Water Data Act
Bill: H.R.7792 | Sponsor: Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann (D-NM)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Water Data Act
This bill requires federal departments and agencies involved in water resources management to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework and establish an interagency council, advisory committee, and grant program.
Specifically, the bill requires the departments to jointly develop and implement a National Water Data Framework for integrating, sharing, and using water data to support water resources management and access. The departments must (1) develop and adopt common national standards for water data, (2) integrate water data and tools through common approaches to data infrastructure and platforms, and (3) harmonize and align water data policies and programs.
The bill further requires these departments to establish an interagency Water Data Council to support the development and implementation of the framework.
The bill also requires the Department of the Interior to establish an Advisory Committee on Water Information to advise Interior, the departments, and the council on the framework. The advisory committee members must include those involved in water-related activities across different sectors (e.g., state and local governments, Indian Tribes, water agencies, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations).
Finally, the bill requires Interior to establish a Water Data Grant Program in coordination with the council for nonfederal entities to carry out the purposes of this bill.

To provide for a national water data framework, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Water Data Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the Advisory Committee on Water Information established 
        by section 5(a).
            (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Water Data 
        Council established under section 4(a).
            (3) Data standards.--The term ``data standards'' means 
        standards relating to the manner in which data are to be 
        structured, populated, and encoded in machine-readable formats, 
        and made interoperable for data exchange.
            (4) Departments.--The term ``Departments'' means each of 
        the following:
                    (A) The Department of Agriculture.
                    (B) The Department of Commerce.
                    (C) The Department of Defense.
                    (D) The Department of Energy.
                    (E) The Department of Health and Human Services.
                    (F) The Department of Homeland Security.
                    (G) The Department of the Interior.
                    (H) The Environmental Protection Agency.
                    (I) The National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration.
            (5) 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).
            (6) National water data framework.--The term ``National 
        Water Data Framework'' means the national water data framework 
        developed under section 3.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (8) Water data.--The term ``water data'' means measurements 
        of basic properties relating to the planning and management of 
        water resources, including streamflow, precipitation, 
        groundwater, soil moisture, snow, evaporation, water quality, 
        and water use in agriculture, industry, natural systems, and 
        municipal uses.
            (9) Water data grant program.--The term ``Water Data Grant 
        Program'' means the water data grant program established under 
        section 6(a).
            (10) Water data infrastructure.--The term ``water data 
        infrastructure'' means an integrated system of information 
        technologies that includes common standards, formats, and tools 
        to make water data easy to find, access, and share online.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL WATER DATA FRAMEWORK.

    (a) In General.--For the purpose of improving water resources 
management and access across the United States, including addressing 
drought, floods, and other water management challenges, the heads of 
the Departments shall jointly develop and implement a national water 
data framework for integrating, sharing, and using water data.
    (b) Requirements.--In developing and implementing the National 
Water Data Framework, the Departments shall--
            (1) identify and prioritize key water data needed to 
        support water resources management and planning, including--
                    (A) water data sets, types, and associated 
                metadata; and
                    (B) water data infrastructure, technologies, and 
                tools;
            (2) develop and adopt common national water data standards 
        for collecting, sharing, and integrating water data, 
        infrastructure, technologies, and tools in consultation with 
        States, Indian Tribes, local governments, and relevant bodies;
            (3) ensure that Federal water data are made findable, 
        accessible, interoperable, and reusable in accordance with the 
        standards developed and adopted pursuant to this Act;
            (4) integrate water data and tools through common 
        approaches to data infrastructure, platforms, models, and tool 
        development;
            (5) establish a common, national geospatial index for 
        publishing and linking water data from Federal, State, Tribal, 
        and other non-Federal sources for online discovery;
            (6) harmonize and align policies, programs, protocols, 
        budgets, and funding programs relating to water data to achieve 
        the purposes of this Act to the maximum extent practicable;
            (7) participate in and coordinate water data activities 
        with the Council; and
            (8) support the adoption of new technologies and the 
        development of tools for water data collection, sharing, and 
        standardization by Federal, State, Tribal, local, and other 
        entities.

SEC. 4. WATER DATA COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--The heads of the Departments shall establish an 
interagency Council, to be known as the ``Water Data Council'', to 
support the development and implementation of the National Water Data 
Framework.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Duties of secretary.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) serve as the Chair of the Council;
                    (B) in collaboration with the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy, convene the Council not less 
                frequently than 4 times each year; and
                    (C) provide staff support for the Council through 
                the United States Geological Survey.
