to strengthening water security in the West.
Strengthen water security in the West.
Occurrences
H.R. 331 was introduced on January 13, 2025, by Rep. Russ Fulcher (R–ID). The bill would amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to allow holders of existing rights-of-way, easements, permits, or other authorizations granted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use existing rights-of-way for aquifer recharge on behalf of third parties without further authorization.
Evidence
Fulcher said H.R. 331 addressed "water security" in the West, passed the House, and advanced to the Senate; the bill would streamline aquifer recharge by allowing existing rights-of-way to be used without additional federal authorization.
The committee report says H.R. 331 was introduced by Rep. Russ Fulcher, heard in subcommittee on January 23, 2025, and ordered favorably reported by the Natural Resources Committee on February 12, 2025.
At the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries hearing on H.R. 331, witnesses discussed that drought and water security had intensified and that the bill would clarify and streamline aquifer-recharge water transport across federal land.
Assessments
Fulcher materially advanced western water-security legislation by introducing H.R. 331, moving it through committee, and securing House passage, which shows serious effort toward the promise. However, the evidence does not show final enactment or a completed, durable change in western water security, so this is not full delivery.
Fulcher introduced and advanced H.R. 331, a federal bill aimed at improving western water security by streamlining aquifer-recharge conveyances across federal land. The bill received a hearing, was favorably reported by the House Natural Resources Committee, and passed the House in May 2025, all during his current House term. However, the available record does not show Senate passage, enactment, or implementation of the promised water-security outcome. This supports serious same-term effort, but not full delivery of the campaign promise.