# 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026 119-s-4949, Water Resources Development Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-4949 - Congress: 119 - Title: Water Resources Development Act of 2026 - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2026-07-13 - Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV) - Cosponsors: 4 - Policy area: Water Resources Development - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **This bill would _accelerate Corps water projects and expand funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure_.** It pairs a wide rewrite of Army Corps implementation rules with many new project authorizations and multi-year EPA funding for drinking water and wastewater programs. ## Cosponsors (4) - Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Major Corps project authorizations: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would authorize many large Corps projects with detailed cost estimates and cost shares. Examples include the Central Everglades Planning Project (~$12.3 billion total), Kentucky Lock Addition (~$2.74 billion), Chickamauga Lock Replacement (~$1.56 billion), Gulfport Harbor (~$54… - More federal help for drinking water: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would sharply expand federal support for drinking water systems. State drinking water loan funds (DWSRF) would be authorized at $3.75 billion for FY2027, $4.0 billion for FY2028, $4.25 billion for FY2029, and $4.5 billion for FY2030. The EPA would also run a point-of-use filter… - Big federal water funding boost: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would authorize large new federal funding for state and local water projects. It would authorize $3.5 billion per year for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (FY2027–FY2030), $280 million per year for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse grants, $475 million per year for the G… - Lower local shares and new credit options: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would give local sponsors new ways to lower their cash costs and speed projects. Non‑Federal sponsors could get credit for doing operation and maintenance work (up to 20% of construction costs) and seek reimbursements (capped at $10 million per sponsor and $30 million total per… - More drinking and wastewater funding: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would authorize several new and expanded EPA and water grants for FY2027–FY2030. Examples: $140 million per year for assistance to small and disadvantaged communities including PFAS work; $100 million per year for lead reduction; $50 million per year for decentralized household… - More federal help for disadvantaged communities: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would lower local cost shares for many projects that help economically disadvantaged communities. For the Rio Grande and for restoration near Cumberland, the Federal share would be 90 percent when a project benefits an economically disadvantaged community (WRDA 2020 section 160… - More lead testing money for schools: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would authorize $50 million per year for FY2027–FY2030 for voluntary school and child care lead testing and reduction grants. It would increase the program set-aside from 4 percent to 15 percent. This would expand funding for testing and cleanup in schools and child care progra… - More nonstructural flood help for homeowners: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would define nonstructural flood actions to include elevating structures, floodproofing, filling basements, and voluntary buyouts with demolition or relocation. It would extend temporary relocation assistance from 10 to 12 years for eligible elevation projects and add several n… - More water workforce and research money: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would update the America's Water Sector Workforce Initiative within one year and add cybersecurity training. It would authorize $15 million per year for workforce development for FY2027–FY2030. The bill would add the University of Arkansas to Corps research partners. It would a… - Simpler small-project permits and reviews: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require rulemaking to turn Engineer Circular 1165-2-220 into a formal regulation and start frequent briefings until rulemaking begins. It would improve Section 14 pre-application steps, require pre-application discussions, and let the Corps offer technical help. The bill… - Aquatic plant control expansion: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would expand the federal aquatic plant control program and increase the federal cost share. It would set the Federal share at 65 percent, extend the program term through 2031 where specified, add certain river basins and include Eurasian watermilfoil on the covered species list… - Faster Corps project approvals for sponsors: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would speed Army Corps project delivery and give more help to non-Federal sponsors. District commanders would be able to approve many Continuing Authority Program studies using simpler evaluation steps. Projects could use lower design maturity for class III cost estimates, and… - Faster Corps studies and planning: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require the Army Corps to speed up many named feasibility studies, re‑evaluations, and technical reports. For listed projects (for example Charleston, Juneau glacial flooding, Buffalo Bayou, Greater Providence and other named studies), the Secretary could move directly to… - Faster Corps studies, reports, and notices: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would force the Army Corps to speed planning, finish many feasibility studies, and improve notice to local sponsors. District Engineers would have to send an initial status notice within 45 days, then updates at least every 60 days and 30 days' notice for schedule changes or pa… - Grants for small systems and tribes: benefit, medium. If enacted, the EPA would get new targeted grant authority to help small and tribal water systems. The bill would authorize $15 million per year (FY2027–FY2030) for a competitive digital infrastructure grant program that prioritizes systems serving fewer than 3,300 people and caps critical water-su… - More federal funding for local restoration: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would raise or set federal authorizations and shares for many local restoration and water projects. Examples: a 90 percent federal share for C&O Canal restorations that benefit disadvantaged communities; Northeastern Minnesota authorization to $83 million; Chattahoochee program… - More funding for water and habitat programs: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would boost several environmental and coastal programs. It would raise freshwater mussel restoration authorization from $120 million to $150 million, increase the Harmful Algal Bloom program authorization to $45 million, add Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program (wi… - More water infrastructure help: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would let Clean Water loans pay for work to assess and monitor emerging contaminants like PFAS. It would add cybersecurity and natural-hazard grants to drinking-water resilience and authorize $25,000,000 per year for 2027–2030 for that program. The bill would let environmental… - Faster Corps delivery and transparency: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require the Army Corps to deliver a written implementation plan within 90 days and start recurring briefings and faster responses to congressional requests. It would create a