I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7793 
To provide for the water security of the Rio Grande Basin, to reauthorize 
irrigation infrastructure grants, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 17, 2022 
Ms. STANSBURY (for herself, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. 
PERLMUTTER, and Ms. HERRELL) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the water security of the Rio Grande Basin, 
to reauthorize irrigation infrastructure grants, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Rio Grande Water Security Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—RIO GRANDE WATER SECURITY 
Sec. 101. Definitions. 
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Sec. 102. Integrated water resources management plan for the Rio Grande 
Basin. 
Sec. 103. Rio Grande Basin Working Group. 
Sec. 104. Effect of title. 
TITLE II—PUEBLO IRRIGATION 
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of Pueblo irrigation infrastructure grants. 
TITLE I—RIO GRANDE WATER 
SECURITY 
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) BASIN
PLAN.—The term ‘‘Basin Plan’’ 
means the integrated water resources management 
plan for the Rio Grande Basin developed under sec-
tion 102(a). 
(2) BASIN
STATE.—The term ‘‘Basin State’’ 
means each of the following States: 
(A) Colorado. 
(B) New Mexico. 
(C) Texas. 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) NATURE-BASED FEATURE.—The term ‘‘na-
ture-based feature’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 9502 of the Omnibus Public Land Man-
agement Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10362). 
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(5) RIO
GRANDE
BASIN.—The term ‘‘Rio 
Grande Basin’’ means the mainstem of the Rio 
Grande from the headwaters of the Rio Grande in 
Colorado to the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas 
and any hydrologically connected groundwater, 
aquifers, and tributaries, including tributaries that 
provide water via basin transfers. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘Working 
Group’’ means the Rio Grande Basin Working 
Group convened under section 102(a). 
SEC. 102. INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
PLAN FOR THE RIO GRANDE BASIN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene 
a Federal Working Group, to be known as the ‘‘Rio 
Grande Basin Working Group’’, to consult and collaborate 
with the Basin States, Indian Tribes, units of local govern-
ment, irrigation districts, conservation districts, acequias, 
land grant-mercedes, and other local partners in the Rio 
Grande Basin to develop and implement an integrated 
water resources management plan for the Rio Grande 
Basin using the best available science, data, and local 
knowledge. 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Basin Plan is to 
improve— 
(1) water security and quality for communities 
throughout the Rio Grande Basin; 
(2) river and watershed health for ecosystems, 
fish, and wildlife in the Rio Grande Basin; 
(3) the resilience of communities and eco-
systems in the Rio Grande Basin to drought and hy-
drologic change; and 
(4) consultation, collaboration, and partnerships 
among Federal agencies, Basin States, Indian 
Tribes, and local partners within the Rio Grande 
Basin. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The Basin Plan shall in-
clude— 
(1) a list of recommended projects and activi-
ties to achieve the purpose described in subsection 
(b), using the best available science for current and 
future conditions in the Rio Grande Basin, including 
recommendations for— 
(A) improving infrastructure design, main-
tenance, repair, planning, management, and op-
erations throughout the Rio Grande Basin; 
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(B) improving science, data, monitoring, 
and collaboration to improve understanding of 
the Rio Grande Basin, including— 
(i) the hydrology and other processes 
of the Rio Grande Basin; and 
(ii) the long-term availability of water 
across the Rio Grande Basin; 
(C) increasing water conservation in the 
Rio Grande Basin through partnerships with 
communities and water users; 
(D) investments in nature-based features, 
infrastructure, and habitat improvements to im-
prove river health, resilience, water security, 
and hazard mitigation in the Rio Grande Basin; 
(E) updating reservoir operations authori-
ties and water control manuals; and 
(F) improving consultation, collaboration, 
and partnerships throughout the Rio Grande 
Basin to achieve the objectives described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (E); 
(2) a list of potential changes to existing Fed-
eral authorities that may be needed to implement 
the Basin Plan; and 
(3) a timeline for implementing the Basin Plan 
over a 30-year period. 
