During the past 50 years over 20 commissions or committees have looked into national water policies and problems. Some were composed of personnel of the executive branch of Government only, others were members of the legislative branch, and still others included members from both branches of the Government and from the public at large. Some were established by Presidential directive while others came into being as a result of congressional action. All were composed of men having a sincere interest in various phases of the water problem, either Federal, State, or local. The Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress was requested to review them and summarize their contents briefly for the committee's. The following review, discussing the circumstances under which the previous commissions and committees were established, their membership, aims, objectives, types of studies undertaken, and their recommendations, was prepared by Barbara Jibrin of the Legislative Reference Service in response to the committee's request.