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“WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H10110-H10111 on Oct. 17, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995
Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend spend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1743) to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to extend the authorizations of appropriations through fiscal year 2000, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1743
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Section 102 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10301) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, productivity of natural resources and agricultural systems,'' after
``environmental quality'';
(2) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6);
(3) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (7) and inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) long-term planning and policy development are essential to assuring the availability of an abundant supply of high quality water for domestic and other uses; and
``(9) the States must have the research and problem-solving capacity necessary to effectively manage their water resources.''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
Section 103 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10302) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) encourage long-term planning and research to meet future water management, quality, and supply challenges.''.
SEC. 3. GRANTS; MATCHING FUNDS.
Section 104(c) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984
(42 U.S.C. 10303(c)) is amended by striking ``one non-Federal dollar'' and all that follows through ``thereafter'' and inserting ``two non-Federal dollars for every Federal dollar''.
SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORIZATIONS 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 ``of
$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 1989, through September 30, 1995,'' and inserting ``of
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $7,000,000 for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, and $9,000,000 for fiscal years 1999 and 2000''.
SEC. 5. COORDINATION.
Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h)(1) To carry out provisions of this Act, the Secretary--
``(A) shall encourage other Federal departments, agencies
(including agencies within the Department of the Interior), and instrumentalities to use and take advantage of the expertise and capabilities which are available through the institutes established by this section, on a cooperative or other basis;
``(B) shall encourage cooperation and coordination with other Federal programs concerned with water resources problems and issues;
``(C) may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other transactions without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5);
``(D) may accept funds from other Federal departments, agencies (including agencies within the Department of the Interior), and instrumentalities to pay for and add to grants made, and contracts entered into, by the Secretary;
``(E) may promulgate such rules and regulations as he deems appropriate; and
``(F) may support a program of internships for qualified individuals at the undergraduate and graduate level to carry out the educational and training objectives of this Act.
``(2) The Secretary shall report to Congress annually on coordination efforts with other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities under paragraph (1).
``(3) Nothing in this Act shall preempt the rights and authorities of any State with respect to its water resources or management of those resources.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle].
Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, the primary intent of H.R. 1743 is to extend the authorization for the State Water Resources Research Institutes. Through the act, the institutes have established a Federal/
State partnership in water resources, education, and information transfer. There are 54 of these institutes located at the land grant university in each of the 50 States and several of the territories. These institutes are a primary link between the academic community, the water-related personnel in Federal and State government, and the private sector. The institutes provide a mechanism for promoting State, regional, and national coordination of water resources research and training. They also serve as a network to facilitate research coordination and information transfer. Their programs are coordinated with the general guidance of the Secretary of the Interior.
This is a popular program because research from the water institutes is often directed at finding solutions to water problems that have local and regional relevance. Research results from the program are often applied to real-world problems in water management.
H.R. 1743 would expand the act's findings and focus on the need for long-term planning and policy development, support for States in water resources management, and maintaining productivity of natural resources and agricultural systems.
H.R. 1743 sets forth new requirements for the Interior Department to coordinate and cooperate with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government on water resources problems and requires an annual report on these efforts to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, again, on this legislation, H.R. 1743, the Water Resources Research Act reauthorization, the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle], the subcommittee Chair, has accurately described the bill, and it has bipartisan support, and I believe bipartisan support both here and in the Senate.
We would urge the passage of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1743, a bill to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984.
This legislation extends the authorization of this important program for 5 years and also provides new flexibility for the program. New cost-sharing requirements are also specified in this legislation.
The Water Research Program has provided us with extraordinary benefits for 30 years. We now have water research institutes in every State, as well as in the Virgin Islands, Guam, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The program supports our educational institutions by training engineers and scientists skilled in all aspects of water research and management.
With help from the Water Research Program and the State research institutes, we have improved our capability to manage floods and to plan community growth to avoid flood damages. We have improved our ability to clean up chemical contamination of our water supplies. And we have trained hundreds of scientists, technicians, and engineers to help us solve complex water management problems.
The Water Resources Research Program authorized by H.R. 1743 is a cost-effective and inexpensive program. Costs of operating the program are shared with non-Federal interests. The program provides valuable research that is useful to local and State water managers throughout the Nation. The water research program has given us years of service and deserves our continued support.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1743.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller] for his support on this.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1743, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof), the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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