Advancing Water Research and Collaboration

Summary#

This bill amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to reauthorize and fund the water resources research and technology institutes program. It adds the phrase ", including the growing artificial intelligence industry," after "private industry" in the Act's congressional declaration of purpose. The bill authorizes $16,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2029 to carry out the section. It revises the law’s grant and funding language: it renumbers and clarifies competitive grants and the availability of funds, specifies federal cost-share provisions remain, and requires that 20 percent of the annual amounts be used for research focused on water problems of an interstate or regional nature. The bill also lists three prioritized kinds of research eligible for institutes: research on regional or interstate water problems beyond a single State; research tied to program priorities set jointly by the Secretary and the institutes; and research addressing water problems Congress identifies as interstate.

What it means for you#

• If you work at a water resources research institute, university, state agency, or nonprofit, this bill reauthorizes grant funding and clarifies what kinds of projects may receive funds.
• If you are in private industry, the Act’s purpose now explicitly names the growing artificial intelligence industry among private industry interests.
• If you are concerned with water issues that cross State lines, the bill reserves part of the funding for research on interstate or regional water problems.
• If you are a resident, there is no specific information in the bill text about direct services or individual benefits.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes $16,000,000 to be appropriated each fiscal year for 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 to carry out the specified section of the Act.
• Of those annual amounts, 20 percent must be used for research focused on interstate or regional water problems.
• No publicly available information on total budgetary effects beyond these authorizations or on offsets.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.