43 U.S.C. § 377a — Limitation on use of funds where organizations or individuals are in arrears on contract charges

This section limits how the Bureau of Reclamation can spend some of its money. Starting October 2, 1992, funds appropriated to the Bureau of Reclamation for operation and maintenance — whether in this Act or in later Energy and Water Development Appropriations Acts — cannot be used for the particular benefit of certain land. This limit does not apply to money that comes from advances paid by water users themselves. The limit covers land in three situations: (a) Land within the boundaries of an irrigation district. (b) Land belonging to any member of a water users' organization. (c) Land belonging to any individual. In each case, the block only kicks in when the district, organization, or individual is in arrears — meaning behind on payments — for more than twelve months on charges owed under a contract with the United States. That contract has to be one made under laws the Bureau of Reclamation administers. In short: if an irrigation district, a water users' organization, or an individual person owes more than a year's worth of overdue payments on a Bureau of Reclamation contract, the Bureau generally cannot use its operation and maintenance money — other than money advanced by water users — to give special benefit to that land.