H.R. 6422
American Water Stewardship Act
Sponsor: Pete Stauber
3 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
American Water Stewardship Act
This bill reauthorizes several water quality protection and restoration programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and makes related requirements.
Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Long Island Sound Partnership program, the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, the National Estuary Program, and the BEACH Act program.
The bill also modifies some of those programs. For example, the bill modifies the National Estuary Program, including by establishing the Mississippi Sound as an estuary of national significance that may receive support under the program. It also modifies the BEACH Act program, including by allowing states or local governments to use grants provided under the program to identify specific sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public.
Additionally, the bill modifies the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, including by making federal agencies eligible for grants provided under the program.
The bill also prohibits funding made available for FY2026-FY2031 to carry out specified Clean Water Act programs from being provided to nonfederal entities that are domiciled in, located in, organized under, have a principal place of business in, or have agreements with foreign countries of concern.
Finally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate and report on specified geographic programs of the EPA.
Text of the bill
(a) In general. Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking and Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida and inserting Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida; and Mississippi Sound, Mississippi; and
(2) in subsection (i)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2026 and inserting 2031.
(b) Ineligibility with respect to fiscal years 2026 and 2027. With respect to the amendment made by subsection (a)(1), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not use for the implementation of that amendment, including, with respect to Mississippi Sound, Mississippi, convening a management conference, developing or carrying out a comprehensive conservation and management plan, or providing grants under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330)—
(1) any amounts appropriated to carry out the national estuary program under that section for fiscal year 2026; or
(2) unless the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2027 is at least $850,000 more than the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2024, any amounts appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2027.