To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative, and for other purposes.

Summary: National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2008 - Directs the President to implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative to improve the federal government's role in designing and implementing federal water research, development, demonstration, data collection and dissemination, education, and technology transfer activities to address changes in U.S. water use, supply, and demand.

Directs the President to establish or designate an interagency committee to implement the Initiative, which shall: (1) develop a National Water Research and Assessment Plan; (2) coordinate all water-related federal research, development, demonstration, data collection and dissemination, education, and technology transfer activities; (3) ensure cooperation among federal agencies; and (4) facilitate technology transfer, communication, and opportunities for information exchange with various parties through a National Water Initiative Coordination Office (to be established by the President to provide technical and administrative support to the committee).

Requires the Plan to: (1) establish priorities for federal water research; (2) identify each current program and activity related to the Initiative; (3) identify funding levels; (4) set forth a strategy and timeline to achieve specified desired outcomes, including implementation of a National Water Census; (5) address suggestions and incorporate public input received; and (6) be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment.

Directs the President to: (1) provide guidance to each federal agency participating in the Initiative regarding the preparation of requests for appropriations for activities related to the Plan; and (2) submit, concurrent with the annual budget submission to Congress, a report that describes Initiative activities and results during the previous fiscal year and outlines objectives for the next fiscal year.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Water Research and 
Development Initiative Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Initiative and Purpose.--The President shall implement a 
National Water Research and Development Initiative (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Initiative''). The purpose of the Initiative is to 
improve the Federal Government's role in designing and implementing 
Federal water research, development, demonstration, data collection and 
dissemination, education, and technology transfer activities to address 
changes in water use, supply, and demand in the United States, 
including providing additional support to increase water supply through 
greater efficiency and conservation.
    (b) Interagency Committee.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the President shall establish, or 
        designate, an interagency committee to implement the Initiative 
        under subsection (a). The Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy shall chair the interagency committee.
            (2) Composition.--The interagency committee shall include a 
        representative from each agency that conducts research related 
        to water or has authority over resources that affect water 
        supply, as well as a representative from the Office of 
        Management and Budget.
            (3) Functions of the interagency committee.--The 
        interagency committee shall--
                    (A) develop a National Water Research and 
                Assessment Plan (in this Act referred to as the 
                ``plan'') in accordance with subsection (c);
                    (B) coordinate all Federal research, development, 
                demonstration, data collection and dissemination, 
                education, and technology transfer activities 
                pertaining to water;
                    (C) ensure cooperation among Federal agencies with 
                respect to water-related research, development, and 
                technological innovation activities to avoid 
                duplication of effort and to ensure optimal use of 
                resources and expertise; and
                    (D) facilitate technology transfer, communication, 
                and opportunities for information exchange with non-
                governmental organizations, State and local 
                governments, industry, and other members of the 
                stakeholder community through the office established in 
                paragraph (4).
            (4) National water initiative coordination office.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 3 months after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the President shall 
                establish a National Water Initiative Coordination 
                Office (in this Act referred to as the ``Office''), 
                with full-time staff, to--
                            (i) provide technical and administrative 
                        support to the interagency committee;
                            (ii) serve as a point of contact on Federal 
                        water activities for government agencies, 
                        organizations, academia, industry, professional 
                        societies, and others to exchange technical and 
                        programmatic information; and
                            (iii) communicate with the public on the 
                        findings and recommendations of the interagency 
                        committee based on the activities conducted 
                        pursuant to the Initiative.
                    (B) Funding.--The operation of the Office shall be 
                supported by funds contributed from each agency 
                represented on the interagency committee.
    (c) National Water Research and Assessment Plan.--
            (1) Plan development.--The plan required under subsection 
        (b)(3)(A) shall establish the priorities for Federal water 
        research, including federally funded research, and assessment 
        for the 4-year period beginning in the year in which the plan 
        is submitted to Congress. In the development of the plan, the 
        Committee shall consider and utilize recommendations and 
        information in reports that have addressed water research 
        needs, including the 2007 report issued by the Subcommittee on 
        Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ) of the National Science 
        and Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural 
        Resources and recommendations of the National Academy of 
        Sciences.
            (2) Specific requirements.--The plan shall--
                    (A) identify each current program and activity of 
                each Federal agency related to the Initiative;
                    (B) identify funding levels for the previous fiscal 
                year for each program and, if applicable, each activity 
                identified in subparagraph (A);
                    (C) set forth a strategy and a timeline to achieve 
                the outcomes described in subsection (d) and shall 
                describe--
                            (i) each activity required of each agency 
                        responsible for contributing to each such 
                        outcome;
                            (ii) the funding levels necessary to 
                        achieve each such outcome; and
                            (iii) the distribution of funds between 
                        each agency based on such agency's role in 
                        carrying out such activity;
                    (D) be subject to a 90-day public comment period 
                and shall address suggestions received and incorporate 
                public input received, as appropriate; and
                    (E) be submitted to Congress not later than 1 year 
                after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Water Research Outcomes.--The plan shall outline and direct 
agencies under the interagency committee to work to achieve the 
following outcomes:
            (1) Implementation of a National Water Census, which shall 
        include the collection of data on national water resources to 
        create a comprehensive database that includes information about 
        the quantity, availability, and quality of ground water and 
        surface water resources.
            (2) Development of a new generation of water monitoring 
        techniques.
            (3) Development of technologies for enhancing reliable 
        water supply.
            (4) Development of innovative technologies and tools to 
        enhance water-use efficiency and tools to encourage public 
        acceptance of such technologies.
            (5) Development of tools and processes to facilitate 
        resolution of conflicts over water resources.
            (6) Improvement of understanding of water-related ecosystem 
        services and ecosystem needs for water.
            (7) Improvement of hydrologic prediction models and their 
        applications.
            (8) Analyses of the energy required to provide reliable 
        water supplies and the water required to provide reliable 
        energy supplies throughout the United States.
    (e) Advisory Committee.--The President shall establish, or 
designate, an advisory committee to advise the Interagency Committee 
established under subsection (b).

SEC. 3. BUDGET COORDINATION.

    (a) In General.--The President shall provide guidance to each 
Federal agency participating in the Initiative with respect to the 
preparation of requests for appropriations for activities related to 
the plan.
    (b) Consideration in the President's Budget.--The President shall 
submit, at the time of the President's annual budget request to 
Congress, a description of those items in each agency's budget which 
are elements of the plan or help to achieve the outcomes of the plan.

SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Concurrent with the annual submission of the President's budget to 
Congress, the President shall submit to Congress a report that 
describes the activities and results of the Initiative during the 
previous fiscal year and outlines the objectives for the next fiscal 
year. The report shall include detailed information on all programs and 
activities involved in the Initiative, including an analysis of 
progress towards achieving the outcomes listed in section 2(d).