To date, federal legislative proposals to address current drought conditions have focused on managing federal water projects, supporting new or expanded drought-related projects and programs (including those at the state and local levels), and mitigating the effects of drought and water management on agricultural production, municipal and industrial water supplies, recreational resources, and the environment. These bills include S. 176 , S. 1837 , S. 1894 , H.R. 2898 , H.R. 2983 , and H.R. 3045 , among others. On July 17, 2015, H.R. 2898 , the Western Water and American Food Security Act, passed the House. It includes analysis of provisions specific to California, such as the management of threatened and endangered fish populations in relation to pumping operations of the CVP and SWP, as well as provisions that are broader in scope and might have nationwide implications (e.g., water resources financing, permitting issues, project repayment policies, and support for new water storage and water reuse/recycling). More information about drought in California and in general is provided in the following CRS reports:
CRS Report R40979, California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues , by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]; CRS Report R43407, Drought in the United States: Causes and Current Understanding , by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]; and CRS In Focus IF10196, Drought Policy, Response, and Preparedness , by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed], Drought Policy, Response, and Preparedness , by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed] 

	Overview of the Bills

Of the bills in the 114 th Congress considered to date, H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 , the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015, have received the most congressional and public attention. These bills were the focus of a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on October 8, 2015. Both bills focus on water projects and management during drought, and do not attempt to address the broad suite of drought impacts and policies (e.g., effects on wildfire and agricultural assistance programs). 2898 and S. 1894 have generated both support and opposition from stakeholders and have raised several questions about their implementation, if passed. Some controversy is rooted in how the bills address implementation of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA; P.L. Supporters of H.R. 2898 contend that such changes would improve the flexibility and responsiveness of the management and operations of the CVP and SWP and could potentially make available additional water to users facing curtailed allocations. The bills contain several similar provisions such as addressing nonnative species, expediting environmental reviews, and increasing science and data collection on listed species, among others. 2898 and S. 1894 have raised a number of questions among interested stakeholders. For example, if water pumped from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers' Delta (Delta) is directed to be increased beyond the status quo, where will that increased water come from and what effect might it have on other water users, various species, or in-Delta water quality? 2898 and S. 1894 , Managing Salmon Under H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 include provisions that would address water conveyance and flows in relation to fish populations listed under the ESA. 2898 , including the bill's sponsors, state that the incidental take calculation proposed in the legislation would be based on the most up-to-date science and would allow managers to maximize water supplies without harming species. Operational Flexibility During Drought

Both H.R. The directive to maximize water flows, used in both bills, also might raise the question of how agencies would provide the "maximum quantity of water supplies possible" to CVP and other contractors and, relatedly, how they would make such a determination consistent with laws and regulations. Although H.R. However, the new authorities in both bills differ in some ways. in a manner that would not impede project activities, including environmental reviews and construction. S. 1894

Unlike H.R. However, H.R. 2898

H.R. S. 1894

S. 1894 includes multiple provisions associated with expanding federal support for alternative water supplies, efficiency, and conservation. Other issues for Congress may involve the type of projects and financing supported. For example, the bills would authorize the approval of projects and activities that aim to maximize water supplies while remaining consistent with existing laws and regulations. A broad policy question is whether the issue that Congress is addressing is the current Western drought, drought in arid regions, drought in any part of the United States, or gaps in water supply and demand.
Several western states are experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions. The persistence and intensity of the drought, which began in 2011 in some areas, has received considerable attention from Congress. To date, federal legislative proposals have focused primarily on the management of federal water projects, support for drought-related programs, and needs of fish and wildlife for water. A broad policy question is how Congress might address western drought, drought in any part of the United States, and gaps in water supply and demand.
Several bills have been introduced in the 114th Congress that would address issues associated with drought. They include S. 176, S. 1837, S. 1894, H.R. 2898, H.R. 2983, and H.R. 3045, among others. Of the bills considered to date, H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act, and S. 1894, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015, have received the most congressional and public attention. On July 17, 2015, H.R. 2898 passed the House, and on October 8, 2015, both H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 were the focus of a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. There are reports that a draft bill addressing differences between H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 is being negotiated; however no new bills have been introduced.
Although H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 address some common issue areas and include some similar provisions, the bills' approaches often differ in important ways. Both bills focus on water projects and management during drought, and do not attempt to address the broad suite of drought impacts and policies (e.g., effects on wildfire and agricultural assistance programs).
To date, the focus on both bills has centered primarily on provisions related to the management and operations of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) in California; however, S. 1894 would authorize several programs and activities that would aim to benefit water users and increase water supplies, including water recycling and desalination. H.R. 2898's supporters contend that the bill would, among other things, improve the flexibility and responsiveness of CVP and SWP operations during the current drought in California and beyond. Supporters also contend that activities authorized under H.R. 2898 could increase water supplies to users facing curtailed allocations and improve the science and data collection activities for identifying the effects of operations on listed species. Broadly speaking, supporters of both H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 contend that the legislation would allow for maximum available water supplies in a manner that is consistent with existing laws and regulations; however, S. 1894 would provide fewer directives for project operations. Others believe the bills could harm listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; P.L. 93-205).
H.R. 2898 and S. 1894 have generated both support and opposition from stakeholders and have raised questions about their potential implementation. The bills also raise a number of questions for Congress to consider when addressing drought, including how to reconcile environmental protections with demand for more water and increased pumping from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers Delta to support CVP and SWP water contractors. Related questions include whether the Administration is already maximizing water supplies at federally operated water projects and whether water project management and operations pursuant to the ESA and other laws should be adjusted to better account for water resources challenges. The bills also raise other issues, including what principles and approaches should guide federal involvement in water resources management and how much (if any) support the federal government should provide for drought preparedness and relief efforts. Related topics may include the preferred mix of federal and state leadership in addressing drought; the proper balance of federal investment in surface water storage and in new "alternative" water supplies (e.g., water recycling and reuse, desalination); and the geographic scope of drought-related assistance, authorities, and programs.