House Bill 5217
116th Congress(2019-2020)
WOW Act
Introduced
Introduced in House on Nov 21, 2019
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
5217
Congress
116
Policy Area
Water Resources Development
Water Resources Development
Primary focus of measure is the supply and use of water and control of water flows; watersheds; floods and storm protection; wetlands. Measures concerning water quality may fall under Environmental Protection policy area.
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary
Water Optimization for the West Act or the WOW Act
This bill addresses issues related to water projects in the Western States. Among other things, the bill
- makes the Bureau of Reclamation the lead agency for coordinating permitting activities required for the construction of certain new surface-water storage projects,
- directs the bureau to convey certain facilities and easements to the Kennewick Irrigation District in Washington State,
- redirects Department of Transportation funds previously intended for high-speed rail development in California to the Department of the Interior for certain water-related programs,
- gives the Fish and Wildlife Service the sole authority to protect endangered or threatened fish species that are anadromous species or catadromous species,
- authorizes the use of certain bureau facilities to convey water to recharge certain aquifers, and
- prohibits Interior or the Department of Agriculture from requiring a water user to apply for or acquire a water right in order to obtain certain permits or licenses.
November 21, 2019
12/11/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
12/09/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
11/22/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
11/21/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
11/21/2019
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
11/21/2019
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Oct 28, 2022 1:46:11 AM