Western Water Security Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-4891
Sponsor: Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2019-10-28 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Aquatic ecology
Arizona
Building construction
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Endangered and threatened species
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Farmland
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Hawaii
Hydrology and hydrography
Infrastructure development
Lakes and rivers
Latin America
Mexico
Mining
New Mexico
Oil and gas
Research administration and funding
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations
Texas
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: 

Western Water Security Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses water management infrastructure and improvement, groundwater management, and water conservation and environmental restoration in certain western states.
 
Specifically, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations to fund research agreements between the Bureau of Reclamation and eligible entities for water management improvement. The bill expands eligibility for such agreements to include nonprofit conservation organizations.
 
The bill also reauthorizes through FY2024 a program through which Interior is authorized to assist eligible desalination projects. The bill lowers cost-sharing requirements under the program for rural desalination projects.
 
Further, the bill allows certain financial assistance made available under an existing drought relief program to be used to assist state and tribal governments in addressing drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crises. The bill reauthorizes the program through FY2030.
 
Additionally, the bill increases the maximum federal share of costs for certain infrastructure improvements and activities for groundwater management that provide benefits to consumptive water users (i.e., users of water that is not returned to a stream, river, or water treatment plant) and nonconsumptive ecological or recreational values.
 
The bill also requires Reclamation to carry out a water acquisition program in specified river basins. Further, Interior must analyze the extent to which changes in water supply will affect native biodiversity and must produce strategies for sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.

action_date: 2020-12-18
text: 

Western Water Security Act of 2020 

 
This bill addresses water management infrastructure and improvement, groundwater management, and water conservation and environmental restoration in certain western states.
 
Specifically, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations to fund research agreements between the Bureau of Reclamation and eligible entities for water management improvement. The bill expands eligibility for such agreements to include nonprofit conservation organizations.
 
Further, the bill allows certain financial assistance made available under an existing drought relief program to be used to assist state and tribal governments in addressing drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crises. The bill reauthorizes the program through FY2030.
 
Additionally, the bill increases the maximum federal share of costs for certain infrastructure improvements and activities for groundwater management that provide benefits to consumptive water users (i.e., users of water that is not returned to a stream, river, or water treatment plant) and nonconsumptive ecological or recreational values.
 
The bill also requires Reclamation to carry out a water acquisition program in specified river basins. Further, Interior must analyze the extent to which changes in water supply will affect native biodiversity and must produce strategies for sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-674, Part I.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-674, Part I.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 11.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-11-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Introduced in House