HR6422-119

What This Bill Does

The American Water Stewardship Act extends several Clean Water Act water-restoration and beach-water programs through 2031. It continues the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Long Island Sound program, Columbia River Basin restoration program, National Estuary Program, and coastal recreation water-quality monitoring authority. The bill also updates the San Francisco Bay restoration program by changing it from a narrower grant program to broader program implementation authority that can use interagency agreements, contracts, or other funding mechanisms with federal, state, local, special district, public nonprofit, and other public or private entities.

The San Francisco Bay section sets project funding rules: federal support cannot exceed 75 percent of a project, activity, or study, and non-federal recipients must supply at least 25 percent from non-federal sources. The bill adds Mississippi Sound, Mississippi, to the National Estuary Program but blocks EPA from using FY2026 funds for that new estuary work and blocks FY2027 funds unless the National Estuary Program receives at least $850,000 more than its FY2024 appropriation. For coastal recreation waters, states and local governments may use grants to identify specific contamination sources near beaches and public access points, must report source data when they do so, and EPA guidance must reflect newer water-contamination testing technology. The definition of coastal recreation waters is expanded to include coastal estuaries, river and stream mouths, nearby shallow waters, and water present on beaches.

The bill also bars FY2026 through FY2031 funds under covered Clean Water Act sections from going to non-federal entities domiciled in, headquartered in, organized under the laws of, or principally based in a foreign country of concern, and in some versions bars projects conducted with or entities partnered with such countries. GAO must report to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on EPA geographic programs, including fund management, measurable outcomes, obstacles, coordination, duplication, ethics practices, and recommendations for efficiency and accountability.

Who Benefits and How

Great Lakes restoration grantees benefit because GLRI authorization continues through 2031. Long Island Sound restoration partners and Columbia River Basin restoration recipients benefit from extended program authority. San Francisco Bay restoration agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, contractors, and private entities benefit because EPA can support projects through more funding mechanisms than grants alone. Mississippi Sound communities benefit from possible National Estuary Program inclusion, but only if Congress provides enough additional FY2027 funding to avoid taking money from existing estuary work. State beach-water monitoring agencies and local health departments benefit because federal beach grants can support source tracking for contamination. Beachgoers benefit if better source identification and modern testing guidance produce faster warnings and cleaner recreation waters.

Who Bears the Burden and How

EPA geographic program offices must administer extended authorities, manage broader San Francisco Bay funding tools, apply foreign-country-of-concern restrictions, and update guidance for testing technology. Non-federal San Francisco Bay recipients must provide at least 25 percent of project costs from non-federal sources. EPA National Estuary Program staff cannot spend FY2026 funds on Mississippi Sound implementation and must observe the $850,000 FY2027 funding guardrail. Foreign-country-of-concern entities and covered partners lose eligibility for funds under the listed Clean Water Act sections. GAO auditors must evaluate EPA geographic program management, coordination, measurable outcomes, ethics practices, and duplication across programs. Congressional oversight staff must review the GAO recommendations and funding tradeoffs.

Key Provisions

• Extends the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative authorization through fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
• Extends Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin restoration authority through 2031.
• Expands San Francisco Bay restoration support from a grant program to broader program implementation using agreements, contracts, or other funding mechanisms.
• Limits San Francisco Bay federal support to 75 percent of project cost and requires at least 25 percent non-federal cost share for non-federal recipients.
• Adds Mississippi Sound to the National Estuary Program while restricting FY2026 funds and requiring an $850,000 FY2027 funding increase before FY2027 implementation funds may be used.
• Allows beach-water grants to identify specific contamination sources and requires source data reporting when grants are used that way.
• Expands the coastal recreation water definition and directs EPA guidance to reflect water-testing technology innovations.
• Bars covered Clean Water Act funds from specified foreign-country-of-concern entities or projects.
• Requires GAO to report on EPA geographic program efficiency, accountability, outcomes, coordination, ethics practices, and duplication.