Column: Key opportunities on Capitol Hill for water stakeholders in 2026

Notably, the final Interior-Environment and Energy-Water Development Appropriations bills passed the House on January 8, and the Senate on January 16, 2026. At the time of submission, the package was awaiting the President’s signature. Water Infrastructure accounts saw flat funding across the board, a significant victory in a year focused on cuts. If you’d like more information on what’s in the bills, see the summary here.

As soon as the FY26 process concludes, attention will quickly shift to FY27, with members and committees beginning work on funding priorities and topline numbers for the next fiscal year. For utilities and stakeholders, the practical takeaway is simple: early engagement helps, particularly when it comes to program performance, community needs, and the on-the-ground realities of delivering projects. 

At the same time, attention is beginning to shift toward key authorizing legislation. Notably, discussions around EPA water program reauthorization are gaining traction, with members of Congress and their staff engaging stakeholders and committees starting to gather input on priority programs and potential frameworks. These early conversations will be important signals of where policy debates may head in the months ahead. They also provide an opportunity for the sector to underscore what is working, what needs updating, and what barriers are slowing progress.

Congress is expected to advance a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in 2026, continuing the biennial, bipartisan process to authorize U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and is intended to serve as a vehicle for EPA water infrastructure program reauthorization. With the five-year IIJA authorization for core water programs expiring on Sept. 30, 2026, House and Senate committees are now accepting submissions of Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) priorities and projects through the end of January. WRDA is one of the most dependable legislative paths for water priorities, and it is often where practical policy improvements can be paired with project authorizations and broader program direction.

Looking further into the year, Congress is expected to take up major legislation, including the Farm Bill, surface transportation reauthorization, permitting reform, and continued oversight activity across a range of policy areas. Together, these efforts point to a busy and consequential legislative calendar as lawmakers balance near-term deadlines with longer-term priorities. The result is a crowded policy environment where water issues will compete for attention, even as they remain broadly bipartisan.

The bottom line for 2026 is that the opportunity for the wastewater community is real. Water and wastewater stakeholders who track timelines closely, submit priorities early, and communicate clearly about needs and constraints will be best positioned as Congress navigates funding decisions, reauthorization debates, and the next WRDA.