Bills · 118th Congress · Water Resources Development

Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act

Also known as Water Data Improvement Act

Where it stands

  1. Introduced9/27/23
  2. Passed HousePassed 7/8/24
  3. SenatePassed 12/18/24
  4. PresidentSigned 12/23/24
  5. LawPublic Law 118-174

Passed the House by voice vote on July 8, 2024. Passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 18, 2024. Became Public Law 118-174 on December 23, 2024.

Passed by voice vote or unanimous consent — no individual positions were recorded.

Official summary (CRS)

Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act

This act reauthorizes through FY2028 the following initiatives of the United States Geological Survey (USGS): (1) Federal Priority Streamgage program (previously known as the National Streamflow Information Program); (2) groundwater monitoring program, including the National Groundwater Monitoring Network; and (3) grants for water estimation, measurement, and monitoring technologies and methodologies.

The act also modifies the Federal Priority Streamgage program, which measures and tracks the amount of water in nationally significant watersheds and provides information about those watersheds and their conditions, such as floods and droughts. Currently, the USGS must ensure that all streamgages are equipped with water-quality sensors. The act requires that those sensors are precipitation water-quality sensors. The act also requires each streamgage site to conform with the federal needs established through regular solicitation and feedback, such as that documented in the report titled Re-prioritization of the U.S. Geological Survey Federal Priority streamgage program, 2022.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Rep. Joe Neguse ( Democrat · CO-2)
Cosponsors
2
Introduced
9/27/23
Policy area
Water Resources Development

What happens next

Became Public Law 118-174.

All actions (24)
  1. 9/27/23Introduced in House
  2. 9/27/23Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  3. 11/9/23Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
  4. 11/14/23Subcommittee Hearings Held
  5. 1/17/24Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Discharged
  6. 1/17/24Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  7. 1/17/24Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  8. 6/27/24Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-566.
  9. 6/27/24Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 468.
  10. 7/8/24Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  11. 7/8/24Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4466-4467)
  12. 7/8/24DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5770.
  13. 7/8/24Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4466)
  14. 7/8/24On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4466)
  15. 7/8/24Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. 7/9/24Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  17. 9/11/24Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-405.
  18. 12/18/24Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  19. 12/18/24Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  20. 12/18/24Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7133)
  21. 12/18/24Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  22. 12/23/24Presented to President.
  23. 12/23/24Signed by President.
  24. 12/23/24Became Public Law No: 118-174.