- The Senate released its bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 on July 13, with a committee vote set for Wednesday, July 16.
- The Senate bill would block the Army Corps of Engineers from pausing or canceling projects that Congress has already approved.
- More than 30 industry, farm, and local government groups have publicly backed the House version of the bill.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — Congress took two big steps toward passing the nation’s most important water infrastructure law, and communities across the Colorado River Basin have plenty of reasons to pay attention.
On July 13, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026
, (WRDA 2026) a bipartisan bill that Congress traditionally renews every two years. The next day, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was scheduled to consider its own version, known as H.R. 9497, which was first released on June 26.
Think of the Water Resources Development Act as the nation’s to-do list for water. It tells the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which dams, levees, harbors, and river restoration projects to study and build. It also touches on drinking water, drought planning, and flood protection in every state.
What the Senate Bill Would Do.
According to reporting by Miranda Willson of E&E News, the Senate bill would authorize eight new Army Corps of Engineers projects to reduce flood risk, restore ecosystems, and improve ports and navigation. E&E News also reported that the bill covers a broader range of issues than the House version, including renewed federal funding for drinking water and sewer systems.
One provision stands out politically. E&E News reported that the bill would bar the Army Corps from pausing, terminating, or deferring work on projects or studies that Congress has already approved. That language follows an episode during last fall’s government shutdown, when the White House budget office ordered the agency to pause and cancel billions of dollars’ worth of authorized projects in Democratic-leaning states.
The bill would also require regular briefings to Congress. As E&E News noted, the legislation states that “those briefings must include updates on the Corps’ implementation plan and on any provisions from current or prior WRDAs that remain unimplemented, including revised timelines and explanations for delays.”
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from West Virginia who chairs the committee, praised the package. “This bill includes key wins for West Virginia and all fifty states. I hope to see it move forward with strong bipartisan support during Wednesday’s business meeting,” Capito said in a statement.
The committee’s top Democrat, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, agreed. “The Ocean State stands to benefit much from this bill, which supports investments in safe drinking water and wastewater systems as well as flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation,” Whitehouse said.
Wins for the West.
A section-by-section summary released by the Senate committee shows several items that matter to Western and Colorado River Basin states.
The bill would extend the Army Corps’ authority to fast-track small water storage projects through 2031, expand the Western Rural Water program to additional states, and update rules for acequias, the historic community irrigation ditches of New Mexico and southern Colorado. Arizona would get help with wildfire risk assessments, an issue closely tied to flooding and water quality after burns. The bill also includes provisions for Lake Tahoe on the Nevada and California border, several California projects, and a Rio Grande environmental program covering Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
On the drinking water side, the summary shows the bill would renew funding through 2030 for the major federal loan programs that help cities and small towns pay for water and sewer upgrades. It would create a pilot program to distribute point-of-use filters to lower contaminants in drinking water, and it would make treating PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” an eligible use of those federal funds.
The bill would also direct the Environmental Protection Agency to update its rules so that aquifers not used for drinking water could be exempted when companies seek permits for underground carbon dioxide storage wells.
Money Requests Under the Microscope.
The Senate committee also disclosed on July 13 which senators requested specific water infrastructure spending for their states. These requests, known as congressionally directed spending, involve new environmental infrastructure projects and changes to existing ones.
The committee said it followed Senate rules for handling the requests, “including requiring all Senators to submit financial certification disclosures attesting that neither they nor their immediate family has any financial interest in any of the items requested.”
Broad Support for the House Bill.
The House version is drawing wide backing. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released statements from more than 30 supporting organizations, ranging from port authorities and farm groups to county governments and water agencies.
The American Farm Bureau Federation pointed to provisions “maintaining and prioritizing water supply and drought mitigation for impacted communities.” The National Association of Counties highlighted “two new Continuing Authorities Programs for drought resilience and flood risk management that will provide counties with new opportunities to upgrade levees and flood control projects.”
The National Water Resources Association, which represents many Western water users, said it “appreciates the Committee’s continued focus on locally driven projects and reforms that improve the ability of non-federal interests to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”
What Happens Next.
Both bills still have a long road ahead. Each committee must approve its version, then the full House and Senate must vote, and finally negotiators will need to blend the two bills into one. If history is any guide, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will be motivated to finish the job. The two-year rhythm of this law has held for more than a decade, and dozens of communities, from Gulf Coast ports to high desert irrigation districts, are counting on it holding again.
