Source: https://www.everycrsreport.com/changes/20120807_R42653_b22839d245e78f864bae6c22372188b5284b10a5__20170524_R42653_432a5df561407f4de6ac77dfbbbca833a2250711.html
Timestamp: 2020-03-28 20:48:57
Document Index: 506888831

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2', '§411', '§9', '§1240', '§1240', '§1240', '§1238', '§1271', '§104', '§602', '§1452', '§4009', '§407', '§306', '§404', '§302', '§1421', '§319', '§2176217', '§1238', '§1238', '§1240', '§1271', '§1237', '§1237', '§1265']

Changes in Selected Federal Water Activities: Agencies, Authorities, and Congressional Committees from August 7, 2012 to May 24, 2017 - EveryCRSReport.com
Changes from August 7, 2012 to May 24, 2017
August 7, 2012Updated May 24, 2017 (R42653)
Drought Planning, Mitigation, and Response
Although the responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation's water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests, this report focuses on the complexity of federal activities related to water and the congressional committees that authorize and oversee these activities. The report covers multiple topic areastopics and individual water-related subtopics ranging from water supply and water quality infrastructure to fisheries management and water rights. The report is not exhaustive; instead, the authors have attempted to cover the major federal activities authorized by Congress that affect water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. Similarly, the analysis does not cover every aspect of House and Senate committee jurisdiction affecting water issues. Accordingly, it may be helpful to seekFor definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices for a more definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to waterare official.
The report covers four general areas, or themes: (1) "Water Resources Development, Management, and Use"; (2) "Water Quality, Protection, and Restoration"; (3) "Water Rights and Allocation"; and (4) "Research and Planning." TheseThe sections addressing these themes are further divided into tables that list topic areas and individual water-related subtopics. For each subtopic, CRS has identified selected federal agencies and activities related to the topicsubtopic, authorities for such activities, and relevant House and Senate committee jurisdictions. The "Water Resources Development, Management, and Use" theme includes subtopics that relate to supply and reservoir development, drought and flood management, and hydropower and navigation. The "Water Quality, Protection, and Restoration" theme includes issues relating to water quality (e.g., water pollution and treatment, drinking water quality) and aquatic resources protection and management. The "Water Rights and Allocation" theme addresses water allocation and interstate compacts, river basin commissions, federal reserved water rights, and tribal water rights. The "Research and Planning" theme includes subtopics related to research and data collection, including water cycle and climate change research, and watershed planning, as specified in House and Senate rules. Appendixes address considerations in determining House and Senate committee jurisdictions and present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, aswhich are indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources. A glossary of House and Senate CommitteeThe report also includes a glossary of abbreviations and federal agency acronyms is also included.
In sum, thefor federal agencies and House and Senate committees. The nine tables that make up the body of the documentthis report underscore the complexity of federal activities affecting water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. As apparent throughout these tables, numerous standing committees in the House and the Senate have jurisdiction over various components of federal water policy. The wide range of federal executive responsibilities for water resources reflects comparably complex congressional legislative responsibilities, which in turn reflect the multiple ways in which water laws affect social and economic activities and vice versa.
and directives. Introduction and Overview1
Congress addresses numerous water issues annually. FromIssues range from responding to natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, to improving the nation's water resource and water quality infrastructure, and protecting fish and wildlife, many different congressional committees, wildlife, and other aquatic resources. Many congressional committees address these issues and are involved in legislating, funding, and overseeing the water-related activities of numerous federal agencies. Nearly two centuries of such involvement in water resource project development, environmental and resource management activities, and responding to population shifts and changing societal desires have resulted in a complex web of federal activities related to water.
Although the responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation's water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests, this report focuses on the complexity of federal activities related to water. It is meant to serve as a guide to federal water-related activities, including the administering agency(iesMore than two centuries of such involvement have resulted in a complex web of federal activities related to water.2 As a result, Congress often faces challenges related to overlap and gaps in federal water resource activities and in coordination and consistency among federal programs. Further, many federal authorities are discretionary or funded by discretionary appropriations. Consequently, there can be a significant difference between what federal agencies are authorized to do and what they are doing, and no one committee in Congress oversees this dichotomy. The responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation's water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests. Despite multiple calls for the coordination of federal water-related activities, observers seldom focus on the origins of laws and policies authorizing myriad federal activities. The purpose of this report is to provide insight into the congressional involvement in establishing, overseeing, and funding federal water-related activities. Thus, the report focuses on the complexity of federal activities related to water. It aims to serve as a guide to federal water-related activities, including the administering agency (or agencies), the primary or overarching authorities for such activities, and House and Senate committee jurisdictions. In most cases, the primary authorities listed are authorizing statutes and accompanying U.S. Code citations; in some casesinstances, constitutional or other authorities are provided. In providing this analysis, CRS This analysis does not cover every aspect of federal water policy. Instead, the authors have attempted to coveraddress the major federal activities authorized by Congress that affect water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. Similarly, this analysis does not cover every aspect of House and Senate committee jurisdiction affecting water issues. Accordingly, it may be helpful to seekFor definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices for a more definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water. Furtherare official. Lastly, programs known to have expired and for which reauthorization legislation is pending aremay be noted; however, given the breadth of the report and constant executive and legislative branch activity, it is not possible to provide comprehensive status reports for all entries.
The federal government has been involved in water resources development since the earliest days of the nation. From congressionally directed improvements, first's creation. Congress first directed water resource improvements to facilitate navigation and later, then to reduce flood damages and expand irrigation in the West. For much of the 20th century, the federal government has beenwas called upon to assist and pay for a multitude of water resource development projects—large-scale dams such as Hoover and Grand Coulee, as well as navigation locks throughout the country's largest rivers. In recent decades, Congress has enacted legislation to regulate water quality; protect fish, wildlife, and threatened and endangered species; and facilitate water supply augmentationmanage floodplain development; conduct research; and facilitate water supply augmentation via support for water reclamation and reuse facilities and desalination. Congress maintains an active role in overseeing implementation of this legislation, as well as enacting new laws and appropriating funding for water resources activities.
