Water Data Act

Bill: 117-hr-7792
Sponsor: Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann [D-NM-1]
Introduced: 2022-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2022-05-17
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2022-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2022-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Armed Services, 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: 2022-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-05-17
text: Introduced in House