In a Big Step Forward for Water Security, Three of Congresswoman Stansbury’s Groundbreaking Bills Pass the House
Each of Rep. Stansbury’s comprehensive water bills she introduced this Congress, the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act, passed as part of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.
WASHINGTON—As the nation faces the worst drought in 1,200 years and communities battle devastating wildfires across New Mexico and the country, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) announced that her three game-changing water security bills, the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and the WaterSMARTAccess for Tribes Act passed the House of Representatives as part of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.
Rep. Stansbury secured House passage of the bills just over a year after taking office representing New Mexico’s First Congressional District, building on a career in climate and water policy.
“Last week, I was heartbroken to watch our beautiful Rio Grande dry across significant reaches of our state. We must act as our communities experience a millennial drought and devastating wildfires. As we adapt to the effects of climate change, this package represents a historic moment for water management,” said Rep. Stansbury. “In addition to a long-deserved pay raise for our wildland firefighters and other vital wildfire prevention measures, I'm proud that the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act includes three of my water bills: the Water Data Act, Rio Grande Water Security Act, and the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act. This trio of bills will assist Tribal communities in gaining access to vital funds for water security and conservation, enhance water management throughout the Rio Grande Basin, and transform our water data systems. This will give our communities the tools they need to address our nation's toughest water challenges.”
Together, Rep. Stansbury’s bipartisan water bills will transform water management across the United States and give communities in New Mexico and the nation the tools they need to address water security.
- The Water Data Act (H.R. 7792) will create a Water Data Council to establish a framework standardizing water data across federal agencies so the data is interoperable and easily accessible to water managers and communities.
- The Rio Grande Water Security Act (H.R. 7793) will bring game-changing support to the communities of the Rio Grande River Basin, one of the West’s most iconic rivers. For the first time in history, the Rio Grande Water Security Act will create the resources and authorization needed to develop a plan to address the water security needs of the region. The bill will also reauthorize a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.
- The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act (H.R.6238) will give the U.S. Secretary of the Interior the power to waive or reduce cost-share requirements for Tribes for WaterSMART, a suite of programs under the Bureau of Reclamation to improve water security across the West.
The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act also includes key investments to prepare New Mexico for further drought and wildfires, including:
Wildfire response:
- Establishes new hiring authorities and a minimum basic pay rate (approximately $20/hour) for wildland firefighters, as well as mental health leave and hazard pay.
- Authorizes a 10-Year National Wildfire Response Plan for landscape-scale projects across the country.
- Provides tools and resources to assist communities' wildfire activities, including prescribed fires, and supports opportunities for Tribes and Conservation Corps in wildfire activities.
To improve drought resiliency, the WRDR Act:
- Provides $500 million to prevent key reservoirs of the Colorado River from declining to unsafe levels.
- Invests in innovative drought-proof water infrastructure, including water recycling and desalination projects.
- Improves water reliability for Indian Country, by advancing Tribal water rights settlements, investing $1 billion in Tribal clean water access, and supporting technical assistance for tribal water needs.
- Supports the development of modern water management data and technology.
- Protects and restores important ecosystems and wildlife populations that have been impacted by drought and climate change.
To ensure a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought, the WRDR Act also:
- Improves wildfire-related programs at the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fire Administration and provides improved assistance and relief for communities that have been impacted by recent wildfires.
- Establishes the National Disaster Safety Board and directs the President to establish a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program.
- Advances environmental justice for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by environmental discrimination and climate change-induced wildfire and drought.
A fact sheet on the Water Data Act is here and the full bill text is here. A fact sheet on the Rio Grande Water Security Act is here and the full bill text is here. The full text of the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act can be found here. The full text of the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act can be found here.