Last week, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) sent a letter to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with some suggestions for the West-wide drought bill that is currently under consideration. The letter to the leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was signed by Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (R) and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), WGA's chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
The WGA proposes creating incentives for interstate water management policies; strengthening federal efforts to collect drought and water data; streamlining information across agencies and facilitating the use of current data; and providing for water infrastructure investment through loan guarantees, revolving funds, water trust funds and other tools.
The WGA also suggests that western drought legislation include a budget-neutral federal loan program that would provide financing to states, as well as public and private entities. In addition, the governors encourage Congress to authorize federal agencies to provide technical and financial support to develop state plans on water use.