I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 135 
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 6, 2009 
Mr. LINDER (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, and Mr. COSTA) 
introduced the following 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 
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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Twenty-First Century 
Water Commission Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
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(1) the Nation’s water resources will be under 
increasing stress and pressure in the coming dec-
ades; 
(2) a thorough assessment of technological and 
economic advances that can be employed to increase 
water supplies or otherwise meet water needs in 
every region of the country is important and long 
overdue; and 
(3) a comprehensive strategy to increase water 
availability and ensure safe, adequate, reliable, and 
sustainable water supplies is vital to the economic 
and environmental future of the Nation. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Twenty-First Century Water Commission’’ (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
The duties of the Commission shall be to— 
(1) use existing water assessments and conduct 
such additional assessments as may be necessary to 
project future water supply and demand; 
(2) study current water management programs 
of Federal, interstate, State, and local agencies, and 
private sector entities directed at increasing water 
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supplies and improving the availability, reliability, 
and quality of freshwater resources; and 
(3) consult with representatives of such agen-
cies and entities to develop recommendations con-
sistent with laws, treaties, decrees, and interstate 
compacts for a comprehensive water strategy 
which— 
(A) respects the primary role of States in 
adjudicating, administering, and regulating 
water rights and water uses; 
(B) identifies incentives intended to ensure 
an adequate and dependable supply of water to 
meet the needs of the United States for the 
next 50 years; 
(C) suggests strategies that avoid in-
creased mandates on State and local govern-
ments; 
(D) eliminates duplication and conflict 
among Federal governmental programs; 
(E) considers all available technologies and 
other methods to optimize water supply reli-
ability, availability, and quality, while safe-
guarding the environment; 
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(F) recommends means of capturing excess 
water and flood water for conservation and use 
in the event of a drought; 
(G) suggests financing options for com-
prehensive water management projects and for 
appropriate public works projects; 
(H) suggests strategies to conserve existing 
water supplies, including recommendations for 
repairing aging infrastructure; and 
(I) includes other objectives related to the 
effective management of the water supply to en-
sure reliability, availability, and quality, which 
the Commission shall consider appropriate. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 9 members who shall be appointed 
not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act. Member shall be appointed as follows: 
(1) 5 members appointed by the President; 
(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, in consultation with the 
minority leader of the House of Representatives; and 
(3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader 
of the Senate, in consultation with the minority lead-
er of the Senate. 
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(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members shall be appointed 
to the Commission from among individuals who— 
(1) are of recognized standing and distinction 
in water policy issues; and 
(2) while serving on the Commission, do not 
hold any other position as an officer or employee of 
the United States, except as a retired officer or re-
tired civilian employee of the United States. 
(c) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing mem-
bers of the Commission, every effort shall be made to en-
sure that the members represent a broad cross section of 
regional and geographical perspectives in the United 
States. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mission shall be designated by the President. 
(e) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be 
appointed not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act and shall serve for the life of the Commis-
sion. 
(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shall 
not affect its operation, and shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment provided under sub-
section (a). 
(g) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Mem-
bers of the Commission shall serve without compensation, 
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except members shall receive travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 
provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 6. MEETINGS AND QUORUM. 
(a) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall hold its first 
meeting not later than 60 days after the date on which 
all members have been appointed under section 5, and 
shall hold additional meetings at the call of the Chair-
person or a majority of its members. 
(b) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of business. 
SEC. 7. STAFFING. 
The Chairperson of the Commission may, without re-
gard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and 
terminate an Executive Director and such other additional 
personnel as may be necessary for the Commission to per-
form its duties. The Executive Director shall be com-
pensated at a rate not to exceed the annual rate of basic 
pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. The employment 
and termination of the Executive Director shall be subject 
to confirmation by a majority of the members of the Com-
mission. 
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SEC. 8. POWERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall hold no fewer 
than 10 hearings during the life of the Commission. Hear-
ings may be held in conjunction with meetings of the Com-
mission. The Commission may take such testimony and 
receive such evidence as the Commission considers appro-
priate to carry out this Act. At least 1 hearing shall be 
held in Washington, DC, for the purpose of taking testi-
mony of representatives of Federal agencies, national or-
ganizations, and Members of Congress. Other hearings 
shall be scheduled in distinct geographical regions of the 
United States and should seek to ensure testimony from 
individuals with a diversity of experiences, including those 
who work on water issues at all levels of government and 
in the private sector. 
(b) INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.—Upon request of the Commission, any Fed-
eral agency shall— 
(1) provide to the Commission, within 30 days 
of its request, such information as the Commission 
considers necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act; and 
(2) detail to temporary duty with the Commis-
sion on a reimbursable basis such personnel as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out the 
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provisions of this Act, in accordance with section 
5(b)(5), Appendix, title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 9. REPORTS. 
(a) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, and 
every 6 months thereafter, the Commission shall transmit 
an interim report containing a detailed summary of its 
progress, including meetings and hearings conducted in 
the interim period, to— 
(1) the President; 
(2) the Committee on Resources and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on the Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—As soon as practicable, but not 
later than 3 years after the date of the first meeting of 
the Commission, the Commission shall transmit a final re-
port containing a detailed statement of the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission, and recommendations for 
legislation and other policies to implement such findings 
and conclusions, to— 
(1) the President; 
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(2) the Committee on Resources and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on the Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate. 
SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 
days after the date on which the Commission transmits 
a final report under section 9(b). 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 
to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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