Specific federal water laws have been enacted for the diverse purposes noted above. Development and implementation of these laws have requiredinvolved the action of numerous congressional committees and federal agencies. At the congressional level, this action has resulted in a set of diverse and sometimes overlapping committee jurisdictions dealing with various aspects of water policy and addressing the interests of differing constituencies. At the executive branch level, this interest and congressional direction havehas resulted in many agencies and organizations being involved in different but related and sometimes overlapping aspects of federal water policy. The activities identified in this report fall into the jurisdiction of numerous congressional standing committees (and generally exclude appropriations and other committees in the relevant chambers that deal with banking, taxes, and finance issues.) Similarly, the activities identified in this report are addressed in some form by many federal executive branch agencies.
The following tables describe federal water-related activities and programs in the United States, and identify the administeringprimary administering federal agency(ies), primary authorities,2 and 3 and examples of congressional committees of jurisdiction for each agency activity or program.34 The tables are arranged under broad areas, subtopics, and topic terms.
Each themethematic area begins with a brief introduction and is followed by a table(s) of relevant agencies, activities and programs, and House and Senate committees of jurisdiction.45 Each table covers more focused areas of water issues—subtopics—based on agency function and the historical development of federal water programs. In organizing these tables, a series of topic terms was developed under which both members of the general public and those more familiar with water policy might categorize federal water-related activities. These topic terms were determined by the CRS analysts and legislative attorneys involved in developing the report.
The "Water Resources Development, Management, and Use" theme includes subtopics that relate to supply and reservoir development, drought and flood management, and hydropower, and navigation. The "Water Quality, Protection, and Restoration" theme includesaddresses issues relating to water quality and aquatic resources protection and management, including selected regional aquatic ecosystem restoration authorities. The "Water Rights and Allocation" theme addresses water allocation and interstate compacts, river basin commissions, federal reserved water rights, and tribal water rights. The "Research and Planning" theme includes subtopics related to research and data collection, includingsuch as water cycle and climate change research, water-related technologies, and watershed planning.
Significant overlaps occur both within and among the different categories. This analysis generally excludes marine/ or ocean issues, and international and boundary water issues, except for jointly managed dams at the U.S.-MexicoMexican border and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs along the U.S.-MexicoMexican border. Additionally, Congress has established various economic development programs that include water supply and/or treatment projects among the categories of purposes eligible for federal assistance; however, this report, however, does not include those programs for which water-related activities are not the major focus. Also excluded are broad environmental remediation or waste management statutes, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Solid Waste Disposal Act, or activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency other than flood disaster assistance (such as the flood insurance program). Water activities affecting Indian tribes are also not uniformly addressed in the accompanying tables, but instead are covered where they are known to interact with broader federal agency water-related programs and activities, such as water supply development and water quality infrastructure. Because federal environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act5 and the National Environmental Policy Act,6 apply to all federal agencies, federal agency activities under those laws are not identified in this report.
Appendix A of the report discusses considerations in determining House and Senate committee jurisdictions and provides an example of the complexity in water topics and jurisdictional coverage. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources. Both the House and the Senate tables also address subcommittee jurisdiction, and the Senate table provides information on executive branch nominations handled by Senate committees. Appendix D provides a glossary of House and Senate Committee abbreviations, as well as a glossary of federal agency acronyms. Program acronyms are generally abbreviations for federal agencies and House and Senate committees. Program abbreviations generally are spelled out where they first occur in each table.
In sum, the nine tables that make up the body of the report define water based on the topic terms determined by CRS. These tables underscore the intricacy of the federal programs affecting water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. As apparent throughout the tables, numerous standing committees in the House and Senate have jurisdiction over various components of federal water policy; moreover, this figurecommittees listed here generally excludesexclude the extensive responsibilities of the appropriations committees in both chambers, and generally excludesas well as the direct and indirect activities of other committees in the relevant chambers that deal with banking, taxes, and finance issues.
Historically, the federal government played a large role in development of the nation's water resources—in particular constructing large water resource infrastructure projects (e.g., canals, locks, levees, and dams)—for navigation, flood damage reduction, and irrigation water supply in the West. Most of theThe largest federal dams typically serve multiple purposes, including those just notednoted above, as well as producing hydropower and providing water supplies for municipal and industrial uses. More recently, Congress has authorized activities and programs to augment water supplies via water conservation programs and, including groundwater recharge (aquifer storage and recovery), and water reclamation and reuse programs, (including desalination).
Projects typically are constructed with up-front funding by BOR with allocated construction costs repaid per repayment or water service contracts.
Reclamation Act of 1902, §2, as amended (32 Stat. 388, 43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.); and site-specific authorities
391 et seq.); Act of August 7, 1946 (60 Stat. 866, 43 U.S.C. §411) Reclamation Project Act of 1939, §9 (43 U.S.C. 485h); and numerous site-specific authorities House NRSenate ENR
House NRSenate NR
USACE constructs, operates, and maintains single and multi-purposemultipurpose dams, with primary purposes of navigation and flood -damage reduction under general and project-specific authorities.
Rivers and Harbors Acts (multiple statutes), and Flood Control Acts (multiple statutes), including Flood Control Act of 1936 and 1955 (33 U.S.C. 701 et seq.); Water Resources; Water Resource Development Acts
Development Acts or similar legislation House T&ISenate EPW
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (also known as P.L.-566 and the Small Watershed Program)- —provides financial and technical assistance to local project sponsors for small flood -damage reduction projects, including dams and reservoirs.
Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program- —provides technical and financial assistance for planning, design, and implementation of actions to rehabilitate aging dams (including upgrading or removing dams) constructed under the Small Watershed ProgramWatershed and Flood Prevention Operations.
Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams (SEED)- —performs site evaluations and identifies potential deficiencies at ReclamationBOR and other DOI dams. Deficiencies addressed via the SOD programSafety of Dams Program, noted below.
Safety of Dams Program (SOD)- —BOR evaluates and implements actions to resolve safety concerns at Reclamation dams.
House T&ISenate EPW
National Dam Safety Program- —provides grantfinancial assistance to state dam safety programs, as well as training and technical research.
FEMA is authorized to provide grants under this program to cost share dam rehabilitation of nonfederal high-hazard dam; the allocation of any federal funds appropriated under this authority is determined by a formula established in statute.
