for termination in the President's budget in both 
fiscal year 1995 and 1996.'' During the hearing, the 
Administration witness did respond that the program was a 
useful contribution to the overall research effort. Witnesses 
on behalf of the National Association of State Universities and 
Land Grant Colleges and the Water Science and Technology Board 
of the National Research Council testified in support of H.R. 
1743. On July 13, 1995, the Subcommittee met to mark up H.R. 
1743. Congressman Doolittle offered en bloc amendments to 
clarify that the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 does not 
preempt State rights and authority to their water resources and 
to strike a separate authorization of funds for research 
focused on interstate water issues. The en bloc amendments were 
adopted by voice vote. The bill was then ordered favorably 
reported to the Full Committee. On August 2, 1995, the Full 
Resources Committee met to consider H.R. 1743. No further 
amendments were offered. The bill, as amended, was then ordered 
favorably reported to the House of Representatives, in the 
presence of a quorum by voice vote.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

                          section 1. Findings

    The Water Resources Research Act sets forth a number of 
benefits to be achieved through water resources research. This 
section adds the goals of encouraging management of water 
resources for the productivity of agricultural and natural 
resources systems and strengthening long-term water resources 
planning, policy development, and problem-solving capacity for 
the use of states.

                           section 2. purpose

    The existing Act declares its purpose to be to ``assist the 
nation and the States is augmenting their water resources 
science and technology'' as a way to achieve certain 
objectives. This section adds as an additional objective long-
term planning and research to meet future water management, 
quality and supply challenges.

                   section 3. grants; matching funds

    The current Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
establish water resources research and technology institutes at 
a land-grant institution in each state or another institution 
designated by a state's legislature or governor. This section 
makes permanent the requirement that recipients of the Federal 
grant match the grant on the basis of two non-Federal dollars 
to each Federal dollar.

           section 4. general authorization of appropriations

    The current authorization for the institutes is $10 million 
annually to cover all general water research. H.R. 1743 
restructures the funding for the program and provides for 
funding from 1996 through 2000. This section authorizes the 
institutional grants program at $5,000,000 in fiscal year 1996, 
$7,000,000 in fiscal years 1997 and 1998, and $9,000,000 in 
fiscal years 1999 and 2000.
    The current authorization also provides for a $5 million 
regional competitive grant program for research on interstate 
water problems. This provision is not included in H.R. 1743. 
The interstate grant program has not received any funding in 
recent years.

                        section 5. coordination

    This section directs the Secretary of the Interior to 
encourage other Federal departments and agencies to take 
advantage of the expertise and capabilities of the state water 
resources research institutes and to facilitate cooperation 
with other Federal water resources programs. It establishes a 
mechanism for contracts and cooperative agreements between the 
Department and other agencies to achieve better coordination.
    It authorizes the Secretary to establish an internship 
program for qualified undergraduate and graduate students. It 
directs the Secretary to report to Congress each year on these 
coordination efforts. Finally, the bill states that nothing in 
the Act shall preempt the rights and authorities of any state 
with respect to its water resources or management of those 
resources.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                     Inflationary Impact Statement

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that the 
enactment of H.R. 1743 will have no significant inflationary 
impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national 
economy.

                        Cost of the Legislation

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives require an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 1743. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     Compliance With House Rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 
1743 does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 1743.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 
1743 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, August 22, 1995.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1743, a bill to 
amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to extend the 
authorizations of appropriations through fiscal year 2000, and 
for other purposes.
    Enacting H.R. 1743 would not affect direct spending or 
receipts. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply 
to the bill.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.
    Enclosure.

               congressional budget Office cost estimate

    1. Bill number: H.R. 1743.
    2. Bill title: A bill to amend the Water Resources Research 
Act of 1984 to extend the authorizations of appropriations 
through fiscal year 2000, and for other purposes.
    3. Bill status: As ordered reported by the House Committee 
on Resources on August 2, 1995.
    4. Bill purpose: The bill would authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to provide grants to water resources research and 
technology institutes in the amount of $5 million in fiscal 
year 1996, $7 million in fiscal years 1997 and 1998, and $9 
million in fiscal years 1999 and 2000. The current 
authorization of $10 million per year expires in 1995. The bill 
also would define further the purpose of federally sponsored 
water resources research and it would make permanent a 
provision that all grants be matched two-to-one by nonfederal 
dollars.
    5. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: CBO estimates 
that the Federal Government would spend $37 million to 
implement this bill over the 1996-2000 period. This estimate 
assumes appropriation of the authorized amounts and spending at 
rates consistent with historical experience.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1995       1996       1997       1998       1999       2000  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spending Under Current Law:                                                                                     
    Budget authority \1\......................          5          0          0          0          0          0
    Estimated outlays.........................          5          0          0          0          0          0
Proposed Changes:                                                                                               
    Authorization level.......................          0          5          7          7          9          9
    Estimated outlays.........................          0          5          7          7          9          9
Spending Under H.R. 1743:                                                                                       
    Authorization level \1\...................          5          5          7          7          9          9
    Estimated outlays.........................          5          5          7          7          9          9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1995 level is the amount appropriated for that year.                                                    

    The costs of this bill fall within budget function 300.
    6. Pay-as-you go considerations: None.
    7. Estimated cost to State and local governments: None.
    8. Estimate comparison: None.
    9. Previous CBO estimate: None.
    10. Estimate prepared by: Gary Brown.
    11. Estimate approved by: Robert A. Sunshine for Paul N. 
Van de Water, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                          Departmental Reports

    The Committee has recieved no departmental reports on H.R. 
1743.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                  WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT OF 1984

                                TITLE I

          * * * * * * *
    Sec. 102. The Congress finds and declares that--
          (1) * * *
          (2) the management of water resources is closely 
        related to maintaining environmental quality, 
        productivity of natural resources and agricultural 
        systems, and social well-being;
          * * * * * * *
          (6) it is necessary to provide for the research and 
        development of technology for the conversion of saline 
        and other impaired waters to a quality suitable for 
        municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and 
        other beneficial uses; [and]
          (7) the Nation must provide programs to strengthen 
        research and associated graduate education because the 
        pool of scientists, engineers, and technicians trained 
        in fields related to water resources constitutes an 
        invaluable natural resource which should be increased, 
        fully utilized, and regularly replenished[.]; and
          (8) long-term planning and policy development are 
        essential to assuring the availability of an abundant 
        supply of high quality 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. 103. It is the purpose of this Act to assist the 
Nation and the States in augmenting their water resources 
science and technology as a way to--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (5) to promote more effective coordination of the 
        Nation's water resources research program; [and]
          (6) promote the development of a cadre of trained 
        research scientists, engineers, and technicians for 
        future water resources problems[.]; and
          (7) encourage long-term planning and research to meet 
        future water management, quality, and supply 
        challenges.
    Sec. 104. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (c) From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (f) 
of this section, the Secretary shall make grants to each 
institute to be matched on a basis of no less than [one non-
Federal dollar for every Federal dollar during the fiscal years 
ending September 30, 1985, and September 30, 1986, one and one-
half non-Federal dollars for each Federal dollar during the 
fiscal years ending September 30, 1987, and September 30, 1988, 
and two non-Federal dollars for each Federal dollar during the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1989 and thereafter] two non-
Federal dollars for every Federal dollar, such sums to be used 
only for the reimbursement of the direct cost expenditures 
incurred for the conduct of the water resources research 
program.
          * * * * * * *
    (f)(1) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the sum [of 
$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 
1989, through September 30, 1995] 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, such sums to remain available 
until expended.
          * * * * * * *
    (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.
          * * * * * * *