[DOCID: f:hr504p1.110]
From the House Reports Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
110th Congress Rept. 110-504
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session Part 1
======================================================================
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WATER COMMISSION ACT OF 2007
_______
December 19, 2007.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 135]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 135) to establish the Twenty-First Century Water
Commission to study and develop recommendations for a
comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs,
having considered the same, report favorably thereon without
amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 135 is to establish the Twenty-First
Century Water Commission to study and develop recommendations
for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water
needs.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 135 would establish the ``Twenty-First Century Water
Policy Commission.'' Under the bill, the Commission is charged
with conducting a study of federal, state, local, and private
water management programs in an effort to develop
recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy that: (1)
respects the primary role of states in water rights law; (2)
identifies incentives to ensure an adequate and dependable
domestic water supply for 50 years; (3) does not place
increased mandates on state and local governments; (4)
eliminates duplication and conflict among governmental
agencies; (5) considers all available technologies for
increasing water supply efficiently, while safeguarding the
environment; (6) recommends means of capturing excess water for
future droughts; (7) suggests financing options for public
works projects; and (8) suggests conservation strategies.
H.R. 135 would establish a commission of nine non-federal
water experts to recommend policies to meet the above
objectives in a national water strategy. The bill stipulates
that the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress
will appoint commissioners from a broad cross-section of
regional and geographical U.S. perspectives. The Commission is
directed to hold no less than ten public hearings around the
nation and submit a final report no later than three years
after its first meeting. The legislation sunsets the Commission
within 30 days of the final report's submission.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 135 was introduced on January 4, 2007 by Rep. John
Linder (R-GA). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee
on Water and Power. The bill was also referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure.
On October 10, 2007, Committee on Natural Resources met to
consider H.R. 135. The Subcommittee on Water and Power was
discharged from further consideration of the bill, and the bill
was ordered favorably reported by unanimous consent and without
amendment to the House of Representatives.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 states that the Act may be cited as the ``Twenty-
First Century Water Commission Act of 2007''.
Section 2. Findings
Section 2 summarizes the need for the legislation.
Section 3. Establishment
Section 3 establishes a commission to be known as the
``Twenty-First Century Water Commission.''
Section 4. Duties
Section 4 outlines the roles and responsibilities of the
Commission, which includes using existing water assessments and
current water management programs to create a comprehensive
water strategy.
Section 5. Membership
Section 5 provides a description of the composition and
make-up of the Commission. The section describes the number and
appointment of Commission members, qualifications, chairperson
selection, terms of appointment, conditions for vacancies,
monetary compensation and travel expenses, and other
considerations.
Section 6. Meetings and quorum
Section 6 provides the requirements of meetings, including
notices. The first meeting of the Commission is to be held not
later than 60 days after the appointment of all members.
Section 7. Director and staff
Section 7 provides for the appointment of a Director and
staff, if necessary, and the manner in which compensation will
be paid for their services.
Section 8. Powers and proceedings of the Commission
Section 8 provides that the Commission shall hold no fewer
than ten hearings during its existence. The Commission may take
testimony and receive such evidence as is necessary and
appropriate to carry out the Act. At least one hearing shall be
held in Washington, DC. Other hearings will be held in distinct
areas of the United States and should seek to ensure testimony
from individuals with a diversity of experiences. The
Commission, if necessary, can utilize information and support
from appropriate federal agencies.
Section 9. Reports
Section 9 provides for the requirement of interim reports
which contain a detailed summary of the Commission's progress,
including meetings and hearings. The first interim report of
the Commission will be completed not later than six months
after the date of the first meeting, and subsequent interim
reports will be completed every six months thereafter. No later
than three years after the date of the first meeting of the
Commission, a final report shall be prepared containing
findings and conclusions of the Commission, and recommendations
for implementing final report findings and conclusions. Interim
reports and the final report will be transmitted to the
President, and the appropriate authorizing committees in the
House of Representatives and the Senate.
Section 10. Termination
Section 10 provides the Commission shall terminate not
later than 30 days following transmittal of the Commission's
final report.
Section 11. Authorization of appropriations
Section 11 authorizes the appropriation of $9,000,000 to
carry out this Act.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized
in the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed
by one or more agencies, an advisory committee already in
existence or by enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory
committee.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to establish the Twenty-First Century
Water Commission to study and develop recommendations for a
comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
H.R. 135--Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2007
Summary: H.R. 135 would establish the Twenty-First Century
Water Commission. The Commission's responsibilities would
include projecting the future of water supply and demand in the
United States, studying the management of that supply, and
preparing a comprehensive strategy for its management in the
future.
Assuming appropriation of the amount specified in the bill,
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 135 would cost $9 million
over the 2008-2012 period. Enacting H.R. 135 would not affect
direct spending or revenues.
H.R. 135 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 135 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--
---------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGING IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Level... 2 3 2 2 0
Estimated Outlays............... 1 2 3 3 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of Estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R.
135 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2008 and
that the $9 million authorized to be appropriated by the bill
will be provided over the next four years. Estimates of
spending are based on historical spending patterns of similar
activities.
H.R. 135 would require the President and the Congress to
appoint nine members of the commission before it could meet.
CBO expects that the commission would hold its first meeting in
the second half of fiscal year 2008, and that the commission
would issue its final report in 2011.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 135
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Tyler Kruzich; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell;
Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
EARMARK STATEMENT
H.R. 135 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.
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