I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 135

To establish the ‘‘Twenty-First Century Water Commission’’ to study and 

develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address 

future water needs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 7, 2003

Mr. LINDER (for himself, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. DUNCAN, and Mr. SHUSTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To establish the ‘‘Twenty-First Century Water Commission’’ 

to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Twenty-First Century 

5 Water Commission Act of 2003’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that—
2

•HR 135 IH 

1 (1) the Nation’s water resources will be utilized 

2 to their fullest capacity in the coming decades; 

3 (2) a thorough assessment of technological ad4 vances that can be employed to increase water sup5 plies in every region of the county is important and 

6 long overdue; and 

7 (3) a comprehensive strategy to increase avail8 able water supplies is vital to the economic and envi9 ronmental future of the Nation. 

10 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

11 There is established a commission to be known as the 

12 ‘‘Twenty-First Century Water Commission’’ (in this Act 

13 referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

14 SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

15 The duties of the Commission shall be to—

16 (1) use existing water assessments and conduct 

17 such additional assessments as may be necessary to 

18 project future water supply and demand; 

19 (2) study current water management programs 

20 of Federal, State, and local agencies, and private 

21 sector entities directed at increasing water supplies; 

22 and 

23 (3) consult with representatives of such agen24 cies and entities to develop recommendations for a 

25 comprehensive water strategy which—
3

•HR 135 IH 

1 (A) respects the primary role of States in 

2 adjudicating, administering, and regulating 

3 water rights and water uses; 

4 (B) identifies incentives intended to ensure 

5 an adequate and dependable supply of water to 

6 meet the needs of the United States for the 

7 next 50 years; 

8 (C) suggests strategies that avoid in9 creased mandates on State and local govern10 ments; 

11 (D) eliminates duplication and conflict 

12 among Federal governmental programs; 

13 (E) considers all available technologies for 

14 increasing water supply efficiently while safe15 guarding the environment; 

16 (F) recommends means of capturing excess 

17 water and flood water for conservation and use 

18 in the event of a drought; 

19 (G) suggests financing options for public 

20 works projects; 

21 (H) suggests strategies to conserve existing 

22 water supplies, including recommendations for 

23 repairing aging infrastructure; and 
4

•HR 135 IH 

1 (I) includes other objectives related to 

2 water supply which the Commission shall con3 sider appropriate. 

4 SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 

5 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

6 shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Presi7 dent. 

8 (b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members shall be appointed 

9 to the Commission from among individuals who—

10 (1) are of recognized standing and distinction 

11 in water policy issues; and 

12 (2) while serving on the Commission, do not 

13 hold any other position as an officer or employee of 

14 the United States, except as a retired officer or re15 tired civilian employee of the United States. 

16 (c) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing mem17 bers of the Commission, every effort shall be made to en18 sure that the members represent a broad cross section of 

19 regional and geographical perspectives in the United 

20 States. 

21 (d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com22 mission shall be designated by the President. 

23 (e) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be 

24 appointed not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
5

•HR 135 IH 

1 ment of this Act and shall serve for the life of the Commis2 sion. 

3 (f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shall 

4 not affect its operation, and shall be filled in the same 

5 manner as the original appointment provided under sub6 section (a). 

7 (g) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Mem8 bers of the Commission shall serve without compensation, 

9 except members shall receive travel expenses, including per 

10 diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 

11 provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57, United 

12 States Code. 

13 SEC. 6. MEETINGS AND QUORUM. 

14 (a) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall hold its first 

15 meeting not later than 60 days after the date on which 

16 all members have been appointed under section 4, and 

17 shall hold additional meetings at the call of the Chair18 person or a majority of its members. 

19 (b) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 

20 Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 

21 of business. 

22 SEC. 7. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 

23 The Commission may appoint a Director and Staff 

24 who shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum 

25 rate of basic pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. 
6

•HR 135 IH 

1 SEC. 8. POWERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION. 

2 (a) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall hold no fewer 

3 than 10 hearings during the life of the Commission. Hear4 ings may be held in conjunction with meetings of the Com5 mission. The Commission may take such testimony and 

6 receive such evidence as the Commission considers appro7 priate to carry out this Act. At least 1 hearing shall be 

8 held in Washington, D.C., for the purpose of taking testi9 mony of representatives of Federal agencies, national or10 ganizations, and Members of Congress. Other hearings 

11 shall be scheduled in distinct geographical regions of the 

12 United States and should seek to ensure testimony from 

13 individuals with a diversity of experiences, including those 

14 who work on water issues at all levels of government and 

15 in the private sector. 

16 (b) INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL

17 AGENCIES.—Upon request of the Commission, any Fed18 eral agency shall—

19 (1) provide to the Commission, within 30 days 

20 of its request, such information as the Commission 

21 considers necessary to carry out the provisions of 

22 this Act; and 

23 (2) detail to temporary duty with the Commis24 sion on a reimbursable basis such personnel as the 

25 Commission considers necessary to carry out the 
7

•HR 135 IH 

1 provisions of this Act, in accordance with Section 

2 5(b)(5), Appendix, title 5, United States Code. 

3 SEC. 9. REPORTS. 

4 (a) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not later than 6 months 

5 after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, and 

6 every 6 months thereafter, the Commission shall transmit 

7 an interim report containing a detailed summary of its 

8 progress, including meetings and hearings conducted in 

9 the interim period, to—

10 (1) the President; 

11 (2) the Committee on Resources and the Com12 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

13 House of Representatives; and 

14 (3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re15 sources and the Committee on the Environment and 

16 Public Works of the Senate. 

17 (b) FINAL REPORT.—As soon as practicable, but not 

18 later than 3 years after the date of the first meeting of 

19 the Commission, the Commission shall transmit a final re20 port containing a detailed statement of the findings and 

21 conclusions of the Commission, and recommendations for 

22 legislation to implement such findings and conclusions, 

23 to—

24 (1) the President; 
8

•HR 135 IH 

1 (2) the Committee on Resources and the Com2 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

3 House of Representatives; and 

4 (3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re5 sources and the Committee on the Environment and 

6 Public Works of the Senate. 

7 SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 

8 The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 

9 days after the date on which the Commission transmits 

10 a final report under section 7(b). 

11 SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 There are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 

13 to carry out this Act.

Æ