Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6639
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-08T17:56:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The WATER Act (H.R. 6639) aims to make permanent certain provisions from Executive Order 14181 by directing federal agencies to identify and reduce regulatory obstacles for major water-supply and storage projects in California. This focuses on streamlining environmental reviews to support water infrastructure development and improve water resource management, particularly in areas prone to shortages or disasters.
Key Provisions
- Identification of Projects: The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce must list all ongoing or potential major water projects in California, such as surface/groundwater storage, aquifer recharge, and state conveyance systems. These projects fall under the agencies' joint or individual oversight via the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (which protects threatened or endangered species) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (which requires environmental impact assessments for federal actions).
- Designation of Officials: Each secretary appoints one federal official to oversee their agency's compliance with these environmental laws for the identified projects.
- Analysis and Planning: Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, each official must:
- Pinpoint "regulatory hurdles" that create unnecessary delays or costs for these projects.
- Note recent changes in state or federal laws affecting the projects, including those from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (a law aimed at reducing government spending and streamlining certain processes).
- Propose plans to suspend, revise, or eliminate burdensome regulations or procedures, as long as they do not harm public interest or legal requirements.
- Coordination Requirement: Officials must share information to boost efficiency across agencies.
- Definition of "Unduly Burden": This term means regulations that unnecessarily block, delay, limit, or add significant costs to permitting, building, or operating water resources and infrastructure.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Codifies (turns into statutory law) elements of Executive Order 14181, which previously provided temporary emergency measures for water supply and disaster response in California; this makes the directives ongoing rather than reliant on executive action.
- Introduces mandatory timelines (e.g., 30 days for analysis) and proactive steps to identify and mitigate regulatory issues under the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, potentially accelerating project approvals without fully repealing these laws.
- References the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to incorporate its permitting reforms, extending them specifically to California water projects.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Departments of the Interior and Commerce will face new coordination duties and deadlines, potentially reducing administrative delays in environmental reviews but increasing short-term workload for analysis and planning.
- Citizens: In California, residents, farmers, and communities facing water shortages or droughts could benefit from faster development of storage and supply projects, enhancing water security and disaster resilience; however, this might raise concerns about environmental trade-offs.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, as the bill is limited to domestic U.S. projects in one state.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the Departments of the Interior (manages water and land resources) and Commerce (oversees NOAA, which handles fisheries and endangered marine species under the Endangered Species Act).
- State and Local Entities: California state agencies involved in water conveyance and local water districts or project developers seeking permits.
- Environmental and Public Interest Groups: Organizations focused on species protection or environmental reviews, who may support or challenge changes to regulatory processes.
- California Residents and Industries: Farmers, urban water users, and businesses reliant on stable water supplies in drought-affected regions like the Central Valley.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for infrastructure while preserving core environmental protections; however, proposals to suspend or revise regulations could invite lawsuits if perceived as undermining the Endangered Species Act or National Environmental Policy Act's requirements for species and habitat safeguards.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands and interstate commerce (including water resources), but may test the balance between executive orders and statutory law by codifying emergency measures.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in California's water challenges (introduced by Representatives Gray and Costa), potentially influencing future infrastructure funding or environmental policy debates without altering broader national frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (4 pages)