AWRC Act of 2025
The bill, named the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 (AWRC Act of 2025), would reauthorize and update the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to renew the water resources research and technology institutes program. It adds new priorities and structures intended to broaden collaboration, including explicit attention to the growing artificial intelligence industry and to water problems that span multiple states. Key changes include a set funding authorization for 2026–2029, a shift toward competitive grants, and a new requirement that a portion of funds be dedicated specifically to research on water problems of interstate nature. The bill also clarifies priority areas and supports research identified by Congress or jointly by the Secretary and the institutes.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The bill is called the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 (AWRC Act of 2025).
- 2Expanded purpose: The congressional declaration of purpose adds the growing artificial intelligence industry to the kinds of private industry the program should engage with.
- 3Funding authorization: There is an authorized amount of $16,000,000 to carry out the section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 (subject to specified conditions).
- 4Competitive grants: The bill expands or replaces certain funding mechanisms with competitive grants for institutes.
- 5Interstate focus funding: 20 percent of the annual funds made available under the general appropriation are to be used for research focused on water problems of interstate nature.
- 6Research priorities: Funds may be directed to (A) research addressing regional or interstate water problems beyond a single state, (B) program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary and the institutes, and (C) research on issues Congress identifies as interstate.
- 7Federal cost-share and funding rules: The bill adjusts structuring around how funds are made available to institutes and how federal cost-sharing works, aligning with the added interstate focus and competition requirements.
- 8Reauthorization context: The bill continues the program established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 with updated provisions and priorities.