{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-delivers-key-wins-for-west-virginia-in-bipartisan-water-resources-development-act-of-2026", "Capito Delivers Key Wins for West Virginia in Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led the EPW Committee in unanimously passing the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. The WRDA 2026 bill includes wins for all fifty states, including significant benefits for West Virginia\u2019s water infrastructure.\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act is biennial legislation that authorizes flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WRDA 2026 also reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The bill supports locally driven projects that also deliver regional and national benefits, including strengthening our nation\u2019s global competitiveness and supply chain, helping communities manage flood risk, and more.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation will have an incredible impact on West Virginia and our state\u2019s water resources infrastructure. The Army Corps\u2019 critical work is essential to managing flood risk and improving drinking and wastewater facilities across West Virginia. The EPA\u2019s water infrastructure programs also help improve access to clean and safe drinking water in communities statewide. I am very pleased to share these wins that WRDA 2026 will deliver for our state, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this legislation in action,\u201d said Chairman Capito.\n\nWEST VIRGINIA WINS SECURED BY CAPITO:\n\nSupporting Flood Control and Prevention Efforts, Ecosystem Restoration:\n\nAdjusts the cost-share for any future projects in West Virginia that are identified by the feasibility study for flood risk management in the Upper Guyandotte River Basin reducing financial burden for vulnerable communities.\n\nAuthorizes new feasibility studies to address flood risk for communities in West Virginia.\n\nEstablishes a new program for the Corps to assist with small projects for debris removal within streams in West Virginia.\n\nReaffirms how the Corps should carry out the Section 202 program, preserving Congress's original intent to provide comprehensive flood risk reduction for eligible southern West Virginia communities.\n\nReforms the Continuing Authorities Programs (CAP) to expedite the delivery of small projects for flood risk management, emergency streambank protection, and aquatic ecosystem restoration.\n\nUrges the Corps to expedite completion of studies/projects in:\n\nKanawha River Basin: feasibility study for flood risk management\n\nUpper Guyandotte River Basin: feasibility study for flood risk management\n\nMilton, WV: project for flood risk management\n\nHinton, WV \u2013 Bluestone Dam: project for dam safety modifications\n\nEnhancing Assistance for Environmental Infrastructure Projects:\n\nIncreases the authorized funding level for the Corps\u2019 Section 340 and Section 571 environmental infrastructure programs, which support drinking water and wastewater projects across West Virginia.\n\nExpedites the environmental review process for projects funded under these programs.\n\nStrengthening the Corps\u2019 Authorities to Address Water Resource Infrastructure Needs:\n\nImproves efficiency of reviews under the Corps\u2019 408 program and directs the Corps to regularly brief Congress on the status of the rulemaking for that program.\n\nProvides direction to the Corps to improve the cost estimates for and design of projects and establishes a preconstruction planning, engineering, and design account for the Corps.\n\nImproves authorities for non-federal interests to receive credit and reimbursement or contribute funds for projects to increase transparency and accelerate project delivery.\n\nEnhances the Corps\u2019 outreach and education authority by including real estate and leasing authorities of the Corps.\n\nDirects the Secretary to ensure that Corps\u2019 databases on recreational sites are consistent and compatible with similar databases from other federal agencies.\n\nIncreasing Authorized Funding for West Virginia\u2019s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs:\n\nIncreases the clean water and drinking water SRF authorizations, which will increase the Federal water infrastructure investment in West Virginia.\n\nAllows West Virginia to prioritize how to spend Federal SRF dollars to maintain and build essential infrastructure to provide critical water and sanitation services, while expanding permissible SRF uses to address PFAS contamination or for lead service line removal projects.\n\nSupporting Efforts to Improve West Virginia\u2019s Water Systems\u2019 Resilience to Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities:\n\nMakes small water systems, like those found in West Virginia, eligible to receive grant money to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities.\n\nEncourages the EPA to partner with university programs with established water cybersecurity programs, like Marshall\u2019s Institute for Cybersecurity, which will enable the program to further assist small water systems in WV and across the country.\n\nExpanding Investment in Workforce Development:\n\nTriples the authorized funding levels for the EPA\u2019s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program.\n\nWater and wastewater systems \u2013 including those in West Virginia \u2013 are facing significant workforce challenges. This program will work to ensure that West Virginia and the nation have enough skilled system operators trained to face today\u2019s challenges and serve a role that is incredibly important to American\u2019s health and daily lives.\n\nThe bill text is availablehere.\n\nA section-by-section overview of the bill is available here.\n\nAn overview of West Virginia wins is available here.\n\nAn overview of national WRDA wins is available here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-delivers-key-wins-for-west-virginia-in-bipartisan-water-resources-development-act-of-2026"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9425031021237373, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}