Text of S. 653 (114th): Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015 (Referred to House Committee version)

114th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 653

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 10, 2015

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

AN ACT

To amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to reauthorize grants for and require applied water supply research regarding the water resources research and technology institutes established under that Act.

This Act may be cited as the Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015.

(a)

Section 102 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10301) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;

(2)

in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking and at the end; and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:

(7)

additional research is required into increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment works through alternative approaches, including—

(A)

nonstructural alternatives;

(B)

decentralized approaches;

(C)

energy use efficiency;

(D)

water use efficiency; and

(E)

actions to extract energy from wastewater;

(b)

Section 104(b)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(b)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking water-related phenomena and inserting water resources; and

(2)

in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and.

(c)

Section 104(c) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(c)) is amended—

(1)

by striking (c) From the and inserting the following:

(c)

(1)

From the

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Not later than December 31 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on the Budget of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives a report regarding the compliance of each funding recipient with this subsection for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(d)

Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303) is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

(e)

(1)

The Secretary shall conduct a careful and detailed evaluation of each institute at least once every 3 years to determine—

(A)

the quality and relevance of the water resources research of the institute;

(B)

the effectiveness of the institute at producing measured results and applied water supply research; and

(C)

whether the effectiveness of the institute as an institution for planning, conducting, and arranging for research warrants continued support under this section.

(2)

If, as a result of an evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary determines that an institute does not qualify for further support under this section, no further grants to the institute may be provided until the qualifications of the institute are reestablished to the satisfaction of the Secretary.

(e)

Section 104(f)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(f)(1)) is amended by striking $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 and inserting $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020.

(f)

Section 104(g)(1) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303(g)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by striking $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 and inserting $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020.

Passed the Senate June 9, 2015.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary