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WOW Act

Introduced: November 21, 2019 Introduced by: McClintock, Tom Republican · California See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 11, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Dec 9, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Nov 22, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Nov 21, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Nov 21, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 21, 2019
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Water Optimization for the West Act or the WOW Act

This bill addresses issues related to water projects in the Western States. Among other things, the bill

  • makes the Bureau of Reclamation the lead agency for coordinating permitting activities required for the construction of certain new surface-water storage projects,
  • directs the bureau to convey certain facilities and easements to the Kennewick Irrigation District in Washington State,
  • redirects Department of Transportation funds previously intended for high-speed rail development in California to the Department of the Interior for certain water-related programs,
  • gives the Fish and Wildlife Service the sole authority to protect endangered or threatened fish species that are anadromous species or catadromous species,
  • authorizes the use of certain bureau facilities to convey water to recharge certain aquifers, and
  • prohibits Interior or the Department of Agriculture from requiring a water user to apply for or acquire a water right in order to obtain certain permits or licenses.
What's happening now December 11, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8