            (2) Members.--Council Members shall include the heads of 
        the following entities:
                    (A) The Departments.
                    (B) Bureaus and offices of the Departments that 
                have a significant role or interest in water data, 
                including--
                            (i) the Corps of Engineers;
                            (ii) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
                            (iii) the Bureau of Reclamation;
                            (iv) the Federal Emergency Management 
                        Agency;
                            (v) the Federal Energy Regulatory 
                        Commission;
                            (vi) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
                        Service;
                            (vii) the Indian Health Service;
                            (viii) the Forest Service;
                            (ix) the National Laboratories;
                            (x) the Natural Resources Conservation 
                        Service;
                            (xi) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration;
                            (xii) the Rural Development program of the 
                        Department of Agriculture; and
                            (xiii) the United States Geological Survey.
                    (C) Offices of the Executive Office of the 
                President, including--
                            (i) the Council on Environmental Quality;
                            (ii) the Office of Management and Budget; 
                        and
                            (iii) the Office of Science and Technology 
                        Policy.
                    (D) Other Federal entities that the Chair and a 
                majority of the members of the Council described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C) determine to be 
                appropriate.
    (c) Duties.--The Council shall--
            (1) support the development and implementation of the 
        National Water Data Framework; and
            (2) facilitate communication and collaboration among 
        members of the Council--
                    (A) to establish, adopt, and implement common 
                national water data standards;
                    (B) to promote water data sharing and integration 
                across Federal departments and agencies, including--
                            (i) water data collection, documentation, 
                        maintenance, distribution, and preservation 
                        strategies; and
                            (ii) development and use of water data 
                        infrastructure, tools, and technologies to 
                        support water management and planning;
                    (C) to align the policies, programs, protocols, 
                budgets, and funding programs relating to water data of 
                the members of the Council; and
                    (D) to promote partnerships across Federal entities 
                and non-Federal entities--
                            (i) to advance innovation and solutions in 
                        water data, technology, tools, planning, and 
                        management; and
                            (ii) to develop guidelines for data sharing 
                        and protecting data privacy.
    (d) Water Data Council Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, in conjunction 
with the annual budget submission of the President to Congress under 
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary, acting 
on behalf of the Council, shall submit to members of the Council and 
the appropriate committees of Congress and make available publicly 
online a report that describes--
            (1) the National Water Data Framework;
            (2) the actions undertaken by the Departments to implement 
        this Act pursuant to section 3;
            (3) key water data sets, types, and infrastructure needed 
        to support water management and planning;
            (4) goals, targets, and actions to carry out the National 
        Water Data Framework in the subsequent fiscal year;
            (5) a summary and evaluation of the progress of the 
        Departments in achieving any prior goals, targets, and actions 
        to carry out the National Water Data Framework;
            (6) actions needed to align policies, programs, and 
        budgetary resources to carry out the National Water Data 
        Framework in the subsequent fiscal year;
            (7) grants and assistance provided to State, Tribal, and 
        local entities toward the development and adoption of new 
        technologies and tools;
            (8) opportunities to develop and incentivize the deployment 
        of promising next-generation technologies, including new water 
        data technologies and tools, in partnership with the private 
        sector and others to accomplish the purposes of this Act; and
            (9) metrics for achieving the National Water Data 
        Framework.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WATER INFORMATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of 
the Interior an advisory committee, to be known as the ``Advisory 
Committee on Water Information'', to advise the Secretary, Departments, 
and Council on the development and implementation of the National Water 
Data Framework.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed 
        of members, to be appointed by the Secretary in a manner that 
        provides for--
                    (A) balanced representation among various entities 
                involved in water-related activities; and
                    (B) consideration for a geographic balance of 
                individuals representing localities across the United 
                States.
            (2) Selection.--Members of the Advisory Committee shall be 
        selected by the Secretary from among entities involved in 
        water-related activities, including--
                    (A) States;
                    (B) Indian Tribes;
                    (C) local governments;
                    (D) Federal entities;
                    (E) water agencies, utilities, conservation 
                districts, irrigation districts, acequias, and other 
                water user associations;
                    (F) organizations that facilitate collaboration 
                across States and multi-state instrumentalities;
                    (G) educational institutions;
                    (H) professional organizations;
                    (I) water data and technology-related experts, 
                professionals, and industries;
                    (J) private sector entities; and
                    (K) nonprofit organizations.
