IB 
Union Calendar No. 429 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 135 
[Report No. 110–504, Parts I and II] 
To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission to study and de-
velop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address 
future water needs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2007 
Mr. LINDER (for himself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. NORWOOD, 
Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, and Mr. TERRY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 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 
DECEMBER 19, 2007 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources 
DECEMBER 19, 2007 
Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for 
a period ending not later than January 15, 2008 
JANUARY 15, 2008 
Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for 
a period ending not later than February 29, 2008 
FEBRUARY 29, 2008 
Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for 
a period ending not later than April 30, 2008 
APRIL 30, 2008 
Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for 
a period ending not later than May 22, 2008 
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MAY 22, 2008 
Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for 
a period ending not later than June 6, 2008 
JUNE 4, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. SESSIONS, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. 
PRICE of Georgia, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mrs. 
MUSGRAVE, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. COSTA, Mr. 
HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. STUPAK, 
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. KING-
STON, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. HINOJOSA, and Mr. 
CALVERT 
JUNE 4, 2008 
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with an 
amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 4, 2007] 
A BILL 
To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission 
to study and develop recommendations for a comprehen-
sive water strategy to address future water needs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. 21ST CENTURY WATER COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a commis-
sion to be known as the 21st Century Water Commission 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be 
to— 
(1) use existing water studies and assessments 
and conduct such additional studies and assessments 
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as may be necessary, including studies and assess-
ments on climate change impacts, to— 
(A) project future water supply needs and 
demand; 
(B) develop national and regional assess-
ments on flood risk and water availability; and 
(C) develop national and regional trends re-
lated to water quality; 
(2) study current water management programs 
of Federal, interstate, State, and local agencies and 
private sector entities directed at increasing water 
supplies, managing flood risk, and improving the 
availability, reliability, and quality of water re-
sources; and 
(3) develop recommendations, in consultation 
with representatives of such agencies and entities, for 
a comprehensive water strategy that— 
(A) identifies incentives to ensure an ade-
quate and dependable supply of water to meet 
the needs of the United States for the next 50 
years; 
(B) considers all available technologies and 
other methods to optimize water supply reli-
ability, availability, and quality, while safe-
guarding and enhancing the environment; 
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(C) suggests financing options, incentives, 
and opportunities for development of comprehen-
sive watershed management plans, regional wa-
tershed planning, holistically designed water re-
sources projects, and increased use of non-
structural elements (including green infrastruc-
ture and low impact development techniques); 
(D) encourages, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the integration of flood control and 
water supply projects, including recommenda-
tions for capturing excess water and flood water 
for conservation and reuse; 
(E) suggests options to promote the use of, 
and reduce biases against, nonstructural ele-
ments (including green infrastructure and low 
impact development techniques) when managing 
stormwater, including features that— 
(i) preserve and restore natural proc-
esses, landforms (such as floodplains), nat-
ural storage, natural vegetated stream side 
buffers, wetlands, or other topographical 
features; 
(ii) utilize natural design techniques 
that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and 
detain water close to its source; or 
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(iii) minimize the use of impervious 
surfaces; 
(F) encourages the avoidance and mini-
mization of adverse impacts to natural systems, 
and where possible, the restoration of natural 
systems; and 
(G) addresses other objectives related to a 
comprehensive water strategy which the Commis-
sion shall consider appropriate. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT
OF
A COMPREHENSIVE WATER 
STRATEGY.— 
(1) IMPACTS
OF
CLIMATE
CHANGE.—In devel-
oping recommendations for a comprehensive water 
strategy, the Commission shall— 
(A) evaluate the effectiveness of existing haz-
ard mitigation strategies and contingency plan-
ning provisions for Federal, interstate, State, 
and local water management programs in light 
of climate change impacts, including sea level 
rise, changing weather patterns, increased risk of 
flooding or drought, and associated impacts to 
water quality; 
(B) consider and evaluate the impacts of 
climate change; 
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(C) include strategies for using best avail-
able climate science in projections of future flood 
and drought risk, and for developing hazard 
mitigation strategies to protect water quality in 
extreme weather conditions caused by climate 
change; and 
(D) identify adaptation techniques, or fur-
ther research needs of adaptation techniques, for 
responding to climate change impacts. 
(2) POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing 
recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy, 
the Commission shall— 
(A) respect the primary role of States in 
adjudicating, administering, and regulating 
water rights and water uses; 
(B) identify whether recommendations are 
consistent with existing laws, treaties, decrees, 
and interstate compacts; 
(C) identify duplication among Federal 
governmental programs, and make recommenda-
tions to improve coordination among Federal, 
interstate, State, and local agencies; and 
(D) avoid suggesting strategies for increased 
mandates on State and local governments. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commis-
sion shall be composed of 11 members who shall be 
appointed, not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, as follows: 
(A) 3 members appointed by the President. 
