Bill > S1837

This bill, titled the Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015, aims to address drought conditions and improve water supply reliability across the United States, with a particular focus on California and other western states. It proposes significant appropriations from the Reclamation Fund for emergency drought relief, including funding for water reclamation and reuse projects, drought relief programs, and cleanup of polluted groundwater. The bill also authorizes new water infrastructure programs, such as a National Water Recycling and Reclamation Program through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and establishes the Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (RIFIA) program to provide financing for water infrastructure projects. Furthermore, it introduces an Innovative Stormwater Capture Program, aims to restore watersheds and increase water yields, improve reservoir operations, and explore the development of renewable energy on Bureau of Reclamation land to reduce water evaporation. The bill also includes provisions for improved crop data, oversight of state injection wells, combating water theft for illegal marijuana cultivation, and establishing a national emergency planning response for catastrophic drought, alongside a report on desalination technology for national security. Finally, it authorizes appropriations for various water infrastructure and management initiatives, including a tax credit for water-harvesting systems and funding for additional project benefits.