The U.S. House has approved a measure that will provide federal funding for three water projects in Hawai'i.

The Hawai'i Water Resources Act of 2005 now goes to the White House, where President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law, said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i. The Senate passed the bill in July.

Abercrombie said the measure will provide money for projects that are expected to meet the state's growing water needs.

"The best time to achieve solutions is before a crisis," Abercrombie said. "The next time a drought comes, it may be too late to act."

Abercrombie said the new law will authorize federal funding to cover up to 25 percent of the design, planning and construction costs of the following projects: