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PART C-2 003J17 STATE GRANT PROGRAM FY 1980 Grants The Council's Director has invited the Governors to apply for financial assistance under the Council's grant program to the States for Fiscal Year 1980. The program recently received a significant increase in funding. Appropriations that had averaged $3 million annually since FY 1967 were raised to $20 million for FY 1980. In February 1979, President Carter proposed new legislation to greatly expand both the scope and the funding for the Council's grant program. In September, funds were appropriated, and the Senate passed authorizing legislation for the new program. The House, how- ever, has not scheduled floor action although the Committees involved have reported. In a letter to the Governors, the Director stated that because the probability of authorizing legislation passing the current session is slight, the Council is inviting State partici- pation under the current authority for grants for State water planning activities. He explained that while the new authorizing legislation has not been enacted, the Council's authority under the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 is sufficient to issue grant funds. The action was taken because States which have relied on the funds over several years have indicated that they soon would have to begin to layoff personnel as a result of the delay in funding. The Carter Administration originally requested $50 million yearly for State water management and water conservation technical assistance as a part of the water policy reforms announced in June 1978. The Senate authorized $25 million for water management and $10 million for water conservation technical assistance in September. The House Committees have reported $10 million for water management and $10 million for water conservation technical assistance. The Congress appropriated $21 million for grants to the States under the extant authority of P.L. 89-80, Title III. The Administration will continue to press for authorization to meet the President's request for a grant program to the States which in- cludes a much broader scope of State activities than the current authority which is limited to water planning activities only. If the request is approved by the Congress in FY 1980, the States will be asked to modify their applications to meet the new program. The States have until February 15, 1980, to prepare applications for water planning financial assistance. Funds will be issued as soon as applications are received and approved. The grants, which must be matched by non-Federal funds, will average approximately $363,000 per State. C-13 ~