Interagency Committee on Dam Safety- —serves as permanent forum for coordination of federal activities in dam safety.
The FEMA Administrator serves as the committee chair.
Dam Safety Program- —FERC inspects nonfederal projects to investigate potential dam safety problems.
Owners Dam Safety Program- —provides owners with the resources and expertise to maintain safe dams.
USGS exchanges scientific information with other agencies involved in dam safety. This includes data gathered under the Survey'sUSGS geologic hazards research (e.g. seismic data).
Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.
House NRSenate IA Water Supply Development (Municipal, Industrial, Agricultural)
study, design, and construct numerous Indian water projects under various Indian water rights settlements. (See also Table 7.)
Sanitation Facilities Construction Program- —The IHS is authorized to provide and maintain domestic and community water supplies and facilities and waste disposal facilities for Indian homes and communities.
AuthorizedUSACE is authorized to include irrigation as a reimbursable purpose for multi-purpose reservoirs. Also authorized to allow interim use for irrigation of uncontracted water at USACE reservoirs.
House T&ISenate EPW Groundwater Supply
Several USDA programs directly or indirectly support irrigated agriculture; however, these programs generally are part of larger bureau or agency assistance functions, such as conducting land and crop surveys, and collecting farm and ranch operation statisticsresearching water supply management, and providing technical assistance for on-farm measures.
BIA manages and operates numerous irrigation projects on tribal reservation lands. After 1907, many of these facilities were built by BOR. Congress has also approved numerous Indian water rights settlement acts since the 1970s (Seesee also Table 7).
WaterSense Program-
House AgSenate Ag
House AgSenate Ag Water Conservation
Clean Water Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (EPA initiative launched in 2006 using broad authorities under the Clean Water Act)
Water Conservation Field Services Program- —assists water users, states, and other parties with water conservation plans. Each water and irrigation district receiving water from BOR projects must develop a water conservation plan and schedule for meeting water conservation objectives.
WaterSMART Program- —provides grants for water conservation and water and energy efficiency projects, including system optimization, advanced water treatment, and water reuse (see also Title XVI water reuse program).
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)- —provides financial and technical assistance to producers and land owners to plan and install structural, vegetative, and land management practices (including water conservation) on agricultural lands to alleviate natural resource problems.d
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, as §1240-§1240I1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.)
Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)- a subprogram of EQIP that provides financial and technical assistance to producers and land owners to address water quantity concerns on agricultural landConservation Stewardship Program (CSP)—encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities, including water conservation.
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 as §1240I1238D-§1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-93838d-3838g)
Regional Conservation StewardshipPartnership Program (RCPP)—provides financial and technical assistance for multistate or watershed-scale projects. The program creates partnership opportunities to target and leverage federal conservation funding for specific areas and resource concerns. Agricultural Act of 2014 as §1271 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. (16 U.S.C. 3871et seq. Program (CSP)- encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities, including water conservation.d
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program- —provides financial and technical assistance to producers to reduce operational risk through diversification and improve water management and irrigation structures.
ConservationUSDA provides conservation technical assistance provides conservationincluding planning and implementation assistancesupport to producers and land owners who voluntarily apply natural resource conservation systems on private and other nonfederal lands. This can include, among others, water-reducing conservation practices.
EPA indirectly provides funds for water reuse directly via the CWSRF and indirectly through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. EPA also has via the Drinking Water and Clean Water Act SRFs. EPA has also published guidelines for water reuse.
Clean Water Act, as amended, §104, §602 (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, §1452 (42 U.S.C. 33j-12) House T&ISenate EPW
Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act, as amended, Title XVI of P.L. 102-575 (43 U.S.C. 390h), and Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, §4009(c) of P.L. 114-322 (code citation not available) amending Title XVI (43 U.S.C. 390h)
Desalination and Water Purification Program- —research and demonstration program for increasing the technical and financial feasibility of desalination.
b. b. Public law numbers have been included in some cases and not others. In general, public law numbers are not included for older laws (pre-1970) or for statutes with multiple laws bearing the same name. They have been included in other cases at the discretion of the contributor, in particular where seeing a particular provision in context of the broader law may be helpful to the reader. c. Committees are listed alphabetically by chamber. For more information regarding committee jurisdiction and referral rules, see Appendix A. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources.
c. For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. d. See also "Research and Planning."". In general, the federal government is not involved in ground watergroundwater supply development but assists states and localities with data collection and monitoring.
Drought Planning, Mitigation, and Responsec
USACE may allow temporary water withdrawal from theirits reservoirs during drought for M&I use. Administration policy limits application to governor-declared drought emergencies and up to 99 acre-feet.
House T&ISenate HSGAC
ProjectBOR is authorized to use project water available for fish and wildlife impacts due to drought or the operation of a Reclamation project during drought conditions.
House NRSenate ENR
Federal Crop Insurance Program- —primary means of producer protection against adverse weather, including droughts and floods.
Noninsured Assistance Payments (NAP)- —provides direct payments to crop producers who experience a significant crop loss, due to a natural disaster such as drought or are prevented from planting but are not eligible for federal crop insurance.
Federal Crop Insurance ActAgriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.7333)
Emergency Loans- —low-interest government loans to producers suffering from production and physical losses located in or adjacent to a county that has been declared a disaster by the President or USDA Secretary.
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1531Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)—provides financial assistance to producers who suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire.
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1531Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)—provides emergency relief to producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish that are not covered under any other program for damage caused by adverse weather. Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081)
Livestock IndemnityEmergency Conservation Program (LIP)- provides financial assistance to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather (including floods) that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011.d
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1531ECP)—Provides emergency funding and technical assistance to producers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters, including implementing emergency water conservation measures in response to severe droughts. Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2201-2205)
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as §407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16amended (7 U.S.C. 15312206)
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2201-2205and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants—provides grants to rural water systems experiencing an emergency resulting from a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, §306A (7 U.S.C. 1926a)
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program- —provides technical and financial assistance to reduce hazards to life and property in watersheds that have been damaged by natural disasters, including floods.
