All Roll Calls
Yes: 378 • No: 32
HR6422119th Congress
American Water Stewardship Act
Sponsored By: Representative Stauber
Passed House
Summary
Reauthorizes and restructures key regional water restoration programs to extend funding windows and change how projects are paid for. It lengthens authorization timelines for several regional initiatives and retools the San Francisco Bay program's funding rules and implementation approach.
Show full summary
- Regional programs: Extends the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative authorization through fiscal years 2026 through 2031 and pushes Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin program authorizations through 2031, keeping those restoration efforts eligible for federal support.
- San Francisco Bay funding and partners: Changes the SF Bay Restoration Program from a grant-centric model to a broader implementation approach that allows interagency agreements, contracts, and other funding mechanisms with federal, state, local, special districts, public or nonprofit agencies, and other public or private entities. Projects would be limited to a maximum 75 percent federal share and require at least a 25 percent non-Federal contribution.
- Coastal monitoring and estuary rules: Expands and tightens National Estuary Program provisions, adjusts coastal recreation water quality monitoring authorities, allows use of funds to identify specific contamination sources at beaches and similar access points, and adds targeted limits on fund use and reporting requirements.
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Longer support for major water programs
If enacted, the bill would keep key regional water restoration programs authorized through 2031. The Great Lakes program would be authorized for each year 2026 through 2031. The Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin programs would also run through 2031. The bill would not set exact funding amounts.
More beach water testing and tracking
If enacted, the bill would extend beach water quality grants for 2026 through 2031. States and local governments would be able to use grants to find specific pollution sources at public beaches and access points. Any data on those sources would need to be included in required reports. EPA guidance would be updated to reflect new testing technology. The law would expand which waters count, including estuaries, river mouths, nearby shallow waters, and water on beaches.
No water program funds to foreign-linked groups
If enacted, from FY2026 through FY2031, EPA would be barred from giving certain water program funds to non‑federal groups tied to a foreign country of concern. EPA also would not be able to fund projects done with those countries. This would apply to programs such as Great Lakes, estuaries, San Francisco Bay, and beach water quality grants.
Mississippi Sound added, with funding limits
If enacted, the bill would add Mississippi Sound, Mississippi, to the federal estuary program list. EPA would not be able to use program funds in fiscal year 2026 to put this addition in place. In fiscal year 2027, EPA could act only if total program funding that year is at least $850,000 more than in 2024. The program’s authorization would run through 2031.
New cost-share rules for San Francisco Bay
If enacted, the bill would let EPA fund San Francisco Bay projects using agreements or contracts with many public or private groups. Federal help for a project would be limited to 75% of total cost. Non‑federal recipients would need to cover at least 25% from non‑federal sources. This would broaden who can receive funds while setting clear cost‑share rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Stauber
MN • R
Cosponsors
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 3/24/2026
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Yes: 378 • No: 32