A bill to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the "Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act", by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 701.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Sep 20, 2004

Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to construct and maintain a test and evaluation facility capable of processing at least 100,000 gallons of water per day at the Tularosa Basin in Otero County, New Mexico.

Requires the facility to be used to research new desalination technologies to determine the most-technologically-efficient and cost-effective means for producing potable water from saline or other unsuitable water.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with Sandia National Laboratory to develop a desalination technology plan; and (2) construct the facility according to recommendations of such plan.

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Instructs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to: (1) enter into an agreement for the operation of the facility and the conduct of research under this Act; (2) establish a technical advisory panel; and (3) undertake research and development of desalination technologies in addition to the program carried out at the facility.

Requires the Secretary to dispose of all water produced by the facility under contract with at least one community in Otero County, but only after Sandia notifies the Secretary that the water is of a consistent, reliable quality. Directs that any water provided by the Secretary to such a community be provided at a cost not to exceed its fair market value. Allows the Secretary to use sums collected to assist in paying the facility's operational costs.

Authorizes appropriations, subject to specified limitations.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM] · R–NM

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 20, 2004
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 701.
Sep 20, 2004
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-347.
Sep 20, 2004
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-347.
Jul 14, 2004
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 17, 2004
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-668.
Jun 9, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7550)
Jun 9, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7549-7550)
Jun 9, 2003
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Reported to Senate · Sep 20, 2004 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Jun 9, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

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: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1211 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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Discuss S.1211, 108th Congress: A bill to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the "Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act", by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1211

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2004-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s1211/BILLS-108s1211rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1211 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1211 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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Discuss S.1211, 108th Congress: A bill to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the "Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act", by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1211

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2004-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s1211/BILLS-108s1211rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1211 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1211 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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Discuss S.1211, 108th Congress: A bill to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the "Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act", by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1211

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2004-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s1211/BILLS-108s1211rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1211 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1211 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1211, 108th Congress: A bill to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the "Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act", by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1211

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2004-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s1211/BILLS-108s1211rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1211 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.