US HB4039 | 2013-2014 | 113th Congress

US Congress House Bill 4039 (Prior Session Legislation)

Status

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: Introduced on February 11 2014 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2014-02-14 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Summary

California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Interior (Secretaries), in response to the declaration of a state of drought emergency in California, to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies possible to Central Valley Project (CVP) and Klamath Project agricultural, municipal and industrial, and refuge service and repayment contractors, State Water Project contractors, and any other locality or municipality in California by approving, consistent with applicable laws: (1) any project or operations to provide additional water supplies if there is any possible way the Secretaries can do so, unless the project or operations constitute a highly inefficient way of providing additional water supplies; and (2) any projects or operations as quickly as possible based on available information to address the emergency conditions. Sets forth actions to be taken to increase water supply, including: (1) ensuring that the Delta Cross Channel Gates remain open to the greatest extent possible, (2) requiring the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service to recommend revisions to operations of the CVP and the California State Water Project, (3) adopt a 1:1 inflow to export ratio for the increased flow of the San Joaquin River, (4) require the Director and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to complete all requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 necessary to make final permit decisions on water transfer requests, and (5) make WaterSMART grant funding administered by the Bureau of Reclamation available for eligible projects on a priority and expedited basis. Authorizes financial assistance under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 for projects to increase water supply. Requires federal agency heads to consult with the Council on Environmental Quality to develop alternative arrangements to comply with NEPA. Directs the EPA to prioritize projects under state water pollution control revolving funds to provide water to areas at risk of having an inadequate supply of water for public health and safety purposes. Requires the Commissioner of Reclamation to provide water supply planning assistance in preparation for and in response to dry, critically dry, and below normal water year types, upon request, to CVP or Klamath Project contractors or other reclamation project contractors in California, including contractors who possess contracts for refuge water supplies or who deliver refuge water supplies. Reauthorizes: (1) the Calfed Bay-Delta Act, (2) the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and (3) the Secure Water Act. Amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take actions to reduce water consumption or demand or to restore ecosystems in the Klamath Basin watershed, including tribal fishery resources held in trust. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture emergency supplemental appropriations to provide: (1) drought assistance to agricultural producers and for mitigation activities related to drought and wildfire hazards, (2) emergency community water assistance grants to address impacts of drought, and (3) grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farm workers affected by drought and for forest restoration. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to expand federal emergency assistance to provide for disaster unemployment, emergency nutrition, and crisis counseling assistance. Designates this Act as an emergency requirement for budgetary purposes.

Title

California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014

History

Date	Chamber	Action
2014-02-14	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
2014-02-12	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
2014-02-12	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
2014-02-11	House	Referred to House Budget
2014-02-11	House	Referred to House Agriculture
2014-02-11	House	Referred to House Energy and Commerce
2014-02-11	House	Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
2014-02-11	House	Referred to House Natural Resources
2014-02-11	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Same As/Similar To

SB2016 (Same As) 2014-02-11 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S893-896)
HB4239 (Related) 2014-04-16 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
SB2198 (Related) 2014-05-23 - Held at the desk.