new preconstruction planning authority with milestones and a separate account but would still req… - Deeper, more reliable waterways for shippers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary to keep the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Texas and Louisiana at its authorized depth and width when practicable. If the Secretary cannot maintain that depth, they would have to brief two Congressional committees within 30 days. The Inland Waterways U… - Navigation, dredging, and port planning changes: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would change how the Corps plans and manages dredging and port operations. Dredged material management plans must cover at least 20 years. The Corps would be directed to prefer alternative disposal methods at Mobile Harbor and minimize thin‑layer placement when practicable. The… - Credit for local land purchases: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let the non‑Federal sponsor of the Pajaro River flood project in Watsonville, California, get full credit toward their non‑Federal cost share for required land acquired in fee title when they request it. The credit would reduce the sponsor's cash contribution or in‑kind f… - New local flood projects and studies: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would authorize and reshape several local flood and water studies and projects. It would authorize the initial Waccamaw River phase and the Beattyville flood project with listed Federal and non‑Federal cost estimates. The Secretary would be able to study Greater Providence floo… - New nonstructural flood pilots and guidance: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would create new nonstructural flood planning tools and tests. It would require a Nonstructural Working Group to form within 90 days and meet at least quarterly. It would start a 10‑year pilot to allow certain elevation and wind‑risk modifications for four named coastal project… - More local restoration and monitoring: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would make a noxious-weed pilot permanent and prioritize weed control in the Upper Missouri River Basin. It would direct federal invasive-species efforts in South Dakota and authorize a study on extending federal shoreline restoration at Assateague Island. The bill would extend… - Arizona dam wildfire risk checks: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Corps periodically assess wildfire risk at federally authorized dams, reservoirs, and related infrastructure in Arizona. Assessments would look at wildfire exposure, risks to communities, post‑wildfire sediment and debris impacts, and mitigation strategies to redu… - Faster local permits and leases: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would direct the Corps to expedite local administrative actions. It would speed review of permits needed for a recreation project in South Charleston and expedite lease documentation review for the Town of Duck, North Carolina. The Corps would also be asked to coordinate and ex… - Stronger dredging and port coordination: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Corps to coordinate operations and maintenance, including dredging, with federal agencies and local partners to reduce vessel and port disruptions. The Corps must consider adding a dredged material dewatering facility in the Ashtabula Harbor plan and may maint… - More study options on federal land: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would stop the Secretary from excluding restoration measures just because they sit on land managed by another federal agency. Federal agencies could still pay to help analyze such measures, and their construction cost-share rules would remain in place. The bill would let the Co… - Release of restrictions on Plymouth Island: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary remove specified use restrictions on about 123 acres of Plymouth Island if those restrictions are not needed for the John Day Dam project. The Secretary could release limits on structures, fill, access road obligations, and certain reversionary interests… - Federal help to speed Port of Mobile: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary to coordinate with federal agencies to help goods move more safely and efficiently at the Port of Mobile and its connecting channels. The change aims to reduce delays for businesses that ship through that port. - Deauthorizations that shift local costs: cost, high. If enacted, the bill would remove federal authorization for several named project areas. It would deauthorize two specific areas of the Harlem River, the Dos Rios Ranch levee system on the San Joaquin River, the North Topsail Beach portion of a coastal project, and parts of the Los Angeles County D… - Limits federal spending on Waterbury Dam: cost, low. If enacted, the bill would cap the federal spending for the Waterbury Dam Spillway Project at $90,000,000 under the cited authority. That cap could limit federal funds for the project and shift costs or delays to local sponsors. - Local reimbursements and new cost shares: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would both help and add costs for local project sponsors. It would let the Secretary reimburse certain sponsors (Coos Bay reimbursements capped at $10 million per fiscal year and Brazos Island reimbursements to be paid promptly after each contract). At the same time, it would r… - Dam and levee safety rule changes: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would extend key dam and levee programs through 2031 and change program rules. It would extend the High Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Program and the Levee Safety Initiative reauthorizations to 2031. It would add "breachways" to emergency streambank and shoreline protecti… - New rules for land and easements: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would require an encroachment plan for Lake Eufaula and bar forcing removal of a covered encroachment unless Congress approves. The Secretary would be told to consider easements for owners next to Corps lands in North Dakota and could use easements for MRGO restoration. The bil… - Costs and relief for non-Federal sponsors: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would require non-Federal sponsors to remove and pay for hazardous-substance cleanup at certain Great Lakes restoration project sites and keep those costs separate from the federal project total. If the Governor of Illinois asks to end a specific Rend Lake water contract, the S… - Changes to water program funding: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would change several drinking-water program funding levels for FY2027–FY2030. Technical assistance for small public water systems would be authorized at $26 million per year. Emergency drinking water grants would be authorized at $30 million per year. The Midsize and Large drin… ## Related bills - 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act - 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 - 119-s-1552: Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 - 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 - 119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 - 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-s-4949 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4949) ## Related - [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748) - [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025) - [119-s-1552: Living Donor Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1552) - [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241) - [119-s-237: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-237) - [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949 (as of 2026-09-10).