AWE Legislative Watch
The Alliance for Water Efficiency is pleased to monitor federal legislation and inform members of bills relating to water conservation and efficiency. Additionally, as it comes to our attention, we will include pertinent state-level legislation. Check back often for updates.
U.S. House of Representatives
113th Congress
- H.R. 123 - Water Advanced Technologies for Efficient Resource Use Act of 2013
- H.R. 765 - Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2013
- H.R. 1616 - Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013
- H.R. 1807 - Residential Energy and Economic Saving Act
- H.R. 1877 - Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2013
H.R. 123
Title: Water Advanced Technologies for Efficient Resource Use Act of 2013
Purpose: To encourage water efficiency by authorizing the WaterSense program within the Environmental Protection Agency and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rush Holt [NJ-12] (Introduced 1/3/2013)
Status: Referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Government Oversight and Armed Services.
Summary: Establishes within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a WaterSense program to identify and promote water efficient products, buildings and landscapes, and services to reduce water use, conserve energy, and preserve water resources. The bill directs the EPA administration to promote, publicize and administer the WaterSense program and requires federal agencies to purchase water-efficient products. It also establishes a program to provide for the first time federal financial incentives for consumer purchase and installation of water efficient products and services for their homes. [This is a re-introduction of HR 1967, which did not pass in the last Congress. [Full Text]
Click here to download AWE's Letter of Support for HR 123 (PDF)
H.R. 765
Title: Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2013
Purpose: To increase resiliency or adaptability of water systems to changes in the hydrologic conditions of a region while promoting more efficient water use and conservation.
Sponsor: Rep. Lois Capps [CA-24] (Introduced 2/15/2013)
Status: Referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure (2/15/2013).
Summary: Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program of grants to increase resiliency or adaptability of water systems to any changes in the hydrologic conditions of a region. In selecting grant recipients, the Administrator is directed to consider how such changes would promote “more efficient water use, water conservation, water reuse, or recycling” and while also increasing a water system’s “efficiency in the use of energy or water.” [Full Text]
Click here to download AWE's Letter of Support for HR 765 (PDF)
H.R. 1616
Title: Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013
Purpose: To improve energy and water efficiency in residential and industrial applications.
Sponsor: Rep. David McKinley [R-WV] (Introduced 4/18/2013)
Status: Referred to five House Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce; Science, , Science Space and Technology; Budget; and Oversight and Government Reform. (This measure is most likely to see activity in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.)
Summary: This is a companion bill to S 761 (see separate listing), which was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] and Rob Portman [R-OH]. Among many goals to improve energy and water efficiency, this bill would establish a new Supply Star program in the energy Department to identify and promote practices and products that use highly efficient supply chains in a manner that conserves energy, water and other resources. [Full Text]
H.R. 1807
Title: Residential Energy and Economic Savings Act
Purpose: To provide grants for residential planting of shade trees to save energy and to improve water quality by reducing ground water runoff.
Sponsor: Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA] (Introduced 4/26/2013)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Summary: To assist retail power providers with the establishment and operation of energy conservation programs using targeted residential planting of trees, which “can reduce the rate and magnitude of storm-water runoff…prevent harmful land pollutants contained in soil from getting into our waterways” and “ensure that our groundwater supplies are continually being replenished.” [Full Text]
H.R. 1877
Title: Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2013
Purpose: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY] (Introduced 5/8/2013)
Status: Referred to the House Infrastructure and Transportation and the House Ways and Means Committees. (5/8/2013)
Summary: In funding state water pollution control and sewage collection projects, this bill specifically authorizes grants to assess energy and water consumption of treatment plants and to evaluate “potential opportunities for energy and water conservation through facility operation and maintenance, equipment replacement, and projects or activities that promote the efficient use of energy and water by the treatment works.” [Full Text]
U.S. Senate
113th Congress
- S 52 - Promoting Efficiency and Savings in Government Act
- S 335 - Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2013
- S 601 - Water Resources Development Act of 2013
- S 761 - Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013
S 52
Title: Promoting Efficiency and Savings in Government Act
Purpose: To improve the energy and water efficiency of Federal buildings.
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA] (Introduced January 22, 2013)
Status: This bill was assigned to a congressional committee on January 22, 2013, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Summary: No summaries available. [Full Text]
S 335
Title: Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2013
Purpose: To provide financing assistance for qualified water infrastructure projects, with emphasis on increasing efficient water use and reducing energy consumption in water treatment.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR] (Introduced 2/14/2013)
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (2/14/2013)
Summary: Provides financing assistance to community water systems through direct loans and loan guarantees. In making these loans, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is directed to consider projects that increase “efficient water use, water conservation, or water reuse” and that “reduce the energy consumption needs of a treatment works…including the implementation of energy efficient or renewable generation technologies.” [Full Text]
S 601
Title: Water Resources Development Act of 2013
Purpose: To provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, including a new program of federal loans and loan subsidies for community water systems.
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA] and Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Status: This bill, which is co-sponsored by the Chairman and Ranking Republican of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was approved unanimously by the Committee on March, 20, 2013. The bill was approved by the Senate on May 15, 2013, by a vote of 83-14, and sent to the House for consideration.
Summary: This bill is a broad, omnibus update of federal water resource policy and also includes navigation, flood control, harbors and dam safety projects. This bill incorporates S 335 (see separate Legislative Watch listing), sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR], that would create new direct loans and loan guarantees to finance community water systems. However, the Merkley bill’s language directing the EPA administrator to consider projects that increase “efficient water use, water conservation or water reuse” was dropped from the version included in the Boxer/Vitter bill approved by the Committee. [Full Text of the bill as approved by the Senate on May 15, 2013]
S 761
Title: Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013
Purpose: To improve energy and water efficiency in residential and industrial applications.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] and Sen. Rob Portman [R-OH] (Introduced 4/18/2013)
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 18, 2013, which approved the bill with amendments and sent it to the full Senate on May 8, 2013. Committee members voting against the bill were Sens. Mike Lee, R-UT, Tim Scott, R-SC, and Jeff Flake, R-AZ.
Summary: Among many goals to improve energy and water efficiency, the bill would establish a new Supply Star program in the Energy Department to identify and promote practices and products that use highly efficient supply chains in a manner that conserves energy, water and other resources. It also directs the Secretary of Energy to provide guidance on improving the efficient use of water in manufacturing. [Full Text as approved by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]
Related Links:
- GovTrack.us - An independent tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress.
- THOMAS - Library of Congress site offering federal legislative information freely to the public.