Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 21, 2026

S 4350: Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026

The Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026 creates a new grant program within the Environmental Protection Agency to support water quality and ecosystem projects in the coastal watersheds of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. This initiative allows eligible recipients, including state and local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and universities, to receive funding for activities such as reducing pollution, restoring habitats, and improving stormwater management. The bill authorizes up to $30 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for these projects, with a maximum federal share of 75 percent and specific limits on funds used for technical assistance and administrative costs. Additionally, the act requires the EPA Administrator to coordinate federal agency efforts and provide necessary staff to implement the program effectively.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates EPA grants to reduce pollution, restore habitats, and improve stormwater management in coastal watersheds.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate May 13, 2026

S 4506: Advancing Water Reuse Act

The Advancing Water Reuse Act creates a new federal tax credit to encourage investment in water recycling infrastructure. This 30 percent credit applies to businesses and utilities that install, replace, or modify onsite water recycling systems in industrial, manufacturing, data center, or food processing facilities. Eligible projects also include those that replace freshwater with recycled municipal water or build new municipal water recycling systems. To qualify, the construction of the project must begin within ten years of the bill's enactment, and the credit is calculated based on the cost of tangible property placed in service during the taxable year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new federal tax credit to encourage water recycling infrastructure investment, directly advancing fiscal management and providing tax relief.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates tax credits for water recycling infrastructure, conserving freshwater resources and reducing environmental strain.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Drinking Water Recycling Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4475: Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026

The Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026 streamlines federal permitting for energy projects by reducing environmental review requirements and setting strict deadlines for agency actions. It modifies the Clean Water Act to limit state authority in certifying water discharges, mandates that certain energy and carbon dioxide pipeline projects be exempt from NEPA reviews, and establishes a 120-day limit for courts to decide lawsuits challenging these permits. The bill also extends nuclear reactor licenses to a maximum of 60 years, exempts new nuclear reactors at existing sites from NEPA compliance, and restricts judicial review of tribal trust resource projects to claims brought by the tribes themselves. Additionally, it creates a 150-day statute of limitations for most NEPA-related lawsuits and requires courts to issue final decisions on environmental challenges within 180 days.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill streamlines permitting, reduces environmental reviews, and exempts pipelines from NEPA to accelerate energy project development.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill weakens environmental protections by reducing review requirements, limiting state authority, and exempting pipelines from NEPA.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear Pipeline Infrastructure Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4536: Protecting America's Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act of 2026

The Protecting America's Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act of 2026 expands the existing Safe Drinking Water Act to include extreme temperatures as a specific risk factor for midsize and large drinking water systems. By amending Section 1459F, the bill requires these systems to consider heat-related threats alongside traditional hazards like flooding when planning infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the legislation updates the program's funding timeline, shifting the covered period from 2022 through 2026 to 2027 through 2032.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by requiring water systems to address climate-related heat threats, enhancing resilience against extreme temperatures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Apr 13, 2026

HR 8254: Water Access and Affordability Act

The Water Access and Affordability Act establishes a federal program, administered by the EPA, to provide financial assistance to low-income households for their drinking water and sanitary sewer bills. States, large water systems, or Indian Tribes can receive grants to implement these programs, offering aid for bill payments, debt relief, and water efficiency improvements. The bill includes provisions to simplify enrollment, such as automatic enrollment and self-attestation, and prohibits service disconnections for participating households. Additionally, it revises federal State Revolving Loan Fund programs for water infrastructure, requiring states to increase transparency, public engagement, and prioritize assistance for disadvantaged communities. This includes public review of funding plans, reporting on the socioeconomic impact of projects, and expediting aid to communities with affordability challenges.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes water efficiency improvements and supports sustainable water access through EPA-administered grants, aligning with environmental conservation goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Apr 16, 2026

HR 8195: Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

This bill establishes a regional management framework for double-crested cormorants across four U.S. flyways, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to develop plans within 180 days that specify allowed hunting methods, time periods, and authorized entities including state and tribal agencies, lake managers, and pond managers. The framework must ensure cormorant populations remain sustainable while addressing impacts on fisheries, vegetation, other bird species, human safety, water quality, and endangered species. The bill mandates population surveys every five years and requires the management plans to be reviewed and updated every five years based on survey results and current data.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill aims to manage cormorant populations to protect fisheries, vegetation, and water quality, which are environmental concerns. Framework ensures sustainable populations while addressing ecological impacts.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Mar 20, 2026

HR 8027: Advanced Wastewater Treatment Assistance Act of 2026

This bill establishes a federal grant program to help states fund advanced wastewater treatment projects, with $1 billion authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The Environmental Protection Agency will distribute funds based on a formula, requiring states to contribute at least 50 percent of project costs unless the project serves disadvantaged communities, which are exempt from this requirement. At least 49 percent of the funding must go to projects serving disadvantaged communities, rural or tribal facilities, or regional water providers that benefit multiple disadvantaged areas. The legislation also requires the EPA to conduct a study with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to evaluate how well advanced wastewater treatment technologies remove emerging contaminants like nanomaterials and certain chemicals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 billion in federal grants for wastewater treatment projects, directly funding public infrastructure and environmental programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds advanced wastewater treatment projects to improve water quality and reduce pollution, directly supporting environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4234: Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2026

The Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2026 amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to expand Federal support for local watershed projects that address erosion, flooding, drought, and water quality issues. The bill defines "multibenefit works of improvement" as projects that deliver at least two public benefits, such as improved fish habitat, water conservation, flood risk reduction, or renewable energy production, and requires that at least 20 percent of project benefits relate to agriculture or conservation. It streamlines the approval process by delegating decision-making authority to State Conservationists and sets a 45-day deadline for the Secretary of Agriculture to approve or disapprove applications, while also requiring notification to Congress for projects exceeding $50 million in Federal funding. The legislation allocates at least 50 percent of available funds to multibenefit projects, increases the maximum loan amount to $10 million, and introduces new conditions for Federal assistance, including requirements for land acquisition, water rights, and repayment plans for future water storage demands.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill defines multibenefit works to include renewable energy production and requires 20% of project benefits to be renewable energy, indicating support for energy infrastructure.65% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands federal support for watershed projects addressing erosion, flooding, drought, and water quality issues, promoting environmental protection and natural resource conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 7978: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes and expands the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, which provides federal grants to local communities and Indian tribes for watershed restoration and management projects. It updates the program's definition to explicitly include Indian tribes as eligible recipients and increases the maximum annual grant amount from $100,000 to $150,000 for a minimum of three years. The legislation also adds provisions allowing grant continuations for up to two additional years based on satisfactory performance and enables multiple grant applications per year to increase funding opportunities. Finally, it authorizes $40 million in federal funding annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases federal grant funding for watershed management programs, expanding eligibility and raising maximum grant amounts.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill reauthorizes and expands funding for watershed restoration and management, explicitly including Indian tribes and increasing grant amounts to protect natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 4181: Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act

This bill, known as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the discharge of pre-production plastic pellets and related materials into wastewater and runoff from specific industrial facilities. It requires the EPA to issue new rules within 60 days that prohibit these discharges from factories that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, as well as from facilities regulated under existing federal water pollution regulations. The law mandates that these new restrictions be included in all wastewater and stormwater permits issued by the EPA and state programs, as well as in performance standards for affected industrial point sources. This legislation directly impacts manufacturers and distributors of plastic pellets and aims to prevent plastic pollution from entering water systems during the production and packaging stages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates EPA to ban plastic pellet discharge into wastewater, directly reducing pollution and protecting water quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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