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(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) submit the Basin Plan to— 
(A) the appropriate committees of Con-
gress; and 
(B) the Basin States, Indian Tribes lo-
cated within the Rio Grande Basin, and local 
partners; and 
(2) make the Basin Plan publicly available on-
line. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On submission of the Basin 
Plan to Congress under subsection (d)(1)(A), the 
relevant agencies of the Working Group may imple-
ment recommended projects and activities from the 
Basin Plan to achieve the purposes of this title, in-
cluding— 
(A) water conservation and restoration 
projects; 
(B) streamflow and groundwater recharge 
improvements; 
(C) optimization of Federal project man-
agement, including— 
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(i) improvements and flexibility in res-
ervoir, irrigation, and flood control project 
operations; and 
(ii) updates and amendments to par-
ticular reservoir operations authorities, 
contracts, and water control manuals with-
in the Rio Grande Basin, consistent with 
the recommendations provided in sub-
section (c)(1)(E); 
(D) studies of relevant projects and activi-
ties requiring further authorization; 
(E) the establishment of a collaborative 
science, data, and monitoring program for the 
Rio Grande Basin; and 
(F) the establishment of a coordinated 
technical assistance program to support Rio 
Grande Basin stakeholders in accessing re-
sources and programs to achieve the purposes 
of this title. 
(2) WAIVER.—In implementing this subsection, 
the relevant agencies of the Working Group may 
waive or reduce Federal cost-share requirements for 
projects and activities that demonstrate significant 
public benefits in accordance with the purpose de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
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(f) REQUIREMENTS.—The projects and activities im-
plemented pursuant to subsection (e) shall be— 
(1) subject to required authorization and appro-
priation by Congress; 
(2) contingent on the completion of applicable 
feasibility studies, environmental reviews, and cost- 
benefit analyses that include favorable recommenda-
tions for the proposed projects and activities; and 
(3) implemented— 
(A) in accordance with applicable law, in-
cluding— 
(i) the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
(ii) the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and 
(iii) the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); 
(B) in consultation with and in accordance 
with State, Tribal, and local authorities in the 
Basin States; 
(C) in accordance with interstate and 
international agreements applicable to the Rio 
Grande Basin; and 
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(D) in accordance with the water rights of 
any Indian Tribe or agreements between any 
Indian Tribe and the United States. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the heads of the agen-
cies represented on the Working Group such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this title for each of fiscal years 
2023 through 2052. 
SEC. 103. RIO GRANDE BASIN WORKING GROUP. 
(a) COMPOSITION.—The Working Group shall be 
composed of the following members: 
(1) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
(2) The Assistant Secretary of the Army for 
Civil Works. 
(3) The Chief of the Forest Service. 
(4) The Chief of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service. 
(5) The Commissioner of the International 
Boundary and Water Commission. 
(6) The Commissioner of Reclamation. 
(7) The Director of any National Laboratory lo-
cated in a Basin State. 
(8) The Director of the Bureau of Indian Af-
fairs. 
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(9) The Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement. 
(10) The Director of the National Park Service. 
(11) The Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service. 
(12) The Director of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey. 
(13) The Secretary of Energy. 
(14) The Under Secretary for Rural Develop-
ment. 
(15) The heads of any other relevant Federal 
agencies, as determined to be appropriate by a ma-
jority of the members of the Working Group de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (14). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Working Group shall consult, col-
laborate, and work with Basin States, Indian Tribes lo-
cated within the Rio Grande Basin, and local partners— 
(1) to develop and implement a Basin Plan; and 
(2) on submission of the Basin Plan to Con-
gress under section 102(d)(1)(A), to support ongo-
ing collaboration across the Rio Grande Basin 
among Federal stakeholders and non-Federal stake-
holders within the Rio Grande Basin. 
SEC. 104. EFFECT OF TITLE. 
Nothing in this title— 
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(1) affects, waives, abrogates, diminishes, de-
fines, or interprets any water right of any Indian 
Tribe or agreement between any Indian Tribe and 
the United States; 
(2) affects a contract or benefit in existence on 
the date of enactment of this Act that was executed 
pursuant to the reclamation laws, unless otherwise 
agreed to by the parties to the contract or benefit; 
(3) affects any interstate or international agree-
ment regarding the Rio Grande and the waters of 
the Rio Grande, or any other interstate compact or 
agreement regarding water; 
(4) affects any ongoing treaty obligations; or 
(5) limits or affects any Basin State or Indian 
Tribe in the management of water quantity or qual-
ity in accordance with State or Tribal laws, as appli-
cable. 
TITLE II—PUEBLO IRRIGATION 
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF PUEBLO IRRIGATION IN-
FRASTRUCTURE GRANTS. 
Section 9106(g)(2) of the Omnibus Public Land 
Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 
1309) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘is authorized’’ and inserting 
‘‘are authorized’’; and 
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(2) by striking ‘‘$6,000,000’’ and all that fol-
lows through the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2032.’’. 
Æ 
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