S. 653 — Reported in Senate

II Calendar No. 84 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 653 [Report No. 114–48] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 4, 2015Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works May 18, 2015Reported by Mr. Inhofe, without amendment A BILL 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015. 2. Water Resources Research Act amendments (a) Congressional findings and declarations 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) Clarification of research activities 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) Compliance report 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) Grants (1) In general From the ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Report 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) Evaluation of water resources research program 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) Evaluation of water resources research program (1) In general 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) Prohibition on further support 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) Authorization of appropriations 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) Additional appropriations where research focused on water problems of interstate nature 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. May 18, 2015Reported without amendment