Citing the critical connection between energy and water, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill (S.1971) that would require the Departments of Energy and Interior to form a new group charged with addressing federal policy on the issue. The group would be co-chaired by the secretaries of Energy and Interior, but would also involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, EPA, the Council on Environmental Quality, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the President’s Office of Management and Budget.  

The new committee would identify significant federal actions related to the linkages between energy and water; improving the coordination of research and development on the issue; enhancing data collection and analysis; and identifying opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together more effectively on the issue. No hearings or legislative action on the bill have been scheduled at this time.