,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dfie ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjbb ,mr4 ,cramer 7for himself and ,mr4 ,merkley7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,western ,water ,cooperative ,committee1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,western ,water ,cooperative ,committee ,act4 #b4 ,corps of ,engineers ,western ,water ,cooperative ,committee 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 a bipartisan coalition of #ai ,western ,senators wrote to the ,office of ,management and ,budget on ,september #ag1 #bjai1 in opposition to the proposed rulemaking entitled ,use of ,u4,s4 ,army ,corps of ,engineers ,reservoir ,projects for ,domestic1 ,municipal ,industrial ,water ,supply 7#ha ,fed4 ,reg4 #iaeef 7,december #af1 #bjaf771 describing the rule as counter to existing law and court precedent2 7#b7 on ,january #ba1 #bjbj1 the proposed rulemaking described in paragraph 7#a7 was withdrawn2 and 7#c7 the ,corps of ,engineers should consult with ,western ,states to ensure1 to the maximum extent practicable1 that operation of flood control projects in prior appropriation ,states is consistent with the principles of the first section of the ,act of ,december #bb1 #aidd 7commonly known as the ,flood ,control ,act of #aidd7 7#eh ,stat4 #hhg1 chapter #ffe2 #cc ,u4,s4,c4 #gja-a7 and section #cja of the ,water ,supply ,act of #aieh 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #cij;b74 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,army 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall establish a ,western ,water ,cooperative ,committee 7referred to in this section as the ,cooperative ,committee74 7#b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,cooperative ,committee is to ensure that ,corps of ,engineers flood control projects in ,western ,states are operated consistent with congressional directives by identifying opportunities to avoid or minimize conflicts between operation of ,corps of ,engineers projects and ,state water rights and water laws4 7#c7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,cooperative ,committee shall be composed of-- 7i7 the ,assistant ,secretary of the ,army for ,civil ,works 7or a designee72 7ii7 the ,chief of ,engineers 7or a designee72 7iii7 #a representative from each of the ,states of ,alaska1 ,arizona1 ,california1 ,colorado1 ,idaho1 ,kansas1 ,montana1 ,nebraska1 ,nevada1 ,new ,mexico1 ,north ,dakota1 ,oklahoma1 ,oregon1 ,south ,dakota1 ,texas1 ,utah1 ,washington1 and ,wyoming1 who may serve on the ,western ,states ,water ,council1 to be appointed by the ,governor of each ,state2 7iv7 #a representative with legal experience from each of the ,states of ,alaska1 ,arizona1 ,california1 ,colorado1 ,idaho1 ,kansas1 ,montana1 ,nebraska1 ,nevada1 ,new ,mexico1 ,north ,dakota1 ,oklahoma1 ,oregon1 ,south ,dakota1 ,texas1 ,utah1 ,washington1 and ,wyoming1 to be appointed by the ,attorney ,general of each ,state2 and 7v7 #a employee from each of the impacted regional offices of the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs4 7#d7 ,meetings 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,cooperative ,committee shall meet not less than once each year in a ,state represented on the ,cooperative ,committee4 7,b7 ,available to public ,each meeting of the ,cooperative ,committee shall be open and accessible to the public4 7,c7 ,notification ,the ,cooperative ,committee shall publish in the ,federal ,register adequate advance notice of a meeting of the ,cooperative ,committee4 7#e7 ,duties ,the ,cooperative ,committee shall develop and make recommendations to avoid or minimize conflicts between the operation of ,corps of ,engineers projects and ,state water rights and water laws1 which may include recommendations for legislation or the promulgation of policy or regulations4 7#f7 ,status updates 7,a7 ,in general ,on an annual basis1 the ,secretary shall provide to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a written report that includes-- 7i7 a summary of the contents of meetings of the ,cooperative ,committee2 and 7ii7 a description of any recommendations made by the ,cooperative ,committee under paragraph 7#e71 including actions taken by the ,secretary in response to such recommendations4 7,b7 ,comment 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #de days following the conclusion of a meeting of the ,cooperative ,committee1 the ,secretary shall provide to members of the ,cooperative ,committee an opportunity to comment on the contents of the meeting and any recommendations4 7ii7 ,inclusion ,comments provided under clause 7i7 shall be included in the report provided under subparagraph 7,a74 7#g7 ,compensation 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the members of the ,cooperative ,committee shall serve without compensation4 7,b7 ,travel expenses ,the members of the ,cooperative ,committee shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the ,cooperative ,committee4 7#h7 ,maintenance of records ,the ,cooperative ,committee shall maintain records pertaining to operating costs and records of the ,cooperative ,committee for a period of not less than #c years4