108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H.R. 135
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 21, 2003
Received
December 9. 2003
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 2003'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(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 Infrustructure 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--
(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--
(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
7(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 November 21, 2003.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
END
