ADVANCING WATER RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION ACT OF 2025

On 2026-09-16, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18) delivered a floor speech titled "ADVANCING WATER RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION ACT OF 2025" in the House.

ADVANCING WATER RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E944] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADVANCING WATER RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION ACT OF 2025 ______ speech of HON. ZOE LOFGREN of california in the house of representatives Monday, September 14, 2026 Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 7889, a bill to reauthorize the water resources research and technology institutes program. Over the last four decades, the Water Resources Research Act Program, administered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), has supported a nationwide network of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes and Centers serving every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and Guam. Through this federal-state partnership, the program uses competitive grants to support water-resources research, technology transfer, information sharing, and the training of the next generation of water scientists and engineers. This work is increasingly important as communities across my district and the country face growing water-resource challenges. The USGS's first comprehensive national assessment of water availability found that every region in the lower 48 states faces limitations to water availability in at least one aspect of water quantity, quality, or flow. These challenges can create barriers to equitable access to clean water. At the same time, we must ensure that we have the workforce needed to meet these challenges. The USGS anticipates a shortage of science and technology professionals and recognizes that increasing stress on our Nation's water resources will require highly trained and skilled professionals in water resources and management. This is why I am encouraging all my colleagues, both in the House and the Senate, to support the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025. As Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I can attest that reauthorizing this program and ensuring that we continue to invest in the environmental research, innovation, and workforce development needed to address water resource challenges are critical to our country's prosperity and quality of life. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR7889