The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee is set to mark up the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) on July 15, advancing legislation that would authorize U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and reauthorize key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs.

Announced by EPW Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the bill continues Congress's biennial process for authorizing Corps projects focused on flood risk management, navigation and ecosystem restoration. The legislation also reauthorizes EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, which provide financing for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Committee leaders highlighted state-specific priorities included in the legislation, such as increased federal support for flood risk management, shoreline restoration and Chesapeake Bay ecosystem restoration projects, while emphasizing that the bill is designed to benefit communities nationwide through investments in resilient water infrastructure and water resource management.

If approved by the committee, WRDA 2026 would move to the full Senate for consideration, continuing a bipartisan tradition of updating federal water resources policy every two years.