The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released bipartisan legislation Monday that seeks to address major water infrastructure priorities and bar the Trump administration from canceling congressionally authorized projects.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 would authorize eight new Army Corps of Engineers projects to reduce flood risk, restore ecosystems, and improve ports and navigation.
The new Senate bill addresses a broader suite of issues when compared to companion legislation released in the House last month and up for markup in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday.
In addition to directing the Army Corps to begin new water infrastructure studies, the Senate bill would reauthorize federal funds for drinking water and sewer systems and for EPA ecosystem programs in the Great Lakes, Long Island Sound and other regions.
It would also direct EPA to revise its regulations on carbon capture wells to exempt aquifers that are not used for drinking supplies, according to a detailed summary.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the legislation would ensure the Army Corps has resources to “continue its critical work nationwide.” Her committee is set to mark up the bill Wednesday.
“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.
Ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said the legislation shows bipartisan support for bolstering water infrastructure.
“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.
The legislation includes some provisions that may be at odds with Trump administration priorities. Most notably, the bill explicitly bars the corps from pausing, terminating or deferring work on projects or studies.
During the government shutdown last fall, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought ordered the agency to pause and cancel billions of dollars’ worth of authorized projects in blue states.
The legislation would also require briefings 180 days after the bill’s passage and every 90 days thereafter until leaders “determine that the bill and prior WRDAs have been fully implemented.”
“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,” the bill states.
Other provisions seek to expand the agency’s focus on nonstructural solutions to flooding, such as home elevations and buyouts, and to create an EPA pilot program to provide filters to communities with high levels of “forever chemicals” in drinking water.
