Water Research Optimization Act of 2025

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/s/1523
Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

ID: B001319

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 196.

October 21, 2025

Introduced

πŸ“ Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

πŸ›οΈ

Committee Review

πŸ—³οΈ

Floor Action

βœ…

Passed Senate

πŸ›οΈ

House Review

πŸŽ‰

Passed Congress

πŸ–ŠοΈ

Presidential Action

βš–οΈ

Became Law

πŸ“š How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in bureaucratic doublespeak and legislative legerdemain. Let's dissect this Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The stated purpose is to "modify operations" of the National Water Center within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But don't be fooled – this bill is a Trojan horse for expanding NOAA's scope and influence. The real objective is to consolidate power, increase funding, and justify more bureaucratic bloat.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill amends Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 10371) in several ways:

1. It inserts the National Water Center within the Office of Water Prediction of the National Weather Service, effectively creating a new bureaucratic silo. 2. It adds new responsibilities for the Under Secretary, including supervising River Forecast Centers and coordinating with other federal agencies. 3. It redesignates subsections and reorganizes existing language to create the illusion of reform.

These changes are mere window dressing, designed to obscure the bill's true intentions: expanding NOAA's authority and creating more opportunities for pork-barrel spending.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

* NOAA and its various centers and networks * The National Weather Service * Federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Geological Survey, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) * Lobbyists and special interest groups representing these agencies and industries

**Potential Impact & Implications**

This bill will:

1. Increase bureaucratic complexity and inefficiency 2. Expand NOAA's influence and budget 3. Create new opportunities for pork-barrel spending and earmarks 4. Further entrench the interests of federal agencies and their lobbyists 5. Do little to address actual water research or optimization needs

In short, this bill is a classic example of legislative malpractice: it prioritizes bureaucratic self-interest over meaningful reform or problem-solving.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Bureaucratic Creep," where the primary goal is to expand agency power and influence rather than address actual problems. Treatment: Apply a healthy dose of skepticism, followed by a strong antidote of transparency and accountability.

Related Topics

Transportation & Infrastructure Federal Budget & Appropriations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence State & Local Government Affairs Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Civil Rights & Liberties
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

πŸ’° Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

Congress 119 β€’ 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$82,000
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$40,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$34,700

No PAC contributions found

1
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
2 transactions
$6,600
2
OTOE-MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
2 transactions
$6,600
3
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
2 transactions
$6,600
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
4 transactions
$4,500
5
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
6
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$2,500
7
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$2,000
8
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
9
BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
SINGER, PAUL
2 transactions
$6,600
2
STRONG, MIRANDA
1 transaction
$5,000
3
STEPHENS, TYLER
1 transaction
$3,300
4
LAMPTON, III, LESLIE B.
1 transaction
$3,300
5
LAMPTON, ROBERT HOWARD
1 transaction
$3,300
6
SIMMONS, KYLE
1 transaction
$3,300
7
LEOPOLD, ROBIN
1 transaction
$3,300
8
COOK, LYN S.
1 transaction
$3,300
9
CAMERON, ARTHUR
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

ID: W000800

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 8, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
May 3, 2024
3
FIELD, MARSHALL
THE OLD MOUNTAIN COMPANY, INC. β€’ EXECUTIVE
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
May 18, 2023
4
RECHNITZ, JOAN
Individual RED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
5
RECHNITZ, JOAN
Individual RED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
6
GORDON, PATRICIA
SELF β€’ MD
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
May 22, 2024
7
STILLER, ROBERT
NOT EMPLOYED β€’ NOT EMPLOYED
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Sep 22, 2024
8
STILLER, ROBERT
NOT EMPLOYED β€’ NOT EMPLOYED
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Sep 22, 2024
9
KALKUT, CRAIG
WEST FRONT STRATEGIES β€’ GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
May 3, 2023
10
SCHWARTZ, MARTIN
MINILEC SERVICE β€’ CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Individual CARMEL, CA
$2,000
May 18, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 22 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $87,300

Top Donors - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

9 Orgs1 Committee9 Individuals