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Western Water Security Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-2718| Senate 
| Updated: 7/22/2020
Tom Udall

Tom Udall

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Cosponsors (1)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Water and Power Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Western Water Security Act of 2019 This bill addresses water management infrastructure and improvement, groundwater management, and water conservation and environmental restoration in certain western states. Specifically, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations to fund research agreements between the Bureau of Reclamation and eligible entities for water management improvement. The bill expands eligibility for such agreements to include nonprofit conservation organizations. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2024 a program through which Interior is authorized to assist eligible desalination projects. The bill lowers cost-sharing requirements under the program for rural desalination projects. Further, the bill allows certain financial assistance made available under an existing drought relief program to be used to assist state and tribal governments in addressing drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crises. The bill reauthorizes the program through FY2030. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum federal share of costs for certain infrastructure improvements and activities for groundwater management that provide benefits to consumptive water users (i.e., users of water that is not returned to a stream, river, or water treatment plant) and nonconsumptive ecological or recreational values. The bill also requires Reclamation to carry out a water acquisition program in specified river basins. Further, Interior must analyze the extent to which changes in water supply will affect native biodiversity and must produce strategies for sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.
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Timeline
Oct 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 22, 2020
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-375.
Dec 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-4891
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.
  • October 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • July 22, 2020
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-375.


  • December 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-4891
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.

Water Resources Development

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4891: Western Water Security Act of 2020
  • HR 116-2: Moving Forward Act
Agricultural conservation and pollutionAgricultural practices and innovationsAir qualityAlternative and renewable resourcesAquatic ecologyArizonaBuilding constructionClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightDams and canalsEndangered and threatened speciesEnergy efficiency and conservationEnvironmental healthEnvironmental technologyFarmlandFishesFloods and storm protectionHawaiiHydrology and hydrographyInfrastructure developmentLakes and riversLatin AmericaMexicoMiningNew MexicoOil and gasResearch administration and fundingRural conditions and developmentState and local government operationsTexasWater qualityWater resources fundingWatershedsWater storageWater use and supplyWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitatsWildlife conservation and habitat protection

Western Water Security Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-2718| Senate 
| Updated: 7/22/2020
Western Water Security Act of 2019 This bill addresses water management infrastructure and improvement, groundwater management, and water conservation and environmental restoration in certain western states. Specifically, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations to fund research agreements between the Bureau of Reclamation and eligible entities for water management improvement. The bill expands eligibility for such agreements to include nonprofit conservation organizations. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2024 a program through which Interior is authorized to assist eligible desalination projects. The bill lowers cost-sharing requirements under the program for rural desalination projects. Further, the bill allows certain financial assistance made available under an existing drought relief program to be used to assist state and tribal governments in addressing drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crises. The bill reauthorizes the program through FY2030. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum federal share of costs for certain infrastructure improvements and activities for groundwater management that provide benefits to consumptive water users (i.e., users of water that is not returned to a stream, river, or water treatment plant) and nonconsumptive ecological or recreational values. The bill also requires Reclamation to carry out a water acquisition program in specified river basins. Further, Interior must analyze the extent to which changes in water supply will affect native biodiversity and must produce strategies for sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 22, 2020
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-375.
Dec 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-4891
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.
  • October 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • July 22, 2020
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-375.


  • December 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-4891
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.
Tom Udall

Tom Udall

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Cosponsors (1)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Water and Power Subcommittee

Water Resources Development

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4891: Western Water Security Act of 2020
  • HR 116-2: Moving Forward Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Agricultural conservation and pollutionAgricultural practices and innovationsAir qualityAlternative and renewable resourcesAquatic ecologyArizonaBuilding constructionClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightDams and canalsEndangered and threatened speciesEnergy efficiency and conservationEnvironmental healthEnvironmental technologyFarmlandFishesFloods and storm protectionHawaiiHydrology and hydrographyInfrastructure developmentLakes and riversLatin AmericaMexicoMiningNew MexicoOil and gasResearch administration and fundingRural conditions and developmentState and local government operationsTexasWater qualityWater resources fundingWatershedsWater storageWater use and supplyWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitatsWildlife conservation and habitat protection