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2203);-2205 and 33 U.S.C. 701b-1
Noninsured Assistance Payments (NAP)- —provides direct payments to crop producers who experience a significant crop loss, due to a natural disaster or are prevented from planting but are not eligible for federal crop insurance.
Emergency Loans- —low-interest government loans to producers suffering from production and physical losses located in or adjacent to a county that has been declared a disaster by the President or USDA SecretarySecretary of Agriculture.
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)- Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)—provides financial assistance to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, including floods. Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 (including floods) that occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011.d
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish- provides emergency relief for damage caused by adverse weather that occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011 Program (ELAP)—provides emergency relief to producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish that are not covered under any other program.d
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1531 for damage caused by adverse weather. Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081)
Tree Assistance Program (TAP)- —provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters, including floods, occurring on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011.d
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1531. Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081)
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)- —provides emergency funding and technical assistance to producers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters, including floods.
Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)- —provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land in order to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster, including floods.
Flood Control Act of 1936: project (33 U.S.C. 701a), project-specific authorities in various statutes
and numerous site-specific authorities
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (also known as P.L.-566 and the Small Watershed Program)- —provides financial and technical assistance to local project sponsors for small flood damage reduction projects.
Federal funds provided to reduce flood damages primarily through nonstructural measuresPre-disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program provides funding for natural hazard risk reduction, to include floods, on a competitive basis.
House T&I Senate HSGAC
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, §404 (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.)
5170c) House T&I Senate HSGAC
House FSSenate Banking
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program- —provides technical and financial assistance to purchase floodplain easements on floodplain lands that have been impaired or that have a history of repeated flooding.
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2203;-2205 and 33 U.S.C. 701b-1)
a. a. Department, agency, and committee names and abbreviations are provided in Appendix D.
b. b. Public law numbers have been included in some cases and not others. In general, public law numbers are not included for older laws (pre-1970) or for statutes with multiple laws bearing the same name. They have been included in other cases at the discretion of the contributor, in particular where seeing a particular provision in context of the broader law may be helpful to the reader. c. Committees are listed alphabetically by chamber. For information regarding committee jurisdiction and referral rules, see Appendix A. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources.
c. For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. d. Numerous departments and agencies have some drought planning, mitigation and response responsibilities; this report highlights activities of just a few agencies.
BOR owns and operates numerous multipurpose dams and other facilities, somemany of which generate hydropower.
DeptartmentDepartment of Energy Organization Act of 1977 §302(a)(3); P.L. 95-91 (42 U.S.C. 7152(a)) and other authorities
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485485h et seq.)
b. Public law numbers have been included in some cases and not others. In general, public law numbers are not included for older laws (pre-1970) or for statutes with multiple laws bearing the same name. They have been included in other cases at the discretion of the contributor, in particular where seeing a particular provision in context of the broader law may be helpful to the reader. c. b. Committees are listed alphabetically by chamber. For information regarding committee jurisdiction and referral rules, see Appendix A. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources.
For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official.
Federal efforts to protect and improve water quality and water resources range from technical and financial assistance programs to help communities build sewage treatment and drinking water treatment works, to regulatory programs for preventing or controlling water pollution. Most federal programs focus on surface water quality, while states have a dominant role in matters related to groundwater protection. One exception is where Congress has established requirements to protectauthorized EPA to regulate the underground sources of drinking water from underground injection activitiesinjection of fluids to protect underground sources of drinking water.
In addition to protecting and improving water quality, Congress has enacted numerous bills to manage, protect, and restore aquatic ecosystems—including estuaries, and wetlands. InOver the last 2530 years, the United States has provided billions of dollars toward restoring some specific large aquatic ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay, the California Bay-Delta, the Everglades, and the Great Lakes. These ecosystems cover large areas and affect millions of people. Ecosystem restoration in a policy context has gone beyond just restoring the natural environment, and now encompasses other objectives such as improving water supply and conveyance, improving navigation, managing natural resources, and implementing watershed management plans. Ecosystem restoration legislation can be intricate and involve several agencies, and therefore involve multiple committees. Fisheries management and oversight of aquaculture also involve many committees.
This section focuses on federal activities related to water quality in general, and regional , and aquatic resource protection and restoration efforts. The section includes two tables:
EPA issues regulations that set limits forregulates contaminants in public drinking water supplies. States generally have primary enforcement authority and oversee public water system compliance with regulations and underground injection activities; provides financial assistance for drinking water infrastructure projects; conducts research; and administers, with states, various regulatory and non-regulatory drinking water programs.
Programs to protect underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) include: (1) the Underground Injection Control Program- , which regulates underground injections of fluids to protect USDWs; (2) the Sole Source Aquifer Program-, which permits designation of an aquifer as a "sole source" whichand may limit federal funding for projects that could harm the aquifer; (3) the elective State Wellhead Protection Program, which authorizes EPA to award grants to states with programs covering between 50% and 90% of implementation costs; and (4) State Ground Water Protection Grants, which are 50% cost-shareand (3) 50% grants for states to develop groundwater protection programs.
Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, §§1421-1429 (42 U.S.C. 300h - -300h-8)
Source Water Assessment Program- states delineated—Authorizes states to delineate areas of source waters serving public water systems and assessedassess susceptibility to contamination. Assessments can support a voluntary state Source Water Petition Program; entities may petition the state for assistance in developing a voluntary partnership to address the origins of contaminants.
Clean Water Act, as amended, (§319) (33 U.S.C. 1329)
Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program- —addresses nonpoint pollution problems in coastal waters. It requires states and territories with approved Coastal Zone Management Programs to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs that describe how nonpoint source pollution controls will be implemented.
Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (§2176217), P.L. 101-508 (16 U.S.C. 14511455(b))
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)- —provides financial and technical assistance to producers and land owners to plan and install structural, vegetative, and land management practices on agricultural lands to alleviate natural resource problems, including water quality concerns.c
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)- —encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities, including water quality concerns.c
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 as §1238D-§1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3838h-3838n3838d-3838g)
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246) as §1240QRegional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)—provides financial and technical assistance for multistate or watershed-scale projects. The program creates partnership opportunities to target and leverage federal conservation funding for specific areas and resource concerns. Agricultural Act of 2014 as §1271 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-43871et seq.)
