Urban Waters Federal Partnership Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2401
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-06T11:21:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership Act of 2025 aims to formally authorize and require the maintenance of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program. This program focuses on reconnecting urban communities—especially those that are overburdened (e.g., facing high pollution or environmental risks) or economically distressed—with their local waterways. It does this by improving coordination among federal agencies to support community-led projects that enhance water quality, habitat, recreation, and engagement.
Key Provisions
- Program Authorization and Structure: Establishes the Urban Waters program as a partnership among multiple federal agencies, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, with the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture as key partners. The program supports activities in designated "partnership locations" (urban sites and watersheds with formal federal involvement) and other urban/suburban areas.
- Steering Committee: Creates a federal steering committee chaired by the EPA Administrator, with the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture as vice-chairs, and representatives from other participating agencies. The committee provides guidance on priorities, funding opportunities, and interagency financing (allowing agencies to transfer funds directly for program support, bypassing some usual restrictions).
- Partnership Locations and Support: Requires maintaining active partnerships at existing sites and allows for new designations. Provides technical assistance, funding for projects, and support for "Urban Waters ambassadors" (local coordinators who facilitate federal-nonfederal collaboration, develop workplans, and share best practices).
- Eligible Activities: Federal agencies can offer technical services, financial aid, and fund transfers to states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, universities, and other eligible entities for projects like habitat restoration, water quality improvements, infrastructure installation, community education, recreation enhancements, and resiliency planning. Also mandates an "Urban Waters Learning Network" for sharing resources and building community capacity.
- Reporting and Funding: Requires annual reports to Congress on fund use, progress on workplans, and other details. Authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030 to the EPA, which can be combined with funds from other agencies or nonfederal sources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Codifies and makes permanent what appears to be an existing informal or pilot program (referenced as in operation prior to enactment), shifting it from discretionary to mandatory maintenance by specified agencies.
- Introduces new formal structures, such as the steering committee and learning network, and explicit authorities for interagency fund transfers (overriding certain appropriation limits in laws like the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021).
- Expands eligibility for support to include non-designated "nonpartnership locations" for planning and research, broadening the program's reach beyond formally selected sites.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances interagency collaboration across 15+ federal entities (e.g., EPA, Interior, Agriculture, NOAA, HUD), potentially streamlining resource sharing but requiring coordinated budgeting and reporting. Could increase administrative workload for steering and ambassador roles.
- On Citizens: Benefits urban and suburban residents, particularly in distressed communities, by funding local projects that improve access to clean water, boost recreation, and foster education—promoting environmental justice and community resilience without direct costs to individuals.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the program is focused on domestic U.S. urban waterways.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primary implementers, including EPA (lead), Departments of Interior and Agriculture (core partners), and others like NOAA, HUD, DOT, and FEMA (for technical, funding, and coordination roles).
- Local and Community Groups: Urban communities, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, universities, and economic development entities that can apply for assistance, serve as ambassadors, or lead projects.
- Congress and Oversight Bodies: Receive annual reports, influencing future funding and priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal authority for environmental coordination under existing agency missions (e.g., Clean Water Act implications for water quality), while allowing flexible fund transfers that could face scrutiny if seen as bypassing strict appropriation rules. Defines terms clearly to reduce ambiguity in implementation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I) by authorizing targeted appropriations for public welfare and environmental protection; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as it supports state, local, and tribal partnerships voluntarily.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan environmental goals (introduced by representatives from both parties), emphasizing equity for underserved urban areas. Could influence future budgets by locking in multi-year funding, potentially sparking debates on federal spending priorities amid fiscal constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Urban Waters Federal Partnership Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (14 pages)