Text of Senate Amendment 4534

Text of Senate Amendment 4534

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1249-S1251] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 4534. Mr. WYDEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: TITLE ___--WATERSHED PILOTS SEC. __01. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Watershed Results Act''. SEC. __02. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Advance watershed analytics.--The term ``advance watershed analytics'' means the technical analysis that-- (A) is conducted before providing funding for a watershed outcomes project; (B) identifies and quantifies the outcomes and costs of all potential qualifying activities across the watershed outcomes project; and (C) assesses how different groups of qualifying activities in the watershed outcomes project could efficiently maximize outcomes for the least cost. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' includes-- (A) a State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, irrigation district, or water district; (B) a State, regional, or local authority, the members of which include 1 or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; (C) any other organization with water or power delivery authority; and (D) any nongovernmental entity. (4) Pay-for-performance contract.--The term ``pay-for- performance contract'' means a contract to purchase verified outcomes produced by implemented qualifying activities in a watershed outcomes project at a negotiated price. (5) Qualifying activity.--The term ``qualifying activity'' means a conservation project carried out in a watershed identified through advance watershed analytics as having a high likelihood of cost-effectively achieving 1 or more outcomes if implement consistent with applicable performance standards made available under section __03(e)(4). (6) Reclamation state.--The term ``Reclamation State'' means-- (A) a State or territory described in the first section of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093; 43 U.S.C. 391); (B) the State of Hawaii; (C) the State of Alaska; and (D) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation. (8) Watershed outcomes project.--The term ``watershed outcomes project'' means the overall watershed project managed by the watershed partner. (9) Watershed partner.--The term ``watershed partner'' means an eligible entity selected by the Secretary under section __03(a)(2) to carry out a watershed outcomes project. SEC. __03. WATERSHED OUTCOMES PROJECTS. (a) Proposals; Selection.--The Secretary shall-- (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, solicit the submission from eligible entities of proposals to develop and implement a strategy that develops and uses advance watershed analytics to cost-effectively carry out watershed outcomes projects to achieve meaningful watershed-scale outcomes in a Reclamation State; and (2) from among the proposals submitted under paragraph (1), select a watershed partner for each watershed to complete advance watershed analytics, carry out watershed outcomes projects in a Reclamation State, manage watershed partnership duties during the term of the partnership agreement, and support pay-for-performance contracts. (b) Guidelines and Criteria for Proposals.--The Secretary-- [[Page S1250]] (1) shall develop criteria and guidelines for the submission and selection of proposals under subsection (a); and (2) for purposes of developing the criteria and guidelines under paragraph (1), may consider-- (A) the scope of the proposed watershed outcomes project, including the selected subregion or basin-level watershed for consideration; (B) the purpose and goals of the proposed watershed outcomes project; (C) any stakeholder outreach conducted with respect to the proposed watershed outcomes project; (D) evidence of widespread support within the local community for, the proposed watershed outcomes project; (E) the capability of the watershed partner to perform the required duties in accordance with subsection (d); (F) how the watershed partner will procure and use advance watershed analytics to identify and quantify the outcomes and costs of all potential qualifying activities for the proposed watershed outcomes project; (G) estimated costs of completing advance watershed analytics and operating the proposed watershed outcomes project; (H) the anticipated qualifying activity types that are relevant for the selected watershed identified under subparagraph (A); and (I) plans for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on progress made toward achieving the outcomes of the proposed watershed outcomes project. (c) Partnership Agreements.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a partnership agreement with a watershed partner selected under subsection (a)(2) to design and implement a watershed outcomes project that uses advance watershed analytics to achieve meaningful watershed-scale outcomes in accordance with this section. (2) Term.-- (A) In general.--A partnership agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall be for a term-- (i) of not more 5 years; or (ii) if the Secretary determines that a longer term is necessary to meet the objectives of the watershed outcomes project, a longer term established by the Secretary. (B) Renewal.--A partnership agreement entered into under paragraph (1) may be renewed for a term of not more than 5 years. (C) Extension.--A partnership agreement entered into under paragraph (1) or renewed under subparagraph (B) may be extended 1 time for a term of not more than 2 years, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Technical and financial assistance.--Through a partnership agreement entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to a watershed partner-- (A) technical or financial assistance to design and implement a watershed outcomes project; and (B) grants, cooperative agreements, or other financial assistance to support-- (i) the activities under subparagraph (A); and (ii) performance payments to qualifying activities under subsection (g)(4). (4) Project development costs.--The Secretary may annually award to a watershed partner an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of estimated costs of the watershed outcomes project to carry out the duties described in subsection (d). (d) Duties of Watershed Partners.--Under a partnership agreement entered into under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall establish duties to be carried out by the watershed partner, including considering establishing the following duties: (1) Preparing a funding and implementation strategy that uses advance watershed analytics to cost-effectively carry out a watershed outcomes project by selecting a sufficient number of qualifying activities to achieve meaningful watershed-scale outcomes by-- (A) completing advance watershed analytics to identify and quantify the outcomes and costs of all potential qualifying activities for the watershed outcomes project; (B) establishing baseline metrics to support the development of setting outcome prices and performance standards for the watershed outcomes project; (C) developing performance standards for the watershed outcomes project; (D) leveraging financial assistance provided by the Secretary to secure additional funds for the watershed outcomes project; (E) designing, recruiting, and verifying qualifying activities for the watershed outcomes project; and (F) providing outcome and financial accounting services relating to qualifying activities carried out to achieve outcomes. (2) Using the strategy prepared under paragraph (1) to prioritize qualifying activity outreach efforts. (3) Working with local stakeholders to recruit and design an implementation-ready queue of priority qualifying activities. (4) Ensuring that any proposed priority qualifying activities have the support of affected local stakeholders. (5) Setting activity outcome prices and developing performance standards for qualifying activities. (6) Developing a plan to carry out qualifying activities having a high likelihood of cost-effectively achieving 1 or more outcomes described in subsection (f) if implemented consistent with the applicable performance standards made available by the Secretary under subsection (e)(4). (7) Selecting, developing pay-for-performance contracts for, funding, and carrying out qualifying activities, in accordance with the plan developed under paragraph (6), to achieve meaningful watershed-scale outcomes. (8)(A) Quantifying the outcomes for qualifying activities. (B) Verifying that qualifying activities have been implemented consistent with applicable performance standards. (C) Providing applicable documentation to the Secretary with respect to the information quantified and verified under subparagraphs (A) and (B). (9) Monitoring qualifying activities at appropriate levels to confirm ongoing performance. (10) Other duties necessary to carry out a watershed outcomes project, as determined to be necessary by the Secretary. (e) Duties of Secretary.--Under a partnership agreement entered into under subsection (c), the Secretary shall-- (1) ensure that there is widespread support within the local community for the watershed outcomes project; (2) verify the advance watershed analytics completed by the watershed partner, to the maximum extent practicable; (3) ensure that there are made available to the public