[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 135 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. R. 135
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 13, 2005
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the ``Twenty-First Century Water Commission'' to study and
develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address
future water needs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Twenty-First Century Water
Commission Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Nation's water resources will be under increasing
stress and pressure in the coming decades;
(2) a thorough assessment of technological and economic
advances that can be employed to increase water supplies or
otherwise meet water needs in every region of the country is
important and long overdue; and
(3) a comprehensive strategy to increase water availability
and ensure safe, adequate, reliable, and sustainable water
supplies is vital to the economic and environmental future of
the Nation.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``Twenty-First
Century Water Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
The duties of the Commission shall be to--
(1) use existing water assessments and conduct such
additional assessments as may be necessary to project future
water supply and demand;
(2) study current water management programs of Federal,
Interstate, State, and local agencies, and private sector
entities directed at increasing water supplies and improving
the availability, reliability, and quality of freshwater
resources; and
(3) consult with representatives of such agencies and
entities to develop recommendations consistent with laws,
treaties, decrees, and interstate compacts for a comprehensive
water strategy which--
(A) respects the primary role of States in
adjudicating, administering, and regulating water
rights and water uses;
(B) identifies incentives intended to ensure an
adequate and dependable supply of water to meet the
needs of the United States for the next 50 years;
(C) suggests strategies that avoid increased
mandates on State and local governments;
(D) eliminates duplication and conflict among
Federal governmental programs;
(E) considers all available technologies and other
methods to optimize water supply reliability,
availability, and quality, while safeguarding the
environment;
(F) recommends means of capturing excess water and
flood water for conservation and use in the event of a
drought;
(G) suggests financing options for comprehensive
water management projects and for appropriate public
works projects;
(H) suggests strategies to conserve existing water
supplies, including recommendations for repairing aging
infrastructure; and
(I) includes other objectives related to the
effective management of the water supply to ensure
reliability, availability, and quality, which the
Commission shall consider appropriate.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 9
members who shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act. Member shall be appointed as follows:
(1) 5 members appointed by the President;
(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives; and
(3) 2 members appointed by the Majority Leader of the
Senate, in consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(b) Qualifications.--Members shall be appointed to the Commission
from among individuals who--
(1) are of recognized standing and distinction in water
policy issues; and
(2) while serving on the Commission, do not hold any other
position as an officer or employee of the United States, except
as a retired officer or retired civilian employee of the United
States.
(c) Other Considerations.--In appointing members of the Commission,
every effort shall be made to ensure that the members represent a broad
cross section of regional and geographical perspectives in the United
States.
(d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
designated by the President.
(e) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve
for the life of the Commission.
(f) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall not affect its
operation, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment provided under subsection (a).
(g) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission
shall serve without compensation, except members shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57, United States
Code.
SEC. 6. MEETINGS AND QUORUM.
(a) Meetings.--The Commission shall hold its first meeting not
later than 60 days after the date on which all members have been
appointed under section 5, and shall hold additional meetings at the
call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
(b) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
SEC. 7. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
A Director shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate, in consultation
with the Minority Leader and chairmen of the Resources and
Transportation and Infrastructure Committees of the House of
Representatives, and the Minority Leader and chairmen of the Energy and
Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works Committees of the
Senate. The Director and any staff reporting to the Director shall be
paid a rate of pay not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for GS-
15 of the General Schedule.
SEC. 8. POWERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission shall hold no fewer than 10 hearings
during the life of the Commission. Hearings may be held in conjunction
with meetings of the Commission. The Commission may take such testimony
and receive such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate to
carry out this Act. At least 1 hearing shall be held in Washington,
D.C., for the purpose of taking testimony of representatives of Federal
agencies, national organizations, and Members of Congress. Other
hearings shall be scheduled in distinct geographical regions of the
United States and should seek to ensure testimony from individuals with
a diversity of experiences, including those who work on water issues at
all levels of government and in the private sector.
(b) Information and Support From Federal Agencies.--Upon request of
the Commission, any Federal agency shall--
(1) provide to the Commission, within 30 days of its
request, such information as the Commission considers necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Act; and
(2) detail to temporary duty with the Commission on a
reimbursable basis such personnel as the Commission considers
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, in
accordance with section 5(b)(5), Appendix, title 5, United
States Code.
SEC. 9. REPORTS.
(a) Interim Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the
first meeting of the Commission, and every 6 months thereafter, the
Commission shall transmit an interim report containing a detailed
summary of its progress, including meetings and hearings conducted in
the interim period, to--
(1) the President;
(2) the Committee on Resources and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the
Committee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
(b) Final Report.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 3
years after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall transmit a final report containing a detailed
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, and
recommendations for legislation and other policies to implement such
findings and conclusions, to--
(1) the President;
(2) the Committee on Resources and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives; and
(3) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the
Committee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after the
date on which the Commission transmits a final report under section
9(b).
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 to carry out
this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives April 12, 2005.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.