On September 16, 2026, the House overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) by a bipartisan vote of 415–9. In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously approved its version of the bill on July 15, 2026 and is currently awaiting full floor consideration. WRDA is a biennial bill that typically authorizes a variety of water infrastructure such as inland waterways, ports and harbors, flood protection, and other Corps of Engineers projects.
The Senate decided to use WRDA as an appropriate vehicle to reauthorize EPA's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure funding. It authorizes $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water SRF and $16.5 billion over five years for the Drinking Water SRF. These programs were last authorized as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which expires on September 30, 2026.
In addition to providing reauthorization, the Senate bill allows funding for lead pipes and PFAS contaminants to be covered by the DWSRF. Currently funding for these types of projects is split from the SRF general fund into separate supplemental accounts. The Senate bill removes that rigid framework, allowing states flexibly to use generally available funds in the DWSRF to address these priorities. Despite the overwhelming support, it is unlikely the Senate will complete action before the midterm elections.
The House was reluctant to include the SRF reauthorization in its version of the WRDA legislation. This will be a priority issue to be reconciled in the Lame Duck session to avoid delays in providing states with these important infrastructure construction funds.