Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015

To amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to reauthorize grants for and require applied water supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under that Act. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015 2. Water Resources Research Act amendments (a) Congressional findings and declarations Section 102 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10301 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; (2) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking and (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) additional research is required into increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment works through alternative approaches, including— (A) nonstructural alternatives; (B) decentralized approaches; (C) energy use efficiency; (D) water use efficiency; and (E) actions to extract energy from wastewater; . (b) Clarification of research activities Section 104(b)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10303(b)(1) (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking water-related phenomena water resources (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (c) Compliance report Section 104(c) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10303(c) (1) by striking (c) From the (c) Grants (1) In general From the ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Report Not later than December 31 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on the Budget of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives a report regarding the compliance of each funding recipient with this subsection for the immediately preceding fiscal year. . (d) Evaluation of water resources research program Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10303 (e) Evaluation of water resources research program (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct a careful and detailed evaluation of each institute at least once every 3 years to determine— (A) the quality and relevance of the water resources research of the institute; (B) the effectiveness of the institute at producing measured results and applied water supply research; and (C) whether the effectiveness of the institute as an institution for planning, conducting, and arranging for research warrants continued support under this section. (2) Prohibition on further support If, as a result of an evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary determines that an institute does not qualify for further support under this section, no further grants to the institute may be provided until the qualifications of the institute are reestablished to the satisfaction of the Secretary. . (e) Authorization of appropriations Section 104(f)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10303(f)(1) $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 (f) 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) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 May 18, 2015 Reported without amendment

Summary: Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to: (1) declare that additional research is required into increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment works through alternative approaches, including non-structural alternatives, decentralized approaches, energy use efficiency, water use efficiency, and actions to extract energy from wastewater; (2) require each water resources research and technology institute to arrange for research that fosters the exploration of new ideas that expand understanding of water resources (currently, of water-related phenomena); (3) direct the Department of the Interior to report to specified congressional committees annually on each institute's compliance with matching fund requirements and provisions permitting the use of funds only to reimburse direct cost expenditures incurred for the conduct of the water resources research program; and (4) authorize appropriations for such institutes through FY2020.