WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 6422 · 119th Congress

American Water Stewardship Act

Passed HouseEnvironmental Protection
IntroducedDec 4, 2025
Passed HouseMar 24, 2026
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, Mar 25, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The House passed it 378–32. It would change 8 sections of existing law and would add 2 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 6422 would change 8 sections of existing law, and would create 2 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Mar 25, 2026).

33 U.S.C. 1268 Great Lakes

33 U.S.C. 1269 Long Island Sound

  • (h) Authorization of appropriations changed · Sec. 3 · see the words

33 U.S.C. 1275 Columbia River Basin Restoration

33 U.S.C. 1276a San Francisco Bay restoration grant program

33 U.S.C. 1330 National estuary program

  • (a) Management conference changed · Sec. 6(a) · see the words
  • (i) Authorization of appropriations changed · Sec. 6(a) · see the words

33 U.S.C. 1346 Coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification

  • (b) Program development and implementation grants added to · Sec. 7(a) · see the words
  • (i) Authorization of appropriations changed · Sec. 7(a) · see the words

Public Law 106-284 An earlier law, changed directly

33 U.S.C. 1362 Definitions

  • (21) Coastal recreation waters.— changed · Sec. 7(b) · see the words

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 8 Limitation on use of funds
  • Sec. 9 Geographic program report
What the words would change: every change, in place (16)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(7)(J)(i)(VI)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 2

    The bill says: Section 118(c)(7)(J)(i)(VI) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(7)(J)(i)(VI)) is amended by striking "fiscal year 2026" and inserting "each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031".

  2. 33 U.S.C. 1269(h)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 3

    (h) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 20232031.

    The bill says: Section 119(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1269(h)) is amended by striking "2023" and inserting "2031".

  3. 33 U.S.C. 1275(d)(6)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 4

    (6) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021through 2031.

    The bill says: Section 123(d)(6) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1275(d)(6)) is amended by striking "and 2021" and inserting "through 2031".

  4. 33 U.S.C. 1276achangedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 5(1)

    …the Director shall consult with the Estuary Partnership and Indian tribes and solicit input from other non-Federal stakeholders. (e) Grant program. (1) In general. The Director may provide funding through cooperative agreements, grants, or other means to State and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations, including the Estuary Partnership, for projects, activities, and studies identified on the annual priority…

    The bill says: in the section heading, by striking "grant"; and

  5. 33 U.S.C. 1276a(e)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 5(2)

    (e) Grant programProgram implementation. (1) In general. The Director may provide funding through cooperative agreements, grants, or other means to State and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations, including the…

    The bill says: in the subsection heading, by striking "Grant program" and inserting "Program implementation";

  6. 33 U.S.C. 1276a(e)(1)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 5(2)

    (1) In general. The Director may provide funding through cooperative agreements, grants, or other means to State and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit agenciesinteragency agreements, contracts, or other funding mechanisms to Federal, State, and local agencies, special districts, public or nonprofit agencies, and other public or private entities, institutions, and organizations, including the Estuary Partnership, for projects, activities, and studies identified on the annual priority list compiled under subsection (c).

    The bill says: in paragraph (1), by striking "or other means to State and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit agencies" and inserting "interagency agreements, contracts, or other funding mechanisms to Federal, State, and local agencies, special districts, public or nonprofit agencies, and other public or private entities"; and

  7. 33 U.S.C. 1276a(e)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 5(2)

    (2) Maximum amount.— Amounts provided for a project, activity, or study under this section shall not exceed an amount that is equal to 75 percent of the total cost of such project, activity, or study.(3) Assistance to non-Federal entities.— Not less than 25 percent of the cost of any project, activity, or study carried out using amounts provided to a non-Federal entity under this section shall be provided from non-Federal sources.

    The bill says: by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

  8. 33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 6(a)

    The bill says: 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

  9. 33 U.S.C. 1330(i)(1)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 6(a)

    (1) In general. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $26,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 20262031, for— (A) expenses relating to the administration of grants or awards by the Administrator under this section, including the award and oversight of grants and awards, except that such expenses may not exceed 5 percent of the amount appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year; and (B) making grants and awards under subsection (g).

    The bill says: in subsection (i)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "2026" and inserting "2031".

  10. 33 U.S.C. 1346(b)(3)(A)(i)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    The bill says: in clause (i), by striking "and" at the end;

  11. 33 U.S.C. 1346(b)(3)(A)renumberedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    The bill says: by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and

  12. 33 U.S.C. 1346(b)(3)(A)added (ii)by H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    (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

    The bill says: by inserting after clause (i) the following:

  13. 33 U.S.C. 1346(b)added (5)by H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    (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.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  14. 33 U.S.C. 1346(i)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    (i) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated for making grants under subsection (b), including implementation of monitoring and notification programs by the Administrator under subsection (h), $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 20052026 through 2031.

    The bill says: in subsection (i), by striking "2001 through 2005" and inserting "2026 through 2031".

  15. Public Law 106-284changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(a)

    The bill says: 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".

  16. 33 U.S.C. 1362(21)(A)(ii)changedby H.R. 6422 Sec. 7(b)

    (ii) marine coastal waters (including coastal estuaries)(including coastal estuaries, the mouths of rivers and streams, nearby shallow waters, and waters present on beaches) that are designated under section 1313(c) of this title by a State for use for swimming, bathing, surfing, or similar water contact activities.

    The bill says: 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)".

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

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.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Dec 4, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Mar 24, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 - 32 (Roll no. 97). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  2. Mar 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-564.Library of Congress
  3. Dec 4, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 19 recorded actions

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. Mar 24, 2026 · HousePassed 378–32
    On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · needed two-thirds
    R 176 yes, 31 noI 1 yes, 0 noD 201 yes, 1 noEach member · Record

Cosponsors

  • Nick LaLota R-NY-1
  • Kristen McDonald Rivet D-MI-8
  • Hillary J. Scholten D-MI-3