[House Report 110-517]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     110-517

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   HONORING THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON ITS SELECTION AS A 
  RECIPIENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S 2007 CLEAN WATER 
         STATE REVOLVING FUND PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION AWARD

                                _______
                                

  January 28, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 832]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 832) honoring the Texas 
Water Development Board on its selection as a recipient of the 
Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund Performance and Innovation Award, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment 
and recommend that the resolution be agreed to.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 832 honors the Texas Water Development Board on its 
selection as a recipient of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving Fund Performance and 
Innovation Award.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating 
Environmental Success (``PISCES'') Awards were created in 2005 
to recognize the extraordinary successes of the States' Clean 
Water Revolving Fund (``CWSRF'') programs. Projects financed 
under the CWSRF programs support the Clean Water Act by 
protecting environmental health and water quality. The PISCES 
Awards highlight successfully designed projects that further 
the goal of clean and safe water with exceptional planning, 
management, and financing.
    The PISCES Award was given to one State in each of the ten 
EPA regions. More specifically, the following criteria were 
required for nomination by regional offices: rate of greater 
than 80 percent at which the program is revolving and applying 
financial resources to achieve environmental results; audit 
with no serious programmatic or financial problems; and 
outstanding performance in at least two other fields. The 
fields consisted of better management practices, full-cost 
pricing, efficient water use, watershed approach, creative use 
of technologies, leveraging practices, innovative partnerships, 
innovating lending practices, and effective outreach.
    In Texas, a $10.7 million Northwest Water Reuse Initiative 
consisted of a five-phase project in El Paso County to deliver 
treated wastewater for reuse to irrigators, industries, and 
homeowners from El Paso's Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant. 
Equally noteworthy was a wastewater reclamation initiative to 
deliver reclaimed water from the City of Austin's Walnut Creek 
Wastewater Treatment Plant to two city-owned properties. The 
project included a treated effluent pumping station, an 
underground storage tank, and 54,000 feet of transmission main. 
It was the first step in the city's development of a 
transmission and distribution system capable of serving large-
volume customers with reclaimed water.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 832 honors the Texas Water Development Board on its 
selection as a recipient of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Performance 
and Innovation Award, and states that the House of 
Representatives recognizes the importance of adequate 
investment in and management of water resources in sustainable 
development, including environmental integrity, human health, 
and overall quality of life in the United States.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On November 15, 2007, Water Resources and Environment 
Subcommittee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced H. 
Res. 832.
    On January 16, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session, and ordered H. Res. 832 
reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum 
present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. 
Res. 832 reported. A motion to order H. Res. 832 reported 
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 832 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for 
any measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 832 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H. Res. 832 is a resolution of the 
House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force 
of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 832 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 832 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 832 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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