{ "id": "R42653", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R42653", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 586559, "date": "2017-05-24", "retrieved": "2020-01-02T14:30:12.376871", "title": "Selected Federal Water Activities: Agencies, Authorities, and Congressional Committees", "summary": "Congress addresses numerous issues related to the nation\u2019s water resources annually, and over time it has enacted hundreds of water-related federal laws. These laws\u2014many of which are independent statutes\u2014have been enacted at different points in the nation\u2019s history and during various economic climates. They were developed by multiple congressional committees with varying jurisdictions. Such committees are involved in legislating, funding, and overseeing the water-related activities of numerous federal agencies. These activities include responding to natural disasters such as droughts and floods, conducting oversight over federal water supply management, improving water resource and water quality infrastructure, and protecting fish and wildlife. \nMore than two centuries of federal water resource activity have resulted in a complex web of federal involvement in water resource development, management, protection, and use. As a result, Congress faces challenges related to overlap and gaps in federal water resource activities and in coordination and consistency among federal programs. Further, many federal authorities are discretionary or funded by discretionary appropriations. Consequently, there can be a significant difference between what federal agencies are authorized to do and what they are actually doing, and no one committee in Congress oversees this dichotomy. \nAlthough the responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation\u2019s water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests, this report focuses on federal activities related to water and the congressional committees that authorize and oversee these activities. The report covers multiple topics and individual water-related subtopics ranging from water supply and water quality infrastructure to fisheries management and water rights. The report is not exhaustive; instead, the authors have attempted to cover the major federal activities authorized by Congress that affect water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. Similarly, the analysis does not cover every aspect of House and Senate committee jurisdiction affecting water issues. For definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water, the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices are official.\nThe report covers four general areas, or themes: (1) \u201cWater Resources Development, Management, and Use\u201d; (2) \u201cWater Quality, Protection, and Restoration\u201d; (3) \u201cWater Rights and Allocation\u201d; and (4) \u201cResearch and Planning.\u201d The sections addressing these themes are further divided into tables that list topic areas and individual water-related subtopics. For each subtopic, CRS has identified selected federal agencies and activities related to the subtopic, authorities for such activities, and relevant House and Senate committee jurisdictions, as specified in House and Senate rules. Appendixes address considerations in determining House and Senate committee jurisdictions and present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, which are indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources. The report also includes a glossary of abbreviations for federal agencies and House and Senate committees.\nThe nine tables that make up the body of this report underscore the complexity of federal activities affecting water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. As apparent throughout these tables, numerous standing committees in the House and the Senate have jurisdiction over various components of federal water policy. The wide range of federal executive responsibilities for water resources reflects comparably complex congressional legislative responsibilities and directives.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42653", "sha1": "432a5df561407f4de6ac77dfbbbca833a2250711", "filename": "files/20170524_R42653_432a5df561407f4de6ac77dfbbbca833a2250711.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42653", "sha1": "9670d584227fb92414ecf99d38db03362edc026e", "filename": "files/20170524_R42653_9670d584227fb92414ecf99d38db03362edc026e.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4909, "name": "Water Resource Management" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 411009, "date": "2012-08-07", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:59:59.467556", "title": "Selected Federal Water Activities: Agencies, Authorities, and Congressional Committees ", "summary": "Congress has enacted hundreds of federal laws affecting the nation\u2019s water resources and continues to address numerous water-related issues annually. From responding to natural disasters such as droughts and floods, to improving water resources and water quality infrastructure and protecting fish and wildlife, many congressional committees are involved in legislating, funding, and overseeing the water-related activities of numerous federal agencies. Nearly two centuries of such activity have resulted in a complex web of federal involvement in water resource management and use.\nAlthough the responsibility for development, management, protection, and allocation of the nation\u2019s water resources is spread among federal, state, local, tribal, and private interests, this report focuses on the complexity of federal activities related to water. The report covers multiple topic areas and individual water-related subtopics ranging from water supply and water quality infrastructure to fisheries management and water rights. The report is not exhaustive; instead, the authors have attempted to cover the major federal activities authorized by Congress that affect water resource development, management, and use in the United States. Similarly, the analysis does not cover every aspect of House and Senate committee jurisdiction affecting water issues. Accordingly, it may be helpful to seek the views of the House and Senate Parliamentarian Offices for a more definitive evaluation of committee jurisdictions related to water.\nThe report covers four general areas: (1) \u201cWater Resources Development, Management, and Use\u201d; (2) \u201cWater Quality, Protection, and Restoration\u201d; (3) \u201cWater Rights and Allocation\u201d; and (4) \u201cResearch and Planning.\u201d These are further divided into tables that list topic areas and individual water-related subtopics. For each subtopic, CRS has identified selected federal agencies and activities related to the topic, authorities for such activities, and relevant House and Senate committee jurisdictions. The \u201cWater Resources Development, Management, and Use\u201d theme includes subtopics that relate to supply and reservoir development, drought and flood management, and hydropower and navigation. The \u201cWater Quality, Protection, and Restoration\u201d theme includes issues relating to water quality (e.g., water pollution and treatment, drinking water quality) and aquatic resources protection and management. The \u201cWater Rights and Allocation\u201d theme addresses water allocation and interstate compacts, river basin commissions, federal reserved water rights, and tribal water rights. The \u201cResearch and Planning\u201d theme includes subtopics related to research and data collection, including water cycle and climate change research, and watershed planning. Appendixes address considerations in determining House and Senate committee jurisdictions and present the official language from House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, respectively, as indicators of congressional jurisdiction over water resources. A glossary of House and Senate Committee abbreviations and federal agency acronyms is also included.\nIn sum, the nine tables that make up the body of the document underscore the complexity of federal activities affecting water resource development, management, protection, and use in the United States. As apparent throughout these tables, numerous standing committees in the House and Senate have jurisdiction over various components of federal water policy. The wide range of federal executive responsibilities for water resources reflects comparably complex congressional legislative responsibilities, which in turn reflect the multiple ways in which water laws affect social and economic activities and vice versa.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42653", "sha1": "b22839d245e78f864bae6c22372188b5284b10a5", "filename": "files/20120807_R42653_b22839d245e78f864bae6c22372188b5284b10a5.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42653", "sha1": "1f143d64cb5bcbf6be92f9b2884f6874fef7fc7a", "filename": "files/20120807_R42653_1f143d64cb5bcbf6be92f9b2884f6874fef7fc7a.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "American Law", "Appropriations", "Domestic Social Policy", "Economic Policy", "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy", "Foreign Affairs", "Science and Technology Policy" ] }