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
Where this section came from
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Dec 4, 2025 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Dec 4
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Mar 20, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Dec 18 Reported by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mar 20 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
… 18 unchanged passages …
(b)
Definition
Coastal
of coastal
recreation waters
defined
. Section 502(21)(A)(ii) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362(21)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking (including coastal estuaries) and inserting (including coastal estuaries, the mouths of rivers and streams, nearby shallow waters, and waters present on beaches).
… 1 unchanged passage …
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
(a) In general
(1) Program development and implementation grants. Section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346) is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)—
(i) in paragraph (3)(A)—
(I) in clause (i), by striking and at the end;
(II) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(III) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
(ii) in the case of a State that uses such grant to identify specific sources of contamination pursuant to paragraph (5), any data relating to such identified sources of contamination; and
; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
(5) Identification of specific sources of contamination. A State or local government receiving a grant under this subsection may use such grant to identify specific sources of contamination for coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public.
; and
(B) in subsection (i), by striking 2001 through 2005 and inserting 2026 through 2031.
(2) Authorization of appropriations. Section 8 of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–284; 114 Stat. 877) is amended by striking 2001 through 2005 and inserting 2026 through 2031.
(b) Coastal recreation waters defined. Section 502(21)(A)(ii) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362(21)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking (including coastal estuaries) and inserting (including coastal estuaries, the mouths of rivers and streams, nearby shallow waters, and waters present on beaches).
(c) Guidance. In providing guidance to States and local governments receiving grants under section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1346), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall ensure that such guidance reflects innovations in testing technologies for water contamination.