,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #djii ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bc1 #bjba ,mrs4 ,napolitano 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 and ,mrs4 ,lee of ,nevada7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish a grant program to provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for large-scale water recycling and reuse projects1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,large-,scale ,water ,recycling ,project ,investment ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state1 ,indian ,tribe1 municipality1 irrigation district1 water district1 wastewater district1 or other organization with water or power delivery authority2 7,b7 a ,state1 regional1 or local authority1 the members of which include #a or more organizations with water or power delivery authority2 or 7,c7 an agency established under ,state law for the joint exercise of powers or a combination of entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,b74 7#b7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#c7 ,reclamation state ,the term ,reclamation ,state means a ,state or territory described in the first section of the ,act of ,june #ag1 #aijb 7#cb ,stat4 #chh1 chapter #ajic2 #dc ,u4,s4,c4 #cia74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,competitive grant program for large-scale water recycling and reuse projects 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall establish a grant program to provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the planning1 design1 and construction of large-scale water recycling and reclamation projects that provide substantial water supply and other benefits to drought stricken regions within the ,reclamation ,states4 7b7 ,eligible project ,a project shall be considered eligible for consideration under this ,act if-- 7#a7 the project reclaims and reuses-- 7,a7 municipal1 industrial1 domestic1 or agricultural wastewater2 or 7,b7 impaired ground or surface waters2 7#b7 the project has a total estimated cost of #ejj1jjj1jjj or greater2 7#c7 the project is located within a ,reclamation ,state2 7#d7 the project is constructed1 operated1 and maintained by an eligible entity2 and 7#e7 the project provides a ,federal benefit in accordance with the reclamation laws4 7c7 ,project evaluation ,the ,secretary may participate in an eligible project under this ,act if-- 7#a7 an eligible entity determines through the preparation of a feasibility or equivalent study1 and the ,secretary concurs1 that the eligible project-- 7,a7 is technically and financially feasible2 7,b7 provides a ,federal benefit in accordance with the reclamation laws2 and 7,c7 is consistent with applicable ,federal and ,state laws2 7#b7 the eligible entity has sufficient non-,federal funding available to complete the eligible project2 7#c7 the eligible entity is financially solvent2 and 7#d7 the ,secretary submits to ,congress a written notification of the determinations under paragraph 7#a7 by not later than #cj days after the date of the determinations4 7d7 ,priority ,when funding projects under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall give funding priority to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria3 7#a7 ,provide multiple benefits1 including water supply reliability benefits for drought-stricken ,states and communities1 fish and wildlife benefits1 and water quality improvements4 7#b7 ,are likely to reduce impacts on environmental resources from water projects owned or operated by ,federal and ,state agencies1 including through measurable reductions in water diversions from imperiled ecosystems4 7#c7 ,help advance water management plans across a multi-state area1 such as drought contingency plans in the ,colorado ,river ,basin4 7#d7 ,regional in nature4 7#e7 ,collaboratively developed or supported by multiple stakeholders4 7e7 ,federal assistance 7#a7 ,federal cost share ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,federal share of the cost of any eligible project shall not exceed #be percent of the total cost of the eligible project4 7#b7 ,increased federal cost share for projects with additional measurable benefits ,the ,federal share of the cost of an eligible project may be increased to a maximum of #ge percent of the total project costs1 if the project advances at least a proportionate share of non-reimbursable benefits authorized under the reclamation laws1 including fish and wildlife benefits provided through measurable reductions in water diversions from imperiled ecosystems4 7#c7 ,total dollar cap ,the ,secretary shall not impose a total dollar cap on ,federal contributions that applies to all individual projects under the grant program established by this ,act4 7#d7 ,nonreimbursable funds ,funds provided by the ,secretary to an eligible entity under this ,act shall be considered nonreimbursable4 7#e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #gej1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4 7#f7 ,funding eligibility ,an eligible project shall not be considered ineligible for assistance under this ,act because the project has received assistance authorized under title ,,xvi of ,public ,law #ajb-ege or section #djji of ,public ,law #aad-cbb4 7f7 ,environmental laws ,in providing a grant for an eligible project under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall comply with all applicable environmental laws1 including the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7g7 ,guidance ,not later than #ab months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance on the implementation of this ,act1 including guidelines for the preparation of feasibility or equivalent studies by eligible entities4 7h7 ,congressional approval 7#a7 ,in general ,not less than #fj days before making a grant for a project under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall notify the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate1 in writing1 of the proposed grant4 ,the notification shall include an evaluation and justification for the project and the amount of the proposed grant award4 7#b7 ,congressional disapproval ,the ,secretary shall not make a grant or any other obligation or commitment to fund a project under this ,act that exceeds #ajj1jjj1jjj if a joint resolution is enacted disapproving such funding for the project before the last day of the #fj-;day period described in paragraph 7#a74 7i7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,at the end of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall make available on the website of the ,department of the ,interior an annual report that lists each project for which a grant has been provided under this ,act during that fiscal year4 7#b7 ,comptroller general 7,a7 ,assessment ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct an assessment of the administrative establishment1 solicitation1 selection1 and justification process with respect to the funding of grants under this ,act4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the initial awarding of grants under this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate a report that describes-- 7i7 the adequacy and effectiveness of the process by which each project was selected1 if applicable2 and 7ii7 the justification and criteria used for the selection of each project1 if applicable4 7j7 ,treatment of conveyance ,the ,secretary shall consider the planning1 design1 and construction of an eligible project's conveyance system to be eligible for grant funding under this ,act4