Why It Matters

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) advanced the Water Resources Development Act 2026 on July 15, marking another chapter in Congress's consistent bipartisan approach to infrastructure. The bill authorizes nearly $7 billion in EPA programs. The committee simultaneously considered Kevin Lilly's nomination as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife to manage the nation's water resources and conservation priorities.

The business meeting proceeded with opening statements from Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) before moving to consideration of the legislation and nomination.

The Biennial Water Resources Cycle

Congress has authorized Army Corps projects on a biennial cycle for over a decade, and the Water Resources Development Act 2026 continues that pattern. Since 2014, the EPW committee has maintained a biennial schedule of passing bipartisan water resources bills, establishing predictability for infrastructure planning across the country.

The committee received a significant number of requests from colleagues regarding the bill's provisions. The legislation consists of two divisions: Division A provides biennial water resources legislation for the United States Corps of Engineers, while Division B reauthorizes water infrastructure programs and geographic programs under EPA purview.

Division A: Army Corps Infrastructure Focus

The Water Resources Development Act 2026 authorizes two new feasibility studies for the Corps to address flood risk in northern and southern West Virginia. The bill also provides support for future projects identified by the Corps' feasibility study for flood risk management in the Upper Gondot River Basin and directs the Corps to expedite the ongoing feasibility study for the Canal River Basin. Additionally, it directs the Corps to expedite projects in Milton and at the Bluestone Dam in Hinton.

The legislation establishes new authorities for the Corps to help expedite the delivery of small but impactful water resource projects in West Virginia and enhances existing authorities that support drinking and wastewater projects in the state. These provisions reflect regional priorities while maintaining the bill's national scope.

The bill includes reforms from the Elevate Flood Prone Communities Act to protect communities that benefit from the Corps' work on non-structural projects. It provides for voluntary buyouts and temporary relocation assistance for structure elevation projects. The legislation also includes a pilot program to expand the scope of eligible costs for certain structure elevation projects, including the Rhode Island coastline and Pawkatuck River projects.

Division B: EPA Programs and Water Infrastructure

The Water Resources Development Act 2026 increases the annual authorized funding levels for drinking water and clean water state revolving funds. EPA estimates indicate that every dollar spent through these state revolving funds produces $30 directly in communities, amplifying the economic impact of federal investment.

The bill provides resources to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in water systems and supports the EPA's water workforce development initiatives. It creates a pilot program to put point of use filtration systems in homes to help mitigate PFAS and lead exposure, addressing emerging contaminants that threaten public health.

The legislation reauthorizes the EPA's geographic programs, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. It reauthorizes the Southeast New England program and includes reauthorizations for microplastic remediation grants from Save RCs 2.0. The bill enhances the National Estuaries Program.

For Rhode Island specifically, the Water Resources Development Act 2026 authorizes core assistance to address water resources challenges including hydrilla infestations, breachway erosion, fish passage on the lower Blackstone River, and pilings removal in the Providence River.

According to the National Association of Counties, projects authorized by the 2026 WRDA bill will enhance the nation's economic competitiveness by ensuring continued investment in strong infrastructure and continued access to clean and safe drinking water for communities across the country.

The bill will improve the digitization and cybersecurity of water utilities and provides targeted assistance to small and disadvantaged communities. It supports environmental restoration efforts to combat pollution in waterways.

Kevin Lilly's Assistant Secretary Nomination

The committee also considered the nomination of Kevin Lilly of Texas to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife at the U.S. Department of Interior. Lilly brings decades of leadership experience from the private sector, state government, the military, and the Department of Interior. As Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, Lilly would provide senior policy leadership for both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

Political Stakes and Bipartisan Support

The back-to-back unanimous committee votes in both the House and Senate on WRDA 2026 signal unusually strong bipartisan support for the legislation. This consensus reflects the longstanding tradition of water resources development as a nonpartisan issue, transcending typical partisan divides.

The legislation carries particular significance for regional interests. The recently deceased senator Lindsey Graham was a member of the EPW committee, and worked with the Corps on studies and projects to address coastal storm flooding and inland flooding in Charleston and the Charleston Peninsula. His advocacy for water resources improvements in South Carolina exemplified the committee's attention to regional priorities within a national framework.

What's Next

The committee's advancement of both the bill and Lilly's nomination sets the stage for broader Senate action on these priorities.

The Trump administration supports infrastructure development as a policy priority. The Water Resources Development Act 2026 aligns with the administration's emphasis on maintaining and expanding the nation's infrastructure capacity.

The legislation represents Congress's continued commitment to predictable, biennial reauthorizations of water resources programs, and the bill has cleared a significant procedural hurdle on its path to becoming law.

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