The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a hearing on Sen. Dianne Feinstein's drought legislation (S. 2533) on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 along with four other bills dealing with Western water issues. Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is considering adding Feinstein's bill to broader legislation that would address drought throughout the west. The bill could also be conferenced eventually with a House-passed drought bill, H.R. 2898, by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
The subcommittee will also consider a bill from western Republicans to allow drought-stricken communities to access more water using existing infrastructure. The legislation, S. 2902, would direct the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to use updated forecasting to better plan for water storage. The legislation would require the Interior Department to address water-intensive invasive species and would address water rights over groundwater on federal lands. The bill also calls for more water to be held in Lake Mead, a provision that has drawn criticism from California water interests.
In addition, the subcommittee will look at Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV.) S. 2907 to amend the fiscal 2015 energy and water spending bill to extend the funding for pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead.
RCRC’s policy comment letter on proposed water and drought legislation can be accessed here.