Conservation Reserve Program- (CRP)—provides annual rental payments to producers to replace crops on highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land with long-term resource conserving plantings, including buffer and filter strips.d
USDA provides conservation technical assistance including planning and implementation assistance to producers and land owners who voluntarily apply natural resource conservation systems on private and other nonfederal lands. This can include, among others, water -quality conservation practices.
EPA provides grants to capitalize state Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFsCWSRFs), which states use to make loans to local communities for wastewater projects.
Clean Water Act, as amended (title VI) (33 U.S.C. 1381-13871388)
Water and Environment Program (WEP)- RUS provides grants and loans for water and wastewater projectsEPA
House T&IHouse E&CSenate EPW
House E&CSenate EPW
U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program- Senate Ag
Community Development Block Grant- —funds are used by localities for a broad range of activities, including meeting water and waste disposal needs.
The IHS funds the provision of sanitation facilities—domestic and community potable water supplies and facilities, drainage facilities, and sewage- —and waste-disposal facilities—to Indian homes and communities.
Public Works and Economic Development Program- —provides grants for public works and development facilities that promote long-term economic development, including wastewater treatment.
b. Public law numbers have been included in some cases and not others. In general, public law numbers are not included for older laws (pre-1970) or for statutes with multiple laws bearing the same name. They have been included in other cases at the discretion of the contributor, in particular where seeing a particular provision in context of the broader law may be helpful to the reader. c. Committees are listed alphabetically by chamber. For information regarding committee jurisdiction and referral rules, see Appendix A. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources. For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. Table 5. Aquatic Resources Protection and Management
NASSThe National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts surveys and reports on agricultural production and supplies. This includes farmers and ranchers reporting aquaculture production through the national census of agricultural.
NOAA Aquaculture Program- —supports coastal and offshore aquaculture development by conducting research, disseminating information, and coordinating with federal and state agencies.
; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) for federal waters
House NRSenate EPW
National Fish Hatchery System- —works with states, tribes, federal agencies, other FWS programs, and private interests to conserve fish and other aquatic resources. FWS operates 70 hatcheries in the system to enhance stocks, facilitate restoration, and mitigate fish losses.
BOR may undertake activities to protect and restore aquatic and riparian environments affected by Reclamation project operations. Reclamation also has geographically specific authorities to undertake restoration work in some areas such as the Platte River and Lower Colorado River (e.g.(e.g., California Bay-Delta, Platte River, and Colorado River).
, including Fish and Wildlife Coordination Acts
House T&ISenate EPW Senate ENR
Habitat Conservation Program- —The FWS provides technical assistance in the use and development of the nation's land and water resources, including restoration of aquatic species habitat.
The EPA works with agencies to restore, protect, and preserve aquatic ecosystems nation-widenationwide. These efforts include ecosystem restoration initiatives in the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, Lake Champlain, Gulf of Mexico, San Francisco Bay, and Long Island Sound, among others.
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1257 et. seq.); Great Lakes Restoration (33 U.S.C. 1268); Chesapeake Bay Restoration (33 U.S.C. 1267); Long Island Sound Restoration (33 U.S.C. 1269); Lake Champlain Basin Program (33 U.S.C. 1270)
Federal Coastal Zone Management Program- —provides grants to states to prepare and implement coastal zone management programs.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451-1464 et seq.)
National Estuary Program (NEP)- —is a place-based program to protect and restore water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Each NEP develops and implements a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, a long-term plan to address water quality, habitat, and living resources challenges.
The National Estuarine Research Reserve Program- —provides grants to states to assist with state-protected estuarine areas used for research and education programs, and to serve as laboratories for comparative studies among the major coastal biogeographical regions.
Estuary Restoration Act of 2000, P.L. 106-457 (titleTitle I), as amended (33 U.S.C. 2901)
The BPABonneville Power Administration (BPA) funds fish protection, mitigation, and enhancement projects related to development and operation of Columbia River hydroelectric facilities following the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,; Act of March 10, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.); Endangered Species Act of 1973, (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and the .); Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 839 et seq.); Water Resources Development Act of 1986, P.L. 99-662 (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.)
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,; Act of March 10, 1934, 48 Stat. 401, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.); Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, P.L. 96-501 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); Endangered Species Act of 1973, P.L. 93-205, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
EmergencyAn emergency fund established to assure continuous operation of Reclamation facilities. Also, other site or drought specific authority.
House NRSenate CSTSenate IA
Federal Land Policy and Management actAct of 1976, (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); Endangered Species Act of 1973, (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
House AgHouse NRSenate AgSenate ENR
House E&CHouse NRSenate CSTSenate EPW
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force is a federal program to prevent the introduction and to control the spread of unintentionally introduced aquatic nuisance species. The Task Force consistconsists of 13 federal agencies and is co-chairedcochaired by the FWS and NOAA.
Plant Materials Centers evaluate plants (including aquatic) for conservation traits and make these materials available to commercial growers who provide plant materials to the public. Centers work to address the spread of plants (including aquatic) that have been classified as noxious or invasive (including aquatic) through research, education, and outreach.
Wetland Program Development Grants- —support state and tribal wetland program development.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program- —provides technical assistance and cost share incentives directly to landowners for wetland restoration projects on private lands through voluntary agreements.
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program- —provides matching grants to states for acquisition, restoration, management or enhancement of coastal wetlands.
Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Program- —is a comprehensive approach to restore and prevent the loss of coastal Louisiana wetlands. USACE allocates funds (federal share 75% of project costs) among task force members.
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 as §1237-§1237F of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3837-3837fAgricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)—provides financial and technical assistance through two types of easements, including wetland reserve easements that protect and restore wetlands. Agricultural Act of 2014 as §1265 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq.)
Wetland conservationConservation (also referred to as Swampbuster)- is —a provision that makes producers who convert wetlands to cropland ineligible for certain USDA program benefits.
Farmable WetlandsWetland Program- —subprogram under CRP that restores farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land's hydrology and vegetation.d
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program- —provides technical and financial assistance to purchase floodplain easements for restoring, protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the functions and values of floodplains, including associated wetlands and riparian areas.
