U.S. Congressman David Young is trying to do his part to enhance a hot topic in the state of Iowa: water quality. Young recently introduced the WATER (Water and Targeted Environmental Research) Act to help improve transparency in water quality research. The act’s intent is to assist land grant universities operating extension services and other ag experiment stations in accessing funds from the Conservation Innovation Grant Program.

Young explains how his bill would increase overall transparency in water quality research.

“Once the research gets done, there’s not a real clearing house out there to allow people to see it. So my bill cuts red tape and it also harnesses the capabilities of Iowa State and other land grant universities and entities to really get on with the research fast and then it opens it up in a real transparent way. There’s a database where everybody: farmers, producers, conservation groups, etc. can see these innovative conservation practices…I think that transparency is very important for folks to study and share and implement.”

The legislation has currently been referred to committee and is co-sponsored by Senator Kristi Noem (R) of South Dakota.