Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-523.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 21, 2022

Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

This bill reauthorizes the Department of the Interior to fund or participate in pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs through FY2026.

Interior administers these pilot projects to address the effects of drought conditions on the Colorado River Basin, which includes the Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and Lower Basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada).

The bill also requires Interior to submit an updated report to Congress by the end of FY2027 on the effectiveness of the pilot projects and a recommendation on whether to continue the program.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] · D–CO

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Dec 1, 2022
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-523.
Jul 21, 2022
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 21, 2022
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Jul 21, 2022 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 9173 · Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

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

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Objective

Analyze S.4579 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.4579, 117th Congress: Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4579

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2022-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s4579/BILLS-117s4579is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:18:37Z. 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.4579 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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Examine S.4579 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.4579, 117th Congress: Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4579

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2022-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s4579/BILLS-117s4579is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:18:37Z. 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.4579 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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Examine S.4579 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.4579, 117th Congress: Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4579

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2022-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s4579/BILLS-117s4579is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:18:37Z. 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.4579 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.4579, 117th Congress: Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4579

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2022-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s4579/BILLS-117s4579is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:18:37Z. 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.4579 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.