Water Bank Program- provides annual payments to landowners for conserving and protecting wetlands and adjacent lands from adverse land uses and activities, such as drainage, that would destroy the wetland characteristics of those lands—provides nonrenewable rental agreements to landowners to maintain wetlands in lieu of draining the land for agricultural production.
c. For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. d. Many ecosystem restoration initiatives are regional and include advisory or leadership committees with representatives from many federal agencies and White House offices, and are often authorized by program specific authorities.
Many federal laws also indirectly affect water allocation and use. For example, the development of dam and diversion facilities have over time has favored certain purposes or uses over others. Such development has sometimes resulted in unintended consequences, including in some cases, overallocationover allocation of water supplies. Implementation of laws aimed at addressing water quality and threatened and endangered species (e.g., the federal Clean Water Act13 and Endangered Species Act14) may indirectly or directly affect water allocation. However, because such laws—like many other federal laws—are primarily related to federal project operations, they are not included in this section.
Congress generally must consent to agreements between and among states for the management of interstate waters, which may address allocation, pollution, etc of water supplies and pollution, among other things.
Organic Act of March 3, 1879 (43 U.S.C. 31 et seq.); various legislation approving interstate compacts (e.g.,e.g. Arkansas River Compact of May 31, 1949, P.L. 81-82
For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. Table 7. Water Rights
a. a. Department, agency, and committee names and abbreviations are provided in Appendix D. Appendix B and Appendix C present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources.
b. For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. b. Public law numbers have been included in some cases and not others. In general, public law numbers are not included for older laws (pre-1970) or for statutes with multiple laws bearing the same name. They have been included in other cases at the discretion of the contributor, in particular where seeing a particular provision in context of the broader law may be helpful to the reader. c. Committees are listed alphabetically by chamber. For information regarding committee jurisdiction and referral rules, see Appendix A.
StudiesNational Science Foundation is authorized to undertake studies, programs, and scholarships for science and engineering.
National Estuarine Research Reserve Program- —provides grants to states to assist with state-protected estuarine areas used for research and education programs, and to serve as laboratories for comparative studies among the major coastal biogeographical regions.
; 28 Stat. 398 (authorized funding for the USGS to measure streamflows and determine the water supply of the United States)
; 43 U.S.C. 36d; 43 U.S.C. 50.
; Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, as amended (33 U.S.C. 2803a(b))
Basin-scale and larger groundwater modeling; National Water Quality Assessment Program; groundwater monitoring, stream gaginggauging; and aquatic resource monitoring, inventory, and analysis.
National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP)- —Collects streamflow data from streamgages throughout the country. The flow information is used for local, state, regional, and national needs.
; SECURE Water Act (Subtitle F, Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10366); 28 Stat. 398 (authorized funding for the USGS to measure streamflows and determine the water supply of the United States)
is evaluating for potential regulation.
House T&ISenate EPW Water
28 Stat. 398 (authorized funding for the USGS to measure streamflows and determine the water supply of the United States)
WaterSMART Program—may provide grants to universities, non-profitsnonprofits, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority for development of tools to assess climate change impacts. Also provides grants for and partners on river basin studies to evaluate and address climate change impacts.
National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP)- —provides streamflow information for local, state, regional, and national needs, including data related to climate variation and change.
The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of each PMA, is to evaluate the risks of climate change and potential effects on federal hydro powerhydropower projects.
House E&CHouse SSTHouse T&ISenate EPW
National Water Quality Assessment Program- —provides regional and national information on groundwater and stream quality conditions, and provides support for scientifically sound management, regulatory, and policy decisions.
; 33 U.S.C. 1254
For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. Table 9. Planning
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, P.L. 99-662, as amended,; and Flood Control Act of 1970 (33 U.S.C. 549a). Site-specific authorities in older Rivers and Harbors Acts and Flood Control Acts, and more recent WRDAs.
Watershed Surveys and Planning Program- —assists federal, state, and local agencies and tribal governments to protect watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, and sediment and to conserve and develop water and land resources.
Cooperative Watershed Management Program- —provides grants for development of locally led watershed groups and facilitates watershed projects.
Planning Assistance to States- —allows USACE to work with states on the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development, utilizationuse, and conservation of water and related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, and ecosystems.
EPA encourages a watershed approach as the most effective means of addressing water resource and water quality challenges, such as restoration of pollution-impaired waters and management of nonpoint source pollutionState nonpoint source pollution programs and various geographically focused water quality restoration programs (e.g., Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes) are watershed based. Protection of drinking water sources.
For a definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official. Appendix A. Committee Jurisdiction Determining Committee Jurisdiction
The subcommittees listed in Appendix B and Appendix C reflect the framework established for the 115th Congress. House Referral
House Rule X16 identifies several committees to which bills authorizing federal dam construction might be referred. The Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over "irrigation and reclamation, including water supply for reclamation projects, and easements of public lands for irrigation projects, and acquisition of private lands when necessary to complete waterirrigation projects."17 As such, it has jurisdiction over most activities of the Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior). The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for "flood control and improvement of rivers and harbors ... ... public works for the benefit of navigation, including bridges and dams (other than international bridges and dams) ... water power." Consequently, most activities of the Army Corps of Engineers fall under the jurisdiction of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Committee on Agriculture has jurisdiction over "water conservation related to activities of the Department of Agriculture."
As is shown in Table 1, multiple committees in each chamber are principally involved in jurisdiction over dams, which is not readily apparent from perusal of the rules language alone. Private dams must be licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is under the jurisdiction of the House Energy and Commerce and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committeescommittees. Further, several different executive branch departments and agencies are responsible for implementing the laws under the jurisdiction of these committees. This arrangement complicates management of river systems and resources comprising large watershed areas where multiple federal dams are present, such as the Columbia and Colorado River Basins, and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers' delta confluence with San Francisco Bay, and even smaller systems, especially where anadromous fisheries (fish that live in both freshwater and marine environments) are involved.
Table 10found. Appendix B. House Rule X Language Table B-1 includes official excerpts from House Rule X.
