49–006 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 109–630 

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 

2006 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2006.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. POMBO, from the Committee on Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 4588] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 4588) to reauthorize grants for and require applied water 

supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research 

Act of 1984, 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 all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 

2006’’. 

SEC. 2. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS. 

(a) SCOPE OF RESEARCH; OTHER ACTIVITIES; COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.— Section 104(b)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 

10303(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent applied and peer reviewed research that fosters— 

‘‘(A) improvements in water supply reliability; 

‘‘(B) resolutions of other water problems; 

‘‘(C) the entry of new research scientists, engineers, and technicians into 

water resources fields; and 

‘‘(D) the dissemination of research results to water managers and the 

public.’’. 

(b) EVALUATION OF WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Section 104(e) of the 

Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303 (e)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘5’’ and inserting ‘‘3’’; and 

(2) by inserting ‘‘at producing measured results and applied water supply research’’ after ‘‘effectiveness’’. 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
2 

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 104(f)(1) of the Water Resources 

Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(f)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, to remain 

available until expended, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.’’. 

(d) 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 by striking ‘‘$3,000,000 for fiscal 

year 2001, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and $6,000,000 for 

each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘$6,000,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2007 through 2011’’. 

(e) COORDINATION.—Section 104(h)(2) of the Water Resources Research Act of 

1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(h)(2)) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘(2) REPORT’’ and inserting ‘‘(2) REPORTS’’; and 

(2) by inserting after the first sentence the following: ‘‘As part of the annual 

budget submission to Congress, the Secretary shall also provide a crosscut 

budget detailing the expenditures on activities listed under subsection (a)(1) 

and a report which details the level of applied research and the results of the 

activities authorized by this Act, including potential and actual—

‘‘(A) increases in annual water supplies; 

‘‘(B) increases in annual water yields; and 

‘‘(C) advances in water infrastructure improvements.’’. 

(f) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Section 107 of the Water Resources Research Act of 

1984 (42 U.S.C. 10306) is amended by striking ‘‘15’’ and inserting ‘‘5’’. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 4588 is to reauthorize grants for and require 

applied water supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Water Resources Research Act of 1964 (Public Law 88–379) 

originally authorized the establishment of a water resources research and technology institute at each of the 54 land grant colleges in all 50 States, and in the Virgin Islands, Guam, the District 

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Institutes were charged with: (1) 

arranging for competent research that addresses water problems or 

expands understanding of water and water-related phenomena; (2) 

aiding the entry of new research scientists into the water resources 

fields; (3) helping to train future water scientists and engineers; 

and (4) getting results of sponsored research to water managers 

and the public. 

The program is under the general guidance of the Secretary of 

the Interior, through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In administering the water resources research program, the USGS distributes appropriated funds equally among the Institutes. The Institutes, in turn, award research funds through a competitive, peer 

review process. 

The Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (Public Law 98–242) 

reauthorized appropriations for the program, and it has since been 

reauthorized in the 101st, 104th, and 106th Congresses. The current authorization for appropriations expired in fiscal year 2005. 

Along with reauthorizing the program for an additional five years, 

at $12 million per year. In addition, H.R. 4588 requires more focus 

on applied research and more oversight to ensure that the research 

has practical applications, improves water supply reliability, and 

helps resolve water issues. 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
3 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 4588 was introduced on December 16, 2005, by Congressman John Doolittle (R–CA). The bill was referred to the Committee 

on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 

Water and Power. On May 10, 2006, the Subcommittee held a 

hearing on the bill. On July 19, 2006, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Water and 

Power was discharged from further consideration of the bill by 

unanimous consent. Congressman George Radanovich (R–CA) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to clarify research and report provisions and extend the authorization of appropriations until fiscal year 2011. The amendment was adopted by 

unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

This section cites the bill as the ‘‘Water Resources Research Act 

Amendments of 2006.’’

Section 2. Water Resources Research Act amendments 

This section amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. 

The scope of research is changed so each institute shall plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent applied and peer-reviewed 

research focusing on water supply reliability, resolutions of water 

problems, entry of new professionals into water resources fields, 

and dissemination of information to the public. The program will 

be evaluated every three years, instead of every five years. In addition to extending the authorization of appropriations until fiscal 

year 2011, it places a five percent cap on administrative costs. This 

section also requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide a 

crosscut budget detailing expenditures and a report that details the 

level of applied research and results of activities authorized under 

this bill. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in 

the body of this report. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United 

States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has inVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:00 Sep 09, 2006 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR630.XXX HR630

ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
4 

cluded in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to reauthorize grants for and require applied water 

supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research 

Act of 1984. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII 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 this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 4588—Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2006 

Summary: H.R. 4588 would authorize the appropriation of $90 

million over the 2007–2011 period to carry out the Water Resources 

Research Act of 1984. Under that act, the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) provides grants to research and technology institutes at 

American colleges and universities for research and education on 

water resources. The authorization of appropriations for those 

grants expired at the end of fiscal year 2005; $6 million was appropriated for this purpose in 2006. The bill also would lower the 

amount available for administrative costs associated with these 

grants from 15 percent of the total appropriation to 5 percent. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO esti- mates that implementing H.R. 4588 would cost $85 million over the 

2007–2011 period and an additional $5 million after that period. 

Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. H.R. 

4588 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 

defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). The bill 

would benefit institutions of higher education, and any costs they 

incur would result from complying with conditions of federal assistance. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: For this estimate, 

CBO assumes that the authorized amounts will be appropriated for 

each year and that outlays will follow the historical spending patterns for these grant programs. The estimated budgetary impact of 

H.R. 4588 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Spending for Research Institutes Under Current Law: 

Budget Authority 1 ............................................................... 6 0 0 0 0 0 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 6 1 0 0 0 0 

Proposed Changes: 

Authorization Level .............................................................. 0 18 18 18 18 18 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
5 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars—

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 0 14 16 18 18 18 

Spending for Research Institutes Under H.R. 4588: 

Authorization Level 1 ............................................................ 6 18 18 18 18 18 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 6 15 16 18 18 18 

1 The 2006 level is the amount appropriated for that year for USGS grants under the Water Resources Research Act. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 4588 contained no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined 

in UMRA. Grant funds reauthorized in the bill would benefit institutions of higher education that participate as research and technology institutes under the Water Resources Act of 1984. The costs 

of any requirements tied to those grants, including matching funds, 

would be incurred voluntarily. 

Previous CBO estimate: On June 20, 2005, CBO transmitted a 

cost estimate for S. 1017, the Water Resources Research Act 

Amendments of 2005, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee 

on Environment and Public Works on June 8, 2005. The cost estimates for these two bills differ because they authorize different 

amounts of funding. (S. 1017 authorizes $94 million over the 2006–

2010 period.) 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Deborah Reis and Julie 

Middleton; Intergovernmental impact: Lisa Ramirez-Branum; Impact on the private sector: Craig Cammarata. 

Estimate approved by: Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4 

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) 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. 104. (a) * * * 

(b) Each institute shall—

ø(1) plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent research that fosters (A) the entry of new research scientists into 

the water resources fields, (B) the training and education of future water scientists, engineers, and technicians, (C) the preliminary exploration of new ideas that address water problems 

or expand understanding of water and water-related pheVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:00 Sep 09, 2006 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR630.XXX HR630

ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
6 

nomena, and (D) the dissemination of research results to water 

managers and the public, and¿ 

(1) plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent applied 

and peer reviewed research that fosters— (A) improvements in water supply reliability; 

(B) resolutions of other water problems; 

(C) the entry of new research scientists, engineers, and 

technicians into water resources fields; and 

(D) the dissemination of research results to water managers and the public. 

* * * * * * * 

(e) The Secretary shall conduct a careful and detailed evaluation 

of each institute at least once every ø5¿ 3 years to determine that 

the quality and relevance of its water resources research and its effectiveness at producing measured results and applied water supply 

research as an institution for planning, conducting, and arranging 

for research warrants its continued support under this section. If, 

as a result of any such evaluation, the Secretary determines that 

an institute does not qualify for further support under this section, 

then no further grants to the institute may be made until the institute’s qualifications are reestablished to the satisfaction of the Secretary. 

(f)ø(1) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the sum of $9,000,000 

for fiscal year 2001, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 

2003, and $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, such 

sums to remain available until expended.¿ 

(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, to remain available until expended, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011. 

* * * * * * * 

(g)(1) There is further authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior the sum of ø$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, 

$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and $6,000,000 

for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005¿ $6,000,000 for each of fiscal 

years 2007 through 2011 only for reimbursement of the direct cost 

expenses of additional research or synthesis of the results of research by institutes which focuses on water problems and issues of 

a regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only to a 

single State and which relate to specific program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary and the institutes. Such funds when 

appropriated shall be matched on a not less than dollar-for-dollar 

basis by funds made available to institutes or groups of institutes, 

by States or other non-Federal sources. Funds made available 

under this subsection shall remain available until expended. 

* * * * * * * 

(h) COORDINATION.—

(1) * * * 

ø(2) REPORT¿ (2) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall report to 

Congress annually on coordination efforts with other Federal 

departments, agencies, and instrumentalities under paragraph 

(1). As part of the annual budget submission to Congress, the 

Secretary shall also provide a crosscut budget detailing the exVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:00 Sep 09, 2006 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR630.XXX HR630

ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING
7 

penditures on activities listed under subsection (a)(1) and a report which details the level of applied research and the results 

of the activities authorized by this Act, including potential and 

actual—

(A) increases in annual water supplies; 

(B) increases in annual water yields; and 

(C) advances in water infrastructure improvements. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 107. From the sums appropriated pursuant to this Act, not 

more than ø15¿ 5 per centum shall be utilized for administrative 

costs. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HEARING