I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4099 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to 
provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for large-scale 
water recycling and reuse projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 23, 2021 
Mrs. NAPOLITANO (for herself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HUFFMAN, and Mrs. LEE 
of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant 
program to provide grants on a competitive basis to 
eligible entities for large-scale water recycling and reuse 
projects, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Large-Scale Water Re-
cycling Project Investment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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SEC. 3. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR LARGE-SCALE 
WATER RECYCLING AND REUSE PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
establish a grant program to provide grants on a competi-
tive basis to eligible entities for the planning, design, and 
construction of large-scale water recycling and reclamation 
projects that provide substantial water supply and other 
benefits to drought stricken regions within the Reclama-
tion States. 
(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECT.—A project shall be consid-
ered eligible for consideration under this Act if— 
(1) the project reclaims and reuses— 
(A) municipal, industrial, domestic, or ag-
ricultural wastewater; or 
(B) impaired ground or surface waters; 
(2) the project has a total estimated cost of 
$500,000,000 or greater; 
(3) the project is located within a Reclamation 
State; 
(4) the project is constructed, operated, and 
maintained by an eligible entity; and 
(5) the project provides a Federal benefit in ac-
cordance with the reclamation laws. 
(c) PROJECT EVALUATION.—The Secretary may par-
ticipate in an eligible project under this Act if— 
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(1) an eligible entity determines through the 
preparation of a feasibility or equivalent study, and 
the Secretary concurs, that the eligible project— 
(A) is technically and financially feasible; 
(B) provides a Federal benefit in accord-
ance with the reclamation laws; and 
(C) is consistent with applicable Federal 
and State laws; 
(2) the eligible entity has sufficient non-Federal 
funding available to complete the eligible project; 
(3) the eligible entity is financially solvent; and 
(4) the Secretary submits to Congress a written 
notification of the determinations under paragraph 
(1) by not later than 30 days after the date of the 
determinations. 
(d) PRIORITY.—When funding projects under this 
Act, the Secretary shall give funding priority to projects 
that meet one or more of the following criteria: 
(1) Provide multiple benefits, including water 
supply reliability benefits for drought-stricken States 
and communities, fish and wildlife benefits, and 
water quality improvements. 
(2) Are likely to reduce impacts on environ-
mental resources from water projects owned or oper-
ated by Federal and State agencies, including 
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through measurable reductions in water diversions 
from imperiled ecosystems. 
(3) Help advance water management plans 
across a multi-state area, such as drought contin-
gency plans in the Colorado River Basin. 
(4) Regional in nature. 
(5) Collaboratively developed or supported by 
multiple stakeholders. 
(e) FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) FEDERAL
COST
SHARE.—Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost 
of any eligible project shall not exceed 25 percent of 
the total cost of the eligible project. 
(2) INCREASED
FEDERAL
COST
SHARE
FOR 
PROJECTS
WITH
ADDITIONAL
MEASURABLE
BENE-
FITS.—The Federal share of the cost of an eligible 
project may be increased to a maximum of 75 per-
cent of the total project costs, if the project ad-
vances at least a proportionate share of non-reim-
bursable benefits authorized under the reclamation 
laws, including fish and wildlife benefits provided 
through measurable reductions in water diversions 
from imperiled ecosystems. 
(3) TOTAL DOLLAR CAP.—The Secretary shall 
not impose a total dollar cap on Federal contribu-
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tions that applies to all individual projects under the 
grant program established by this Act. 
(4) NONREIMBURSABLE
FUNDS.—Funds pro-
vided by the Secretary to an eligible entity under 
this Act shall be considered nonreimbursable. 
(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $750,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
2023 through 2027. 
(6) FUNDING ELIGIBILITY.—An eligible project 
shall not be considered ineligible for assistance 
under this Act because the project has received as-
sistance authorized under title XVI of Public Law 
102–575 or section 4009 of Public Law 114–322. 
(f) ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.—In providing a grant 
for an eligible project under this Act, the Secretary shall 
comply with all applicable environmental laws, including 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
(g) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
guidance on the implementation of this Act, including 
guidelines for the preparation of feasibility or equivalent 
studies by eligible entities. 
(h) CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 60 days before 
making a grant for a project under this Act, the 
Secretary shall notify the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate, in writing, of the proposed grant. The notifi-
cation shall include an evaluation and justification 
for the project and the amount of the proposed 
grant award. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL.—The Sec-
retary shall not make a grant or any other obliga-
tion or commitment to fund a project under this Act 
that exceeds $100,000,000 if a joint resolution is en-
acted disapproving such funding for the project be-
fore the last day of the 60-day period described in 
paragraph (1). 
(i) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—At the end of each fis-
cal year, the Secretary shall make available on the 
website of the Department of the Interior an annual 
report that lists each project for which a grant has 
been provided under this Act during that fiscal year. 
(2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.— 
(A) ASSESSMENT.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall conduct an as-
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sessment of the administrative establishment, 
solicitation, selection, and justification process 
with respect to the funding of grants under this 
Act. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the initial awarding of grants under this Act, 
the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate a re-
port that describes— 
(i) the adequacy and effectiveness of 
the process by which each project was se-
lected, if applicable; and 
(ii) the justification and criteria used 
for the selection of each project, if applica-
ble. 
(j) TREATMENT OF CONVEYANCE.—The Secretary 
shall consider the planning, design, and construction of 
an eligible project’s conveyance system to be eligible for 
grant funding under this Act. 
Æ 
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