Help Hoover Dam Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3158
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-01: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:58:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Help Hoover Dam Act" (H.R. 3158) aims to update laws governing the Boulder Canyon Project, specifically by allowing the use of certain recovered funds to support the ongoing operations, maintenance, and improvements of Hoover Dam without requiring repayment to the federal government. This helps ensure the dam's reliability for water supply and power generation in the southwestern United States.
Key Provisions
- Fund Expenditure Authorization: The Secretary of the Interior (head of the Department of the Interior, which manages federal lands and resources) may spend money from the Colorado River Dam fund, including funds in a specific account (XXXR5656P1), that have been recovered on a non-reimbursable basis (meaning no repayment is required).
- Allowed Uses: These funds can support any authorized activities at Hoover Dam or on related lands, such as:
- Day-to-day operations and maintenance.
- Investigations and cleanup efforts.
- Capital improvements (major upgrades or repairs).
- Consultation Requirement: Decisions on spending must involve discussions with the Boulder Canyon Project contractors, who are the entities (like states and utilities) allocated power from Hoover Dam under the 2011 Hoover Power Allocation Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 2 of the Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928 (the original law authorizing the construction of Hoover Dam and management of the Colorado River).
- Adds a new subsection (f) that explicitly permits non-reimbursable use of recovered funds, which was not previously authorized in this way. Previously, such funds might have been restricted or required reimbursement, limiting flexibility for dam-related projects.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Provides the Department of the Interior with greater financial flexibility to address maintenance needs at Hoover Dam without relying solely on reimbursable funds or new appropriations, potentially reducing administrative burdens and improving infrastructure reliability.
- On Citizens: Benefits residents in seven southwestern states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and parts of Mexico by supporting stable water storage and hydroelectric power generation from the Colorado River, which serves millions for drinking water, irrigation, and electricity.
- On International Relations: Indirectly affects U.S.-Mexico water-sharing agreements under the 1944 Water Treaty, as Hoover Dam helps regulate Colorado River flows; better maintenance could enhance compliance and stability in cross-border water management.
- No direct impacts on federal budgets are specified, but it could lower costs for taxpayers by using existing recovered funds.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of the Interior: Gains authority to manage and spend funds for Hoover Dam activities.
- Boulder Canyon Project Contractors: Includes lower basin states (Arizona, California, Nevada) and power utilities that receive Hoover Dam allocations; they must be consulted, ensuring their input on spending priorities.
- Local Communities and Users: Farmers, cities, and industries in the Colorado River Basin that depend on the dam for water and power.
- Environmental and Tribal Groups: Potentially affected through cleanup and improvement efforts that could influence water quality, ecosystems, or tribal water rights in the region.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the framework of the 1928 Boulder Canyon Project Act by clarifying fund usage, reducing potential legal disputes over reimbursable obligations. It aligns with the 2011 Hoover Power Allocation Act by mandating contractor consultations, promoting collaborative resource management.
- Constitutional: No major issues; falls under Congress's authority to regulate federal lands and interstate commerce (via water and power distribution) under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Bipartisan support evident from introduction by representatives from both parties in Nevada and Arizona, highlighting regional consensus on infrastructure needs amid growing water scarcity challenges in the West. Could set a precedent for flexible funding in other federal water projects without new spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-01: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-05-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Help Hoover Dam Act — issued 2025-05-01 — PDF (2 pages)