Water Supply Technology Program Act of 2005
Key claim: The bill would have directed the Department of Energy to run a National Lab–led research program, with competitive grants and a technology roadmap, to develop cheaper water-supply technologies.
Abstract
(S1860 · 109th Congress) Water Supply Technology Program Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a national program for the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of economically viable and cost-effective water supply technologies; (2) designate one or more lead National Laboratories to carry out water supply technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities under the program; and (3) establish the Water Supply Technology Advisory Panel. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) assess the annual amount of federal funding levels and authorizations for water supply technology research; (2) assess the scope of the water supply technology research performed by other agencies; (3) assess whether and to what extent federal water supply technology research is duplicative; and (4) develop a technology roadmap to identify critical water supply technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities to guide program activities. Prescribes guidelines for water supply technology assessment. Directs the Secretary to: (1): provide competitive grants to entities with expertise in the conduct of water supply technology research; and (2) establish an independent third party review process to conduct periodic peer reviews of the program. Requires the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees on the assessments and the technology roadmap. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes funding allocation guidelines. Latest action (2005-12-08): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
Why this matters
The bill is a small example of Congress trying to stand up mission-specific R&D programs at DOE using the familiar template of National Lab leadership plus competitive extramural grants and a technology roadmap. Tracking these introduced-but-unpassed proposals helps map the recurring design choices — who leads, who competes, and what strings attach — that shape federal R&D funding mechanisms.