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119-hr-7129119th CongressWALLET

Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act

Sponsored By: Representative Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

In Committee

Summary

Federal support for water power research and demonstration is reauthorized and expanded to accelerate marine energy and hydropower R&D, domestic manufacturing, and workforce development.

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  • Manufacturers and industry: Targets U.S.-based production of composite and additively manufactured marine energy components through partnerships with regional universities and advanced manufacturing facilities.
  • Workforce and education: Funds training, student-led research, fellowships, and curriculum with outreach to Tribal Colleges, Alaska Native serving institutions, maritime academies, and regional workforce hubs.
  • Grid, resilience, and communities: Expands hydropower and marine energy work to improve grid integration, licensing, environmental and economic impact methods, microgrids, desalination, disaster recovery, aquaculture, and testing systems for extreme tidal and icing conditions.

*Authorizes $300 million per year for 2026–2030, including $200 million for marine energy and $100 million for hydropower, up from $186.6 million per year, increasing authorized federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Broader water power R&D goals

If enacted, the bill would broaden what federal water power research can cover. It would add objectives such as generation and pumped storage performance, project delivery, cybersecurity, hydrology and environmental methods, and systems for testing and validating reliability. For marine energy it would add extreme tidal and icing testing, allow outputs like hydrogen and other fuels, expand allowed applications (for example microgrids, desalination, data centers, aquaculture, subsea power), and emphasize scalable U.S. manufacturing of composite and additively manufactured components.

More funding for water power

If enacted, the bill would authorize $300 million each year for FY2026–FY2030 for water power research and demonstrations. Each year $200 million would be for marine energy RD&D and $100 million would be for hydropower RD&D. This is an authorization level and would allow federal programs to seek project proposals and grants under that funding cap.

Expanded marine and hydro workforce

If enacted, the bill would expand workforce development for marine energy and hydropower. Programs would partner with regional workforce hubs, colleges, Tribal Colleges and Universities, maritime academies, and nonprofits. The bill would support education, recruitment, competitions, graduate research fellowships, student-led research, and training to grow technicians and researchers.

Coordination with Tribal and trade partners

If enacted, the bill would direct the Energy Secretary to seek coordination with Alaska Native Corporations, the Department of State, the International Trade Administration (Commerce), the National Sea Grant College Program, National Laboratories, and other federal and domestic partners. The goal would be to use existing ocean observing networks and coastal innovation efforts to support water power programs and regional projects.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

  • Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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