Inspection of …... seafood and seafood products
Bills to develop land and water conservation programs on private and non federalnonfederal lands; The Committee on Natural Resources, and not this committee, has jurisdiction over a bill to convey land that is part of a National Forest created from the public domain
Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (rural development; energy; rural electrification)
General Managementmanagement of the Department of Energy and all functions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
This committee formerly had jurisdiction over bills proposing construction of bridges across navigable streams, which now are banned under clause 4 of ruleRule XII if private
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (RegulationDigital Commerce and Consumer Protection, (regulation of commercial practices ([the Federal Trade Commission)]; data security)
Subcommittee on Energy and Power (National (national energy policy generally,; fossil energy,; renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels,; ... synthetic and alternative fuels; energy conservation,; energy information, energy regulation and information; Interstate energy compacts; All; utility issues; interstate energy compacts; energy generation,...; and, all laws, programs, and government activities affecting suchenergy matters...)
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy (All (all matters relating to water contamination; The regulation of drinking watersoil, air, and water contamination...; the regulation of drinking water [Safe Drinking Water Act], including underground injection of fluids [e.g., deep well injection or hydrofracking]...)
Subcommittee on Health (public (Public health and quarantine)
; Indian Health Service)
The committee has broad jurisdiction over… ... bridges and dams on international waters
Organization and administration, administration, and general management of the Department of Homeland Security
Functions of the Department of Homeland Security relating to… border ... Border and port security (except customs revenue) ….
Subcommittee on and port security …. transportation security
Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications (oversight of the homeland security grant programs administered by the (Oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency)
…... care and allotment of Native American lands…
Marine affairs, including coastal zone management (except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of navigable waters
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Measures and matters related to the National Parks system and its units, including Federal reserved water rights; Wild and Scenic Rivers System …; FederalEnergy and Mineral Resources (all measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological Survey, except for the activities and programs of the Water Resources Division or its successor; all measures and matters affecting geothermal resources; coastal zone management) Subcommittee on Federal Lands (measures and matters related to the National Parks System and its units, including federal reserved water rights;... Wild and Scenic Rivers System …; federal and nonfederal outdoor recreation plans, programs and administration including the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 and the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963; Publicpublic lands generally, including measures or matters relating to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing, and Federalfederal reserved water rights; Publicforest reservations, including management thereof, created from the public domain; public forest lands generally, including measures or matters related to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and Federal reserved water rights)
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Fisheries management and fisheries research generally, including the management of all commercial and recreational fisheries, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, interjurisdictional fisheries, international fisheries agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety and fisheries promotion; Wildlife; wildlife resources, including research, restoration, refuges and conservation; Protection of coastal and marine environments, including estuarine protection; Oceanography; Ocean engineering, including materials, technology and systems; Coastal zone management; Marine sanctuaries; U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea; Sea Grant programs and marine extension services, including National Wildlife Refuges)
Subcommittee on IndianIndian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs (measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans, including management of Indian lands in general and special measures relating to claims which are paid out of Indian funds; all matters regarding the relations of the United States with Native Americans and Native American tribes ...; all matters related to the Federal trust responsibility to Native Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans) (Bureau of Indian Affairs; Indian lands (including leasing, acquisition, and alienation of tribal lands and individual allotments); Energy, minerals, and timber issues; Land and water claims; Indian treaty rights)
Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans (generation and Power (Generation and marketing of electric power from federal water projects…; … Water by federally chartered or federal regional power marketing authorities; all measures and matters concerning water resources planning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning Act, water resource research and development programs and saline water research and development; Compactscompacts relating to the use and apportionment of interstate waters, water rights, and major interbasin water or power movement programs; Irrigationall measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and reclamation projects and other water resources development and recycling programs, including policies and procedures; Indian water rights and settlements; fisheries management and fisheries research generally, including the management of all commercial and recreational fisheries [including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act], interjurisdictional fisheries, international fisheries agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety and fisheries promotion; all matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and marine environments and estuarine protection and coastal barriers (except coastal zone management); oceanography; ocean engineering, including materials, technology and systems; Marine sanctuaries; U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea; Sea Grant programs and marine extension services including policies and procedures; Indian water rights and settlements)
With four other committees, measures coordinating federal agencies research into ground watergroundwater contamination, including that done by the Environmental Protection Agency; Thethe committee on Natural Resources, and not this committee, has jurisdiction over a bill transferring interest in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries research laboratory
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (All(all matters relating to energy research, development, and demonstration projects therefor; and projects thereof, commercial application of energy technology, and environmental research including: Department of Energy research,; Department of Energy research, development, and demonstration programs; Department of Energy laboratories,; Department of Energy science activities, energy supply activities, …... solar and renewable energy, and other advanced energy technologies; Energy conservation research and development; energy aspects of climate change; Energy and environmental standards; Energy conservation including… distributed power systems and industrial process improvements; Environmental Protection Agency research and development programs;... energy conservation research and development, including ... distributed power systems, and industrial process improvements) Subcommittee on Environment (all matters relating to environmental research; Environmental Protection Agency research and development; environmental standards; climate change research and development; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related to weather, weather services, climate, and the atmosphere, and marine fisheries, and oceanic research; Riskrisk assessment activities; Scientificscientific issues related to environmental policy, including climate change)
Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation (Surface and water transportation research, development, and demonstration programs; remote sensing data related to climate change at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); earth science activities conducted by NASA) Subcommittee on Space ( .. earth remote sensing policy ... )
Transportation, including …... water transportation
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (U.S. coast Guard; Maritimemaritime transportation safety; navigation; Navigation, port and waterway safety; Maritimemaritime transportation regulatory activities, including the regulation of vessels and merchant seamen; Marinemarine environmental protection, generally as related to vessel operation ([oil and plastics pollution, invasive/aquatic nuisance species transported by vessels; Port security...; Federal Maritime Commission and the regulation of ocean shipping; Non... non-national security aspects of the merchant marine)
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management (the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [Stafford Act] and the federal management of emergencies and disasters; the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]) Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (water (Water resources programs of the Army Corps of Engineers [Corps]; Clean Water Act; Superfund ([Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act); Water]; water infrastructure and watershed protection programs; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Ocean[EPA];... ocean dumping; Oiloil pollution of navigable waters of the U.S.United States; Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)[TVA]; Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; Smallsmall watershed program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Deepwaterdeepwater ports; Invasiveinvasive/aquatic nuisance species; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Natural[NOAA]; natural resource damages provisions in Superfund and the Oil Pollution Act; Groundwatergroundwater protection; Waterwater resources policy
Source: U.S. Congress, Constitution Jefferson's Manual and Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States One Hundred Twelfth Fourteenth Congress, prepared by John V. Sullivan, 111Thomas J. Wickham, 113th Cong., 2nd sess., May 24, 2011Nov. 14, 2014, H. Doc. 111-157113-181 (Washington: GPO, 2011).
a. 2014). a. Subcommittees are not officially authorized in either House or Senate rules; they are creatures of the full committee that created them. Accordingly, information on subcommittee jurisdiction is not uniformly provided. Subcommittees are listed here only where subcommittee descriptions have been stipulated in writing by the appropriate committee, including on committee websites.