            (3) Term.--Members of the Advisory Committee shall be 
        appointed by the Secretary for a term not to exceed 4 years.
    (c) Chair.--The Secretary shall serve as the Chair of the Advisory 
Committee.
    (d) Staff Support.--The United States Geological Survey shall 
provide support services for the Advisory Committee.
    (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the 
Chair, but not less frequently than 4 times each year.
    (f) Duties.--The duties of the Advisory Committee are to advise the 
Secretary, Departments, and Council on--
            (1) the development and implementation of the National 
        Water Data Framework;
            (2) efforts to operate a cost-effective national network of 
        water data collection and analysis that meets the priority 
        water information needs of the Federal Government and, to the 
        extent practicable using available resources, the needs of the 
        non-Federal community that are tied to national interests;
            (3) efforts to develop uniform standards, guidelines, and 
        procedures for the collection, analysis, management, and 
        dissemination of water information to improve quality, 
        consistency, and accessibility nationwide; and
            (4) the effectiveness of existing water information 
        programs and recommended modifications needed to respond to 
        changes in legislation, technology, and other conditions.
    (g) Applicability of FACA.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to 
        the Advisory Committee.
            (2) No termination.--Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
        Advisory Committee.

SEC. 6. WATER DATA GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a water data grant 
program under which the Secretary shall award grants--
            (1) to support non-Federal entities in making water data 
        sets findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable in 
        accordance with the water data standards established under this 
        Act;
            (2) to advance the development of water data 
        infrastructure, tools, and technologies to facilitate the 
        sharing and use of water data;
            (3) to support programs and projects that facilitate water 
        data sharing and use in water resources management and the 
        implementation of the National Water Data Framework; and
            (4) to provide a prize for accelerating innovation and 
        developing next-generation water data tools and technologies.
    (b) Coordination With the Council.--The Secretary shall consult and 
coordinate with the Council in creating and implementing the Water Data 
Grant Program to ensure that--
            (1) the Water Data Grant Program is aligned with and 
        carries out the purposes of this Act; and
            (2) grants and programs are harmonized across the 
        Departments and members of the Council to achieve the purposes 
        of this Act.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible for a grant under the 
Water Data Grant Program--
            (1) shall demonstrate significant needs or capabilities for 
        advancing water data sharing and tools with a significant 
        public benefit; and
            (2) may include--
                    (A) a State, multistate instrumentality, Indian 
                Tribe, or other unit of local government;
                    (B) a water agency, utility, conservation district, 
                irrigation district, acequia, mutual domestic 
                association, or other entity organized pursuant to 
                Federal, Tribal, or local laws for the purpose of 
                water-related activities;
                    (C) an educational institution or nonprofit 
                organization; and
                    (D) in the case of carrying out activities 
                described in subsection (a)(4)--
                            (i) an individual who is a citizen or legal 
                        resident of the United States; or
                            (ii) an entity that is incorporated and 
                        maintains the primary place of business of the 
                        entity in the United States.
    (d) Requirements.--
            (1) Data sharing and standards.--Any project funded through 
        the Water Data Grant Program shall be implemented in accordance 
        with the water data standards established under section 3.
            (2) Use of existing water data infrastructure.--The 
        recipient of a grant shall, to the extent practicable, leverage 
        existing water data and water data infrastructure.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter, in conjunction with the annual 
budget submission of the President to Congress under section 1105(a) of 
title 31, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report that describes the implementation of the Water Data Grant 
Program, including--
            (1) a description of the use and deployment of amounts made 
        available under the Water Data Grant Program;
            (2) an accounting of all grants awarded under the Water 
        Data Grant Program, including a description of--
                    (A) each grant recipient; and
                    (B) each project funded under the Water Data Grant 
                Program;
            (3) an assessment of the success of the Water Data Grant 
        Program in advancing the purposes of this Act; and
            (4) a plan for the subsequent fiscal year to achieve the 
        purposes of this Act.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Water Data Grant Program 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to remain 
available until expended.
    (g) Administrative Costs.--Of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated under subsection (f), not more than 3 percent may be used 
by the Secretary for administrative costs.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out sections 3 through 5 $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 
through 2027, to remain available until expended.
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