79–006

106TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 106–714

REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS FOR WATER RESOURCES

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES

JULY 10, 2000.—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

REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 4132]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill

(H.R. 4132) to reauthorize grants for water resources research and

technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, having considered the same, report favorably

thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 4132 is to reauthorize grants for water resources research and technology institutes established under the

Water Resources Research Act of 1984.

BACKGROUND

The state water resources research institutes, under the authority of the Water Resources Research Act (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.),

have established an effective federal/state partnership in water resources, education and information transfer. These institutes are

located in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam/Federated States of Micronesia. They have worked with state and federal agencies and water

resources stakeholders in their home states for over three decades

while acting as a network for the exchange of water resources research and information transfer among the states.

In partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the

water resources research institutes have the capability to provide

important support to the states in their long-term water planning,

policy development, and resources management efforts. They supVerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:07 Jul 12, 2000 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR714.XXX pfrm07 PsN: HR714
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port research on all topics related to water resources and the management of water resources. The institutes’ outreach and information transfer activities are important tools for stakeholders in the

water resources management community. The nationwide network

of water institutes, in collaboration with USGS, provides an efficient and effective method to meet the diverse water resource

needs in different parts of our country.

In 1995, the Water Resources Research Act was amended to

broadened the scope of the Act to include natural resources and agricultural systems. The amendments also changed the matching

fund requirements for grants to two non-federal dollars for each

federal dollar. Provided with base support of approximately $4 million in direct federal appropriations, the institutes leveraged these

funds into over $71 million in Fiscal Year 1999. Other 1995 amendments encouraged increased coordination among other federal

agencies and the water resource research institutes, and supported

a program of internships at the undergraduate and graduate levels

to carry out the educational and training objectives of the Act. In

Fiscal Year 1999 the institutes had significant research collaboration with 123 other universities, 148 state agencies and over 273

private sector, local governments or other entities. In addition,

approximately1000 students were partially supported or trained.

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 4132 was introduced on March 30, 2000, 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 11, 2000, the Subcommittee met to consider the bill. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote. On

May 24, 2000, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the

bill. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Reauthorization of Water Resources Research Act of 1984

This section reauthorizes the Water Resources Research Act of

1984 to provide authorization for appropriations for Fiscal Years

2001 through 2005 for program grants and grants for research focused on interstate water problems.

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 of the Constitution of the United States

grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

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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 included 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 inrevenues or tax expenditures.

3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause 3(c)(4)

of rule XIII 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 on this

bill.

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:

U.S. CONGRESS,

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,

Washington, DC, June 5, 2000.

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. 4132, a bill to reauthorize

grants for water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Rachel Applebaum.

Sincerely,

BARRY B. ANDERSON

(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).

Enclosure.

H.R. 4132—A bill to reauthorize grants for water resources research

and technology institutes established under the Water Resources

Research Act of 1984

Summary: H.R. 4132 would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act through 2005. Under that act, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides grants for research and education to research

and technology institutes located in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The bill would authorize the

appropriation of $76 million over the 2001–2005 period for the

USGS to continue those grant programs. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4132 would cost $72 million over the 2001–2005 period, assuming appropriation of the auVerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:07 Jul 12, 2000 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR714.XXX pfrm07 PsN: HR714
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thorized amounts. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R.

4132 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as

defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). State and

local governments might incur some costs to match the federal

funds authorized by this bill, but these costs would be voluntary.

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: For this estimate,

CBO assumes that the authorized amounts will be appropriated

and that outlays will follow the historical spending patterns for

these grant programs. The estimated impact of H.R. 4132 is shown

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

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars—

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending Under Current Law:

Budget Authority 1 ............................................................... 5 0 0 0 0 0

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 4 1 0 0 0 0

Proposed Changes:

Authorization Level .............................................................. 0 12 14 14 18 18

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 0 10 13 14 17 18

Spending Under H.R. 4132: Authorization Level 1 5 12 14 14 18 18

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 4 11 13 14 17 18

1 The 2000 level is the amount appropriated for that year for USGS grants under the Water Resources Research Act.

Pay-as-You-go Considerations: None.

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 4132 contains

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in

UMRA. State and local governments might incur some costs to

match the federal funds authorized by this bill, but these costs

would be voluntary.

Previous CBO estimate: On April 27, 2000, CBO transmitted a

cost estimate for S. 2297, a bill to reauthorize the Water Resources

Research Act of 1984, as ordered reported by the Senate committee

on Environment and Public Works on April 13, 2000. The bills are

nearly identical, and the cost estimates are the same.

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Rachel Applebaum. Impact

on State, local, and tribal governments: Marjorie Miller. Impact on

the Private Sector: Natalie Tawil.

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 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):

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SECTION 104 OF THE WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH

ACT OF 1984

SEC. 104. (a) * * *

* * * * * * *

(f)(1) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the sum of ø$5,000,000 for

fiscal year 1996, $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 and 1998,

and $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000¿ $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.

* * * * * * *

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

1996 through 2000¿ $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 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.

* * * * * * *

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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.

* * * * * * *

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

1996 through 2000¿ $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 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.

* * * * * * *

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