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H.R.487 / 109th Congress

To impose limitations on the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to claim title or other rights to water absent specific direction of law or to abrogate, injure, or otherwise impair any right to the use of any quantity of water.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 1, 2005

Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from claiming title or other rights to water in a State, other than for Indian reservation lands, absent specific direction of law, or from exercising authority so as to abrogate, injure, or otherwise impair any right to the use of any quantity of water: (1) that has been allocated in accordance with provisions of the Department of Justice Appropriations Act relating to suits for the adjudication of water rights by or pursuant to interstate compact and by a decision of the United States Supreme Court; (2) by requiring a change in the nature of use or the transfer of any right to use water or creating a limitation on the exercise of any right to use water; or (3) by modifying the delivery, diversion, nondiversion, allocation, or storage of any water to be delivered by contract.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2] · R–NM

Committees

  • Natural Resources Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Mar 26, 2024. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.487 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.487 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.487 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.487 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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