[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7129 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7129
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to
reauthorize water power research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application activities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2026
Ms. Bonamici (for herself and Mr. Begich) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and
Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to
reauthorize water power research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application activities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Water Power Research and Development
Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. WATER POWER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Subtitle C of title VI of the Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (Public Law 110-140; 42 U.S.C. 17211 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 633 (42 U.S.C. 17212; relating to water
power technology research, development, and demonstration)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``capacity and
reduce the cost'' inserting ``capacity or efficiency,
and reduce the cost,''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) To advance scalable, United States-based
manufacturing of composite and additive manufactured marine
energy components through collaborations with regional
universities and industry, including advanced composite
research facilities and additive manufacturing facilities.'';
(2) in section 634 (42 U.S.C. 17213; relating to hydropower
research, development, and demonstration)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``generation,'' after ``efficiency,'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, cybersecurity,''
after ``physical'';
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) study, in conjunction with other relevant Federal
agencies, State agencies, local agencies, and Tribal entities
(including Alaska Native Corporations), as appropriate, methods
to improve the hydropower licensing process, including by
compiling current environmental data and studies, accepted best
practices, public comments, and methodologies to assess the
full range of potential environmental and economic impacts;'';
(D) in paragraph (6)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``develop methods and
technologies to improve environmental impact''
and inserting ``develop and support studies,
methods, and technologies to assess and improve
environmental impact''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting
``hydrology,'' after ``water quality'';
(E) in paragraph (7)(G), by inserting ``for
hydropower and pumped storage applications'' after
``components'';
(F) in paragraph (9), by inserting ``, and project
management and delivery strategies,'' after ``systems
analysis'';
(G) in paragraph (10)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
``and'' after the semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) improving methods for incorporating
hydropower and pumped storage in grid modeling
systems.'';
(H) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' at the
end; and
(I) by striking paragraph (14) and inserting the
following:
``(14) identify mechanisms and systems to test, validate,
and improve performance and reliability of hydropower and
pumped storage technologies; and
``(15) support workforce development programs, training,
student-led research, and education and outreach activities to
foster growth of the next generation of hydropower
professionals and researchers.'';
(3) in section 635(a) (42 U.S.C. 17214(a); relating to
marine energy research, development, and demonstration) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``infrastructure and
facilities'' and inserting ``infrastructure,
facilities, and equipment'';
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``, which may
include smart building systems'' and inserting ``and
microgrids, which may include smart energy management
systems'';
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``maintaining a
sustainable marine energy supply chain based in the
United States'' and inserting ``establish and support
manufacturing and an industrial marine energy supply
chain based in the United States'';
(D) in paragraph (9), by inserting ``, which may
include production of hydrogen and other transportation
fuels'' before the semicolon;
(E) in paragraph (13), by inserting ``utilization
of advanced manufacturing processes, including the''
after ``such as the'';
(F) in paragraph (17), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting ``, including data centers, subsea or
offshore power, and microgrids, sensors, and
communications systems;'';
(G) in paragraph (18)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``to develop'' and inserting
``develop''; and
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read
as follows:
``(B) for the generation and storage of power to
promote the resilience of waterside communities,
including high-energy tidal environments, and critical
infrastructure (as such term is defined in section
1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))),
including in applications relating to--
``(i) desalination;
``(ii) disaster recovery and resilience;
``(iii) aquaculture;
``(iv) marine carbon dioxide removal;
``(v) community microgrids in isolated
power systems; and
``(vi) resilience and microgrid
demonstration sites integrating marine energy
and working waterfront economies.''; and
(H) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(19) develop, validate, and demonstrate marine energy
systems designed for extreme tidal temperatures and icing
conditions.'';
(4) in section 636 (42 U.S.C. 17215; relating to National
Marine Energy Centers)--
(A) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(4) Whether the institution is a regional test site with
the proven ability to demonstrate unique natural advantages,
including high tidal ranges, strong currents, and cold-water
operating conditions.''; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ``and National Laboratories,'' and
inserting ``National Laboratories, and other
relevant Federal agencies,'';
(ii) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(4) support workforce development, training, student-led
research programs, and development and dissemination of
curriculum, education, and outreach activities to foster growth
of the next generation of marine energy professionals and
researchers.'';
(5) in section 637 (42 U.S.C. 17216; relating to
organization and administration of programs)--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``other
domestic and'' after ``Alaska Native
Corporations, and'';
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
``(including the United States Agency for
International Development)'' and inserting ``,
including the Department of State and the
International Trade Administration of the
Department of Commerce,''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(4) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary shall seek
to coordinate with the National Sea Grant College Program and
the Department of Commerce to leverage existing ocean networks
and coastal innovation initiatives.'';
(B) in subsection (f), by amending paragraph (2) to
read as follows:
``(2) workforce development and training activities in
collaboration with regional workforce hubs, including
institutions of higher education, Tribal Colleges and
Universities (including Alaska-Native serving institutions),
land grant and sea grant institutions, foundations, non-profit
organizations, and maritime academies, to support education,
recruitment, and the dissemination of standards and best
practices for enabling water power production, including
hydropower and marine energy collegiate competitions, graduate
student research program and fellowships relating to marine
energy, and other workforce programs.'';
(C) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``an annual''
and inserting ``a biennial''; and
(D) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(g) Briefing to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, and at least once every two years
thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a briefing to the relevant
authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress and make
available to the public the findings of research conducted and
activities carried out pursuant to this subtitle, including the most
current strategic plan under subsection (g) and the progress made in
implementing such plan.''; and
(6) by amending section 639 (42 U.S.C. 17218; relating to
authorization of appropriations) by striking ``$186,600,000 for
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, including $137,428,378
for marine energy and $49,171,622 for hydropower research,
development, and demonstration activities'' and inserting
``$300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030,
including $200,000,000 for marine energy and $100,000,000 for
hydropower research, development, and demonstration
activities''.
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