To amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to extend the authorizations of appropriations through fiscal year 2000, and for other purposes.
Public Law 104-147 · H.R. 1743 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on May 24, 1996 · Water Resources Development
Sponsor: Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA-4)
Cosponsors (12): Rep. George Radanovich, Rep. Richard Pombo,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to: (1) add as a purpose of such Act to encourage long-term planning and research to meet future water management, quality, and supply challenges; (2) require, in grants made under such Act, that non-Federal funds match grants on at least a two-to-one basis; (3) authorize appropriations for State water resources research and technology institutes through FY 2000, including for research focused on water problems of an interstate nature; (4) direct the Secretary of the Interior to encourage other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to take advantage of the expertise and capabilities of the State water resources research institutes and to facilitate cooperation with other Federal water resources programs; (5) authorize the Secretary to support an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students; and (6) direct the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on coordination efforts.
Specifies that nothing in such Act shall preempt the rights and authorities of any State with respect to its water resources or management of those resources.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- May 24, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-147.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 15, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 14, 1996Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Doolittle asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- May 3, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 16, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Mar 28, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Oct 18, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Oct 17, 1995FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Doolittle moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 8, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Aug 2, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jul 13, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 8, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 6, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.