Assistant Leader Neguse & Bipartisan Coalition of Western Lawmakers Advance Drought Preparedness Bills to President's Desk for Signature

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse successfully passed two of his bills, the Drought Preparedness Act and Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act, through the United States Senate. In championing the legislation, Neguse, the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Colorado River Caucus, was joined by a bipartisan coalition of Western lawmakers working to address water scarcity and improve drought preparedness. The group included fellow River Caucus Co-Chair Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), as well as Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

Both the Drought Preparedness Act and the WATER Data Improvement Act have previously passed the House of Representatives and now head to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. 

“By bringing these bills across the finish line and to the President’s desk, we are showing what happens when lawmakers roll up their sleeves, work together, and put the interests of our communities above all else,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. “Droughts threaten our water supplies, devastate our crops, and have countless other impacts on the daily lives of folks who call Colorado and the American West home. And I am so incredibly proud to see our proposals to address the severe impacts of record-breaking drought get enacted into law.” 

“More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for water, food, recreation, and energy,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our communities, our farms, our environment, all depend on water. These bills extend the programs that we know already work. At risk is our entire way of life.”

“Water is our most precious resource, and I am dedicated to solutions that protect our watersheds and ensure that southern Arizona continues to lead the way in conservation and resiliency efforts,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “I am proud to see the Senate pass these crucial pieces of legislation to ensure our communities have the tools, data, and resources they need to protect our supply of water amid the ongoing drought in the West.” 

The American West is in the midst of a “megadrought,” with many communities experiencing the driest conditions in over 1,200 years. These soon to be enacted laws support the continuation of key drought relief and water data initiatives.

• The Drought Preparedness Act reauthorizes the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act through 2028, allowing the Bureau of Reclamation to continue to minimize drought damages and losses and improve water availability for those harmed by drought. The bill is co-led by Rep. Ciscomani and sponsored by Senator Hickenlooper in the U.S. Senate.
   
• The WATER Data Improvement Act supports United States Geological Survey (USGS) programs for water monitoring, measurement, and estimation including the National Groundwater Resources Monitoring Network and Federal Priority Streamgage Network through 2028. The bill is co-led by Rep. Ciscomani and sponsored by Senator Lummis in the U.S. Senate. 

Background

Assistant Leader Joe Neguse, whose district includes the headwaters of the Colorado River, has been steadfast in his efforts to address water-related issues, working to enact significant bills that invest in drought resilience and water management. As co-founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Colorado River Caucus, he brought together a bipartisan mix of lawmakers each representing a state along the Colorado River Basin. The group is working to build consensus on critical issues plaguing the river and support the work of the Colorado River Basin states on how best to address the worsening levels of drought in the Colorado River Basin. 

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