[Senate Report 109-90] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 139 109th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 109-90 ====================================================================== WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2005 _______ June 27, 2005.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Inhofe, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, submitted the following R E P O R T [to accompany S. 1017] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was referred a bill (S. 1017) to reauthorize grants for the water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. General Statement and Background The Water Resources Research Act (42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.) was originally enacted in 1964. The Act authorizes a program of water-related research and training of scientists and engineers to enter fields of water research and management. The program is administered by Institutes at each of the 54 land grant colleges in each of the 50 States, and in the Virgin Islands, Guam, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The program is under the general guidance of the Secretary of the Interior. These Institutes award grant funds for research projects. The strength of the Institutes is their location within the university community, where a multitude of disciplines can be concentrated on water problems, offering new and innovative approaches. Funds are distributed to the Institutes in every State, assuring the widest possible geographic search for new information. The grants must be matched by two non-Federal dollars for each Federal dollar. In administering the water resources research program, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, through the U.S. Geological Survey, distributes appropriated funds equally among the Institutes. The Institutes, in turn, award research funds through a competitive, peer review process. Each Institute maintains one or more advisory panels comprised of local, State, and Federal water officials, representatives from water user groups, and other interested parties. Annually, these groups develop research priorities for their States and review the allocation of funds among various competing projects. In this way, each Institute is able to focus grants on the most pressing water problems and issues affecting their State. This program has worked well. However, since the research agenda for this program is established by each State to meet its individual needs, the Department should continue the cooperative relationship with each State water resources research program and consider the priorities and funding recommendation of the State advisory panels. The Department shall maintain a level of funding for the institutional grants at each Institute sufficient to maintain the basic infrastructure for efficient State, regional, and national research coordination, collaboration, education and information transfer. S. 1017 continues the partnership between the Federal Government and non-Federal water resources researchers, a partnership that is centered at the university community. Specifically, S. 1017 extends the authorization for the State water resources research institutes to provide grants and address water resources management problems, such as the quantity and quality of water supplies, the sources of water contaminants and methods of remediation, and the training of research scientists, engineers and technicians. The Institute- sponsored research funding, authorized by Section 104(b), requires a match of two non-Federal dollars for each Federal dollar. The Interstate Research Grants program, Section 104(g), is reauthorized in this bill. The Interstate Research Grants provide competitive Federal grants focusing on regional and interstate water resources problems beyond those affecting a single State and must be matched by at least one non-Federal dollar to each Federal dollar. By continuing and enhancing these collaborative efforts, the Institutes can better address critical issues on long-term water planning and supply that may exceed the resources of any one State. The authorized funding levels for the Section 104(b) and 104(g) programs in fiscal year 2005 are $12 million and $6 million, respectively. The fiscal year 2005 appropriation for both programs totaled $6.049 million. Section-by-Section Analysis Section 1. Short title. This section provides that this Act may be cited as the ``Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2005.'' Sec. 2. Water resources research. S. 1017 authorizes the Section 104(b) institutional grants program at $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008 and $13,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, for a total of $52,000,000. S. 1017 authorizes the Section 104(g) competitive grants program at $6 million for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008 and $7 million for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, for a total of $32,000,000. Legislative History Senator Chafee, with Senators Clinton, Inhofe, Jeffords, Vitter, Baucus, Murkowski, Enzi, Corzine, Lautenberg and Crapo, introduced S. 1017 on May 12, 2005, and it was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The committee met on June 8, 2005, to consider the bill. The bill was ordered reported on June 8, 2005. Hearings No hearings were held on the bill. Rollcall Votes The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider S. 1017 on June 8, 2005. The bill was ordered reported favorably to the Senate by voice vote. Regulatory Impact In compliance with Section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee makes the following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the bill. The bill does not create any additional regulatory burdens. Mandates Assessment In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4), the committee makes the following evaluation of the Federal mandates contained in the reported bill. S. 1017 imposes no Federal intergovernmental mandates on State, local or tribal governments. Cost of Legislation Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be included in the report. That statement follows: ---------- S. 1017, Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2005, As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on June 8, 2005. Summary S. 1017 would authorize the appropriation of $94 million over the 2006-2010 period to carry out the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. Under that act, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides grants to research and technology institutes at American colleges and universities for research and education on water resources. Funding for those grants expires at the end of fiscal year 2005. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1017 would cost $14 million in fiscal year 2006 and $87 million through 2010. The remaining $7 million authorized would be spent in 2011. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. S. 1017 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Any costs to State, local, or tribal governments would result from complying with conditions for receiving Federal aid. Estimated Cost to the Federal Government For this estimate, CBO assumes that the authorized amounts will be appropriated for each year and that outlays will follow the historical spending patterns for these grant programs. The estimated impact of S. 1017 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION Spending for Research Institutes Under Current Law.............. Budget Authority\1\......................................... 6 0 0 0 0 0 Estimated Outlays........................................... 6 1 0 0 0 0 Proposed Changes................................................ Authorization Level......................................... 0 18 18 18 20 20 Estimated Outlays........................................... 0 14 16 18 19 20 Spending for Research Institutes Under S. 1017.................. Authorization Level\1\...................................... 6 18 18 18 20 20 Estimated Outlays........................................... 6 15 16 18 19 20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\The 2005 level is the amount appropriated for that year for USGS grants under the Water Resources Research Act. Intergovernmental and Private-sector Impact S. 1017 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments. The bill would reauthorize grants for the 2006-2010 period for water resources research and technology institutes established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. This reauthorization would update the level of grant money available, and while State and local governments may incur some costs to match Federal funds, those costs would be incurred voluntarily. Estimate Prepared By: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Intergovernmental Impact: Ian Rudge and Lisa Ramirez-Branum; Impact on the Private Sector: Craig Cammarata. Estimate Approved By: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. Changes in Existing Law In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman: ---------- [42 U.S.C. 10303] WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT OF 1984 Sec. 10303. Water Resources Research and Technology Institutes. (a) * * * * * * * * * * (f) Authorization of appropriations [in general].-- [(1) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the sum of $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, such sums to remain available until expended.] (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, to remain available until expended-- (A) $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008; and (B) $13,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010. [(2) Any] (2) Failure to obligate funds.--Any sums appropriated under this subsection but which fail to be obligated by the close of the fiscal year for which they were appropriated shall be transferred by the Secretary and available for obligation during the succeeding fiscal year under the terms of subsection (g) of this section. (g) Additional appropriations where research focused on water problems of interstate nature.-- [(1) There] (1) In general.--There is further authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior the sum of [$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005] $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008 and $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 only for reimbursement of the direct cost expenses of additional research or synthesis of the results of research by institutes which focuses on water problems and issues of a regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only to a single State and which relate to specific program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary and the institutes. [Such] (2) Non-federal matching funds.--The funds when appropriated shall be matched on a not less than dollar-for-dollar basis by funds made available to institutes or groups of institutes, by States or other non-Federal sources. [Funds] (3) Availability of funds.--Funds made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended. [(2)] (4) Research funds made available under this subsection shall be made on a competitive basis subject to the merit of the proposal, the need for the information to be produced, and the opportunity such funds will provide for training of water resources scientists or professionals. * * * * * * *