Appendix C. Senate Rule XXV LanguageAppendix C
Table 11C-1 includes official excerpts from Senate Rule XXV.
Table 11 Table C-1. Senate Rule XXV and Nominations Considered
Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management (fresh water food productionFarm and Foreign Agricultural Service; Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; and Under Secretary for Rural Development Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade (crop insurance and credit)
Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources (conservation, protection and stewardship of natural resources and the environmentforestry)
Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation (rural electrification; renewable energy production and energy efficiency improvement on farms and ranches in rural communitiesNutrition, Agricultural Research, and Specialty Crops (non-program crops and research) Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy (rural utilities and loans)
Subcommittee on Economic Policy (loan guarantees; flood (Flood insurance; Disasterdisaster assistance)
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development (HUD; Rural Housing Service; Indian housing (Urban affairs and development; HUD; Indian Housing)
DOC Secretary; Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere/Administrator - —NOAA; Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere/Deputy Administrator - —NOAA; Chief Scientist of NOAA; Officer Corps—NOAA
Department of Homeland Security - —United States Coast Guard Officers
Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (matters that impact our oceans and coasts including: coastal zone management; marine fisheries and marine mammals; oceans, weather and atmospheric activities; marine and ocean navigation; ocean policy and NOAA; and, the Coast Guard, which includes the safe and secure operations of vessels entering the United States or transiting through our Exclusive Economic Zone and the enforcement of maritime laws to support maritime commerce and protect marine living resources.)
(Department of Transportation [DOT]; DOT Office of Research and Technology; the Maritime Administration; the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; independent transportation regulatory boards, including the Federal Maritime Commission and the Surface Transportation Board.)
National parks …,... wild and scenic rivers
Subcommittee on National Parks (Wild and Scenic Rivers System; Land and Water Conservation Fund; outdoor recreation resources) Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining (public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service including farming and grazing thereon, and wilderness areas; ... (wild and scenic rivers system; land and water conservation fund)
Subcommittee on Water and Power (irrigation; reclamation projects, including related flood control purposes; power marketing administrations ([e.g.:, Bonneville Power, Southwestern Power, Western Area Power, Southeastern Power)]; energy development impacts on water resources; groundwater resources and management; hydroelectric power; low -head hydro; energy and energy-related aspects of deepwater ports)
Council on Environmental Quality - —Chair
Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy (federal investment in technologies and practices that reduce the government's carbon footprint or the emission of other pollutants, including technologies and practices that enhance energy efficiency, conservation, or renewable power sourcesFisheries, Water, and Wildlife (Clean Water Act, including wetlands; Safe Drinking Water Act; Coastal Zone Management Act; invasive species; fisheries and wildlife; Endangered Species Act (ESA); national wildlife refuges; Outer Continental Shelf lands)
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Water Resources Development Act (WRDA);[WRDA];... National Dam Safety Program; Stafford Act and federal disaster relief programs; Mississippi River Commission)
HHS: Director for HISIHS; Commissioner for Administration for Native Americans
Source: U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Manual Containing the Standing Rules, Orders, Laws, and Resolutions Affecting the Business of the United States Senate Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Ordinance of 1787 and the Constitution of the United States, committee print, prepared by Matthew McGowan, 112113th Cong., 1st sess., January 1, 20112014, S. Doc. 112113-1 (Washington: GPO, 2011).
2014). a. CRS Report RL30959, Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations, by [author name scrubbed], Maureen Bearden, and [author name scrubbed].
b. Congressional Yellow Book, vol. 37, n. 4 (Leadership Directories, Inc., Winter 2012). Christopher M. Davis and Michael Greene. b. Subcommittees are not officially authorized in either House or Senate rules; they are creatures of the full committee that created them. Accordingly, information on subcommittee jurisdiction is not uniformly provided. Subcommittees are listed here only where subcommittee descriptions have been stipulated in writing by the appropriate committee.
, including on committee websites.
. Glossary of Abbreviations
Many CRS analysts and legislative attorneys contributed to this report. In addition to the coauthors, other primary authors and organizers include Nicole Carter and Charlie Stern of Resources, Science, and Industry Division (RSI). Additional CRS analysts and legislative attorneys who contributed to the report include Cynthia Brown of the American Law Division; Elayne Heisler of the Domestic Social Policy Division; Jared Brown of the Government and Finance Division; and Kelsi Bracmort, Peter Folger, Laura Gatz, Pervaze Sheikh, Megan Stubbs, and Harold Upton of RSI. An earlier version of this report was coordinated by Grace Relf, a 2012 CRS research associate.
; National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347).
U.S. Congress, Constitution Jefferson's Manual and Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States One Hundred TwelfthFourteenth Congress, prepared by John V. Sullivan, 111th Cong., 2nd sess., May 24, 2011, H. Doc. 111-157 (Washington: GPO, 2011Thomas J. Wickham, 113th Cong., 2nd sess., Nov. 14, 2014, H. Doc. 113-181 (Washington: GPO, 2014).
U.S. Congress, Senate Manual Containing the Standing Rules, Orders, Laws, and Resolutions Affecting the Business of the United States Senate Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Ordinance of 1787 and the Constitution of the United States, prepared by Matthew McGowan, 112113th Cong., 1st sess., January 1, 20112014, S. Doc. 112113-1 (Washington: GPO, 20112014).