(B) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives from a list of 6 in-
dividuals— 
(i) 3 nominated for that appointment 
by the chairman of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(ii) 3 nominated for that appointment 
by the chairman of the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(C) 3 members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate from a list of 6 individ-
uals— 
(i) 3 nominated for that appointment 
by the chairman of the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate; 
and 
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(ii) 3 nominated for that appointment 
by the chairman of the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 
(D) 1 member appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives from a list 
of 2 individuals— 
(i) 1 nominated for that appointment 
by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(ii) 1 nominated for that appointment 
by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(E) 1 member appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate from a list of 2 individ-
uals— 
(i) 1 nominated for that appointment 
by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Sen-
ate; and 
(ii) 1 nominated for that appointment 
by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate. 
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(2) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(A) RECOGNIZED STANDING AND DISTINC-
TION.—Members shall be appointed to the Com-
mission from among individuals who are of rec-
ognized standing and distinction in water policy 
issues. 
(B) LIMITATION.—A person while serving 
as a member of the Commission may not hold 
any other position as an officer or employee of 
the United States, except as a retired officer or 
retired civilian employee of the United States. 
(C) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—In appoint-
ing members of the Commission, every effort 
shall be made to ensure that the members rep-
resent a broad cross section of regional and geo-
graphical perspectives in the United States. 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission shall be elected by a majority vote of the 
members of the Commission. 
(4) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall 
serve for the life of the Commission. 
(5) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission 
shall not affect its operation and shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
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(6) COMPENSATION
AND
TRAVEL
EXPENSES.— 
Members of the Commission shall serve without com-
pensation; except that members shall receive travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with applicable provisions under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57, United States Code. 
(e) MEETINGS AND QUORUM.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall hold its 
first meeting not later than 60 days after the date on 
which all original members are appointed under sub-
section (d) and shall hold additional meetings at the 
call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business. 
(f) STAFFING.—The Chairperson of the Commission 
may, without regard to the civil service laws and regula-
tions, appoint and terminate an Executive Director and 
such other additional personnel as may be necessary for the 
Commission to perform its duties. The Executive Director 
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the annual 
rate of basic pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. The 
employment and termination of an Executive Director shall 
be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members 
of the Commission. 
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(g) HEARINGS.— 
(1) MINIMUM NUMBER.—The Commission shall 
hold no fewer than 10 hearings during the life of the 
Commission. 
(2) IN
CONJUNCTION
WITH
MEETINGS.—Hear-
ings may be held in conjunction with meetings of the 
Commission. 
(3) TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE.—The Commis-
sion may take such testimony and receive such evi-
dence as the Commission considers appropriate to 
carry out this section. 
(4) SPECIFIED.—At least one hearing shall be 
held in Washington, District of Columbia, for the 
purpose of taking testimony of representatives of Fed-
eral agencies, national organizations, and Members of 
Congress. At least one hearing shall focus on potential 
water resource issues relating to climate change and 
how to mitigate the harms of climate change-related 
weather events. 
(5) NONSPECIFIED.—Hearings, other than those 
referred to in paragraph (4), shall be scheduled in 
distinct geographical regions of the United States. In 
conducting such hearings, the Commission should seek 
to ensure testimony from individuals with a diversity 
of experiences, including those who work on water 
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issues at all levels of government and in the private 
sector. 
(h) INFORMATION
AND SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.—Upon request of the Commission, the head of 
a Federal department or agency shall— 
(1) provide to the Commission, within 30 days 
of the request, such information as the Commission 
considers necessary to carry out this section; and 
(2) detail to temporary duty with the Commis-
sion on a reimbursable basis such personnel as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out this sec-
tion. 
(i) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the first meeting of the Commission, and every 
year thereafter, the Commission shall submit an interim re-
port containing a detailed summary of its progress, includ-
ing meetings held and hearings conducted before the date 
of the report, to— 
(1) the President; and 
(2) Congress. 
(j) FINAL REPORT.—As soon as practicable, but not 
later than 5 years after the date of the first meeting of the 
Commission, the Commission shall submit a final report 
containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclu-
sions of the Commission and recommendations for legisla-
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tion and other policies to implement such findings and con-
clusions to— 
(1) the President; 
(2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on Environment and Pub-
lic Works of the Senate. 
(k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
not later than 30 days after the date on which the Commis-
sion transmits a final report under subsection (j). 
(l) APPLICABILITY
OF
FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.) shall not apply to the Commission. 
(m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $12,000,000 to carry out this 
section. 
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Union Calendar No. 429 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 135 
[Report No. 110–504, Parts I and II] 
A BILL 
To establish the Twenty-First Century Water Com-
mission to study and develop recommendations 
for a comprehensive water strategy to address fu-
ture water needs. 
JUNE 4, 2008 
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure with an amendment 
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