H.R. 23 - 115th Congress (2017-2018) - Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017

This bill requires the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project in California to be operated pursuant to the water quality standards and operational constraints described in the "Principles for Agreement on the Bay-Delta Standards Between the State of California and the Federal Government" dated December 15, 1994.

The Department of the Interior shall cease any action to implement the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act.

The Bureau of Reclamation shall complete specified feasibility studies for water storage projects in California.

Interior is directed, in the operation of the CVP, to adhere to California's water rights laws governing water rights priorities and to honor water rights senior to those held by the United States.

Interior, in the operation of the Trinity River Division of the CVP, shall not make releases from Lewiston Dam in excess of specified volumes for each water-year type.

Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall recognize: (1) congressional opposition to the violation of private property rights by the California State Water Resources Control Board in its proposal to require a minimum percentage of unimpaired flows in the main tributaries of the San Joaquin River; and (2) the need to provide reliable water supplies to municipal, industrial, and agricultural users across the state.

The Bureau of Reclamation is established as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under federal law to construct qualifying water projects. Reclamation shall identify, as early as practicable upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project, any federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a review, permit, license, approval, or decision required for a qualifying project.

Interior must convert certain existing water service contracts between the United States and water users' associations to repayment contracts, upon the request of the contractor, to allow for the prepayment of such contracts.

The bill amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize Interior to develop additional project benefits through the construction of new or supplementary works.

Neither Interior nor USDA may condition or withhold issuance or renewal of any land use permit based on federal limitations or encumbrances or otherwise infringe on state water rights.

Text (3)

Referred in Senate

July 18, 2017

Engrossed in House

July 12, 2017

Introduced in House

January 3, 2017

Amendments (6)

Jul 12, 2017

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 159

An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part C of House Report 115-212 to ensure that the water rights of federally recognized Indian tribes are not affected by this bill.

Agreed To

Jul 12, 2017

Not Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 158

Amendment sought to require a review of available and new, innovative technologies for capturing municipal wastewater and recycling it for providing drinking water and energy and report on the feasibility of expanding the implementation of these technologies and programs among Central Valley Project contractors.

Active

Jul 12, 2017

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 157

An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part C of House Report 115-212 to set a timeline for completion of the New Melones Reservoir study, prevents exploitation of water rights, extends the program to protect Anadromous Fish in Stanislaus River for 2 years.

Agreed To

Jul 12, 2017

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 156

An amendment numbered 3 printed in Part C of House Report 115-212 to authorize the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to develop a study to enhance mountain runoff to Central Valley Project reservoirs from headwaters restoration activities.

Agreed To

Jul 12, 2017

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 155

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part C of House Report 115-212 to authorize the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to conduct geophysical characterization activities of groundwater aquifers and groundwater vulnerability in California, including identifying areas of greatest recharge potential.

Agreed To

Jul 12, 2017

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 154

An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part C of House Report 115-212 to ensure water supply rescheduling provisions apply to equitably to all water districts in region.

Agreed To

Actions (28)

Show Only Major Actions

07/18/2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

07/12/2017

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

07/12/2017

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 190 (Roll no. 352).

07/12/2017

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 190 (Roll no. 352).

07/12/2017

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 230 (Roll no. 351).

07/12/2017

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

07/12/2017

Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carbajal motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to ensure that there is an adequate supply of water to fight wildfires, utilizing water from reservoirs or other surface waters.

07/12/2017

Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H5531)

07/12/2017

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

07/12/2017

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

07/12/2017

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 23.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pearce amendment No. 6.

07/12/2017

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeSaulnier demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 5.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Denham amendment No. 4.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Costa amendment No. 3.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Costa amendment No. 2.

07/12/2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 431, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the LaMalfa amendment No. 1.

07/12/2017

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 23.

07/12/2017

The Speaker designated the Honorable Scott Perry to act as Chairman of the Committee.

07/12/2017

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 431 and Rule XVIII.

07/12/2017

The resolution provides for one hour of debate on both H.R. 2810 and H.R. 23. Both bills are considered under structured rules.

07/12/2017

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 431. (consideration: CR H5503-5533; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5511-5524)

07/12/2017

Rule H. Res. 431 passed House.

07/11/2017

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 431 Reported to House. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on both H.R. 2810 and H.R. 23. Both bills are considered under structured rules.

02/10/2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

01/03/2017

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.

01/03/2017

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Jan 11, 2023 1:34:34 PM