U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Julia Brownley (CA-26) and U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at boosting water research and collaboration across the country!
The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act would strength the U.S. Geological Survey partnership with state water research institutes to address water issues around the country.
If enacted, the AWRA Act would:
- Reauthorize of the Water Resources Research Act program through Fiscal Year 2029, ensuring continued, stable national investment in water research;
- Increase the level of authorized funding for Water Resources Research Institutes from $15 million to $16 million;
- Update applications for water research to include the growing artificial intelligence industry; and
- Solidify the 80/20 funding allocation between the base program and special projects grants.
Virginia Water Resources Research Center Director Kevin McGuire underscored the impact of this investment:
“In Virginia, WRRA funding drives research on the water challenges that matter most to our communities, from nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay to ‘forever’ chemical contamination of our drinking water. With demands on water resources growing from all directions including population growth, agriculture, and the rapid expansion of data centers and AI infrastructure, this research has never been more urgent. Reauthorization of this program is essential to keeping that work moving forward. We are grateful to Congressman Wittman for championing this legislation and ensuring Virginia and the nation remain at the forefront of water science for a secure and resilient water future.”
