America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
Latest action. By Senator Barrasso from Committee on Environment and Public Works filed written report. Report No. 115-294.
America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, each fiscal year, to submit to Congress a five-year budget and work plan for projects of national significance. Each Corps of Engineers district, each fiscal year, must submit a five-year budget and work plan for projects under its jurisdiction. Projects must be carried out in a sustainable manner that focuses on water resource challenges and opportunities, promotes collaboration, and pursues integrated water resource management.
The bill reauthorizes provisions of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 pertaining to expedited consideration of water resources infrastructure through 2024.
The bill provides for: (1) the establishment of a Corps of Engineers Board of Appeals; and (2) various studies, modifications, and project authorizations and deauthorizations nationwide.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall establish a voluntary stormwater infrastructure funding task force to develop recommendations to improve the funding and financing of stormwater infrastructure.
The Safe Drinking Water Act is amended to establish a voluntary WaterSense program to identify and promote water-efficient products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services.
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 is amended to authorize the EPA to provide financial assistance to state infrastructure financing authorities for state loan funds to carry out water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
The EPA shall: (1) promote the use of green infrastructure; (2) carry out a Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program; and (3) appoint at least one employee in each regional office to serve as a liaison to minority, tribal, and low-income communities.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Reported to Senate with amendment(s)" stage on May 22, 2018. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on July 10, 2018: By Senator Barrasso from Committee on Environment and Public Works filed written report. Report No. 115-294.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 115th Congress (2017-18), 442 of the 11,421 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 3.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced it on May 8, 2018, and 9 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 4 Democrats, 5 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on May 8, 2018, 3047 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 2984 days ago, on July 10, 2018.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 115th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2019 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers