Reps. Napolitano, Hanabusa Introduce Secure Water Act Reauthorization

Press Release

Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), Natural Resources Committee Member, introduced H.R. 4258, the SECURE Water Amendments Act, legislation extending the authority of the water conservation and sustainability program, which also includes Hawaii's eligibility to compete for the Department of Interior's WaterSMART grants.

"Growing populations, increased energy development, widespread drought, and water use due to climate change magnify our need for an improved understanding of water use and availability," Napolitano said. "The successful WaterSMART grants have provided California and the other western Reclamation states much needed water agency support in developing local, sustainable water supplies, and we are encouraged that Hawaii, thanks to Congresswoman Hanabusa, will now be eligible for these grants. The reauthorization of the SECURE Water Act of 2009 will continue to create jobs, save money, and prepare our communities for future drought cycles."

"I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important measure, reauthorizing the SECURE Water Act of 2009," said Hanabusa. "Among the bill's provisions is a clarification that projects in the State of Hawaii are eligible for grants to plan for droughts. But this measure does far more through continuing the partnership with local governments and water users to preserve and maintain this critical resource. We have seen both the devastation brought by droughts, and how programs under WaterSMART grants have contributed to drought resiliency in the West. This bill deserves our support."

Reauthorizing the SECURE Water Act increases funding for WaterSMART grants, which fund locally cost-shared water management improvements that save significant amounts of water. Approved projects will receive funding as needed from 2014 through 2023. H.R. 4258 also reauthorizes the authority for USGS to give grants to state water resource agencies to develop better data about water availability and usage. It has 17 original cosponsors and is the companion bill to S. 2019, sponsored by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).

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