I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6997 
To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To implement a National Water Research and Development 
Initiative, 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 ‘‘National Water Re-
search and Development Initiative Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
INITIATIVE. 
(a) INITIATIVE AND PURPOSE.—The President shall 
implement a National Water Research and Development 
Initiative (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Initiative’’). The 
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purpose of the Initiative is to improve the Federal Govern-
ment’s role in designing and implementing Federal water 
research, development, demonstration, data collection and 
dissemination, education, and technology transfer activi-
ties to address changes in water use, supply, and demand 
in the United States, including providing additional sup-
port to increase water supply through greater efficiency 
and conservation. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 3 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Presi-
dent shall establish, or designate, an interagency 
committee to implement the Initiative under sub-
section (a). The Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall chair the interagency committee. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The interagency committee 
shall include a representative from each agency that 
conducts research related to water or has authority 
over resources that affect water supply, as well as a 
representative from the Office of Management and 
Budget. 
(3) FUNCTIONS
OF
THE
INTERAGENCY
COM-
MITTEE.—The interagency committee shall— 
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(A) develop a National Water Research 
and Assessment Plan (in this Act referred to as 
the ‘‘plan’’) in accordance with subsection (c); 
(B) coordinate all Federal research, devel-
opment, demonstration, data collection and dis-
semination, education, and technology transfer 
activities pertaining to water; 
(C) ensure cooperation among Federal 
agencies with respect to water-related research, 
development, and technological innovation ac-
tivities to avoid duplication of effort and to en-
sure optimal use of resources and expertise; and 
(D) facilitate technology transfer, commu-
nication, and opportunities for information ex-
change with non-governmental organizations, 
State and local governments, industry, and 
other members of the stakeholder community 
through the office established in paragraph (4). 
(4) NATIONAL
WATER
INITIATIVE
COORDINA-
TION OFFICE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 3 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the President shall establish a National Water 
Initiative Coordination Office (in this Act re-
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ferred to as the ‘‘Office’’), with full-time staff, 
to— 
(i) provide technical and administra-
tive support to the interagency committee; 
(ii) serve as a point of contact on 
Federal water activities for government 
agencies, organizations, academia, indus-
try, professional societies, and others to ex-
change technical and programmatic infor-
mation; and 
(iii) communicate with the public on 
the findings and recommendations of the 
interagency committee based on the activi-
ties conducted pursuant to the Initiative. 
(B) FUNDING.—The operation of the Of-
fice shall be supported by funds contributed 
from each agency represented on the inter-
agency committee. 
(c) NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT 
PLAN.— 
(1) PLAN DEVELOPMENT.—The plan required 
under subsection (b)(3)(A) shall establish the prior-
ities for Federal water research, including federally 
funded research, and assessment for the 4-year pe-
riod beginning in the year in which the plan is sub-
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mitted to Congress. In the development of the plan, 
the Committee shall consider and utilize rec-
ommendations and information in reports that have 
addressed water research needs, including the 2007 
report issued by the Subcommittee on Water Avail-
ability and Quality (SWAQ) of the National Science 
and Technology Council’s Committee on Environ-
ment and Natural Resources and recommendations 
of the National Academy of Sciences. 
(2) 
SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
plan 
shall— 
(A) identify each current program and ac-
tivity of each Federal agency related to the Ini-
tiative; 
(B) identify funding levels for the previous 
fiscal year for each program and, if applicable, 
each activity identified in subparagraph (A); 
(C) set forth a strategy and a timeline to 
achieve the outcomes described in subsection 
(d) and shall describe— 
(i) each activity required of each 
agency responsible for contributing to each 
such outcome; 
(ii) the funding levels necessary to 
achieve each such outcome; and 
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(iii) the distribution of funds between 
each agency based on such agency’s role in 
carrying out such activity; 
(D) be subject to a 90-day public comment 
period and shall address suggestions received 
and incorporate public input received, as appro-
priate; and 
(E) be submitted to Congress not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(d) WATER RESEARCH OUTCOMES.—The plan shall 
outline and direct agencies under the interagency com-
mittee to work to achieve the following outcomes: 
(1) Implementation of a National Water Cen-
sus, which shall include the collection of data on na-
tional water resources to create a comprehensive 
database that includes information about the quan-
tity, availability, and quality of ground water and 
surface water resources. 
(2) Development of a new generation of water 
monitoring techniques. 
(3) Development of technologies for enhancing 
reliable water supply. 
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(4) Development of innovative technologies and 
tools to enhance water-use efficiency and tools to en-
courage public acceptance of such technologies. 
(5) Development of tools and processes to facili-
tate resolution of conflicts over water resources. 
(6) Improvement of understanding of water-re-
lated ecosystem services and ecosystem needs for 
water. 
(7) Improvement of hydrologic prediction mod-
els and their applications. 
(8) Analyses of the energy required to provide 
reliable water supplies and the water required to 
provide reliable energy supplies throughout the 
United States. 
(e) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The President shall es-
tablish, or designate, an advisory committee to advise the 
Interagency Committee established under subsection (b). 
SEC. 3. BUDGET COORDINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall provide guid-
ance to each Federal agency participating in the Initiative 
with respect to the preparation of requests for appropria-
tions for activities related to the plan. 
(b) CONSIDERATION IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDG-
ET.—The President shall submit, at the time of the Presi-
dent’s annual budget request to Congress, a description 
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of those items in each agency’s budget which are elements 
of the plan or help to achieve the outcomes of the plan. 
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Concurrent with the annual submission of the Presi-
dent’s budget to Congress, the President shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes the activities and results 
of the Initiative during the previous fiscal year and out-
lines the objectives for the next fiscal year. The report 
shall include detailed information on all programs and ac-
tivities involved in the Initiative, including an analysis of 
progress towards achieving the outcomes listed in section 
2(d). 
Æ 
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