Water Security and Drought Resilience Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3732
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-17: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-30T18:15:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Water Security and Drought Resilience Act (S. 3732) aims to improve water storage, management, and drought resilience in the western United States by amending existing laws to expand federal financial assistance for water infrastructure projects. It focuses on supporting storage programs and introducing grants for natural water retention projects, ensuring broader access to funding across multiple states served by the Bureau of Reclamation (a federal agency managing water resources in the arid West).
Key Provisions
- Authorization for Storage Program Assistance (Section 2): Updates the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) to allow the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial aid for water storage projects in any "Reclamation State" (the 17 western states where the Bureau of Reclamation operates, such as Arizona, California, and Colorado). It expands eligibility to include certain feasibility-studied projects from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and requires funding to be spread across multiple Reclamation States.
- Reauthorization of Small Storage Program (Section 3): Modifies the IIJA's small water storage grant program by:
- Broadening eligible projects to include those with storage capacities from 200 to 30,000 acre-feet (a measure of water volume; 1 acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons) for surface/groundwater storage or conveyance, or up to 150,000 acre-feet annually for groundwater recharge, stabilization, or recovery projects.
- Extending the program's duration from 5 years to 10 years.
- Authorizing $20 million annually from fiscal years 2027 to 2033.
- Clarifying that the program does not override state or federal water laws, interstate agreements, treaties, or existing water rights, and prohibits federal acquisition of water.
- Natural Water Retention and Release Project Grants (Section 4): Establishes a new grant program for projects that use natural materials (e.g., wetlands or floodplain enhancements) to mimic natural water processes, increasing availability through aquifer recharge (replenishing underground water), runoff timing adjustments, or similar methods. Key elements include:
- Eligible applicants: States, Indian Tribes, local water districts, municipalities, or nonprofits partnered with such entities.
- Grant criteria: Projects must optimize water storage or delivery near Bureau of Reclamation facilities; larger projects (> $20 million) require estimates of water benefits in wet, normal, and dry years.
- Federal funding: Up to 90% of costs (non-reimbursable to the government), with $15 million authorized annually from fiscal years 2027 to 2031.
- Requirement to distribute grants across multiple Reclamation States.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the WIIN Act's storage assistance beyond prior limitations, allowing aid in all Reclamation States and linking it to IIJA feasibility studies for more project types.
- Enhances the IIJA's small storage program by increasing eligible project sizes and types (e.g., adding groundwater stabilization and larger recharge capacities), extending its lifespan, and adding protections for water rights.
- Introduces an entirely new grant program under Section 4, which did not previously exist, emphasizing "green" infrastructure that integrates natural ecosystems rather than solely engineered solutions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Reclamation will administer expanded programs, potentially increasing its workload in project evaluation and fund distribution, while promoting equitable funding across states to avoid regional favoritism.
- On Citizens: Residents in drought-prone western states may benefit from improved water reliability for agriculture, urban use, and ecosystems, reducing drought risks and enhancing food security; however, benefits depend on local project implementation.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though projects could indirectly support U.S. compliance with water-sharing treaties (e.g., with Mexico via the Colorado River) by improving overall water management efficiency.
- Broader effects include fostering sustainable water practices, potentially mitigating climate change impacts like prolonged droughts, but funding limits may constrain the scale of implementation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Secretary of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation (primary administrators).
- State and Local Entities: Reclamation States, municipalities, irrigation/water/wastewater districts (eligible for grants and assistance).
- Tribal Communities: Indian Tribes as direct applicants, benefiting from water security in arid regions.
- Nonprofits and Partners: Organizations supporting projects, especially those focused on environmental or watershed management.
- Water Users: Farmers, urban residents, and industries relying on stored water in the West, who gain from enhanced storage and retention.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Explicitly preserves state water laws, federal statutes, interstate compacts (agreements between states on resource sharing), and treaties, avoiding federal overreach; non-reimbursable funds and water rights protections reduce litigation risks over property or sovereignty issues.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over public lands and interstate commerce (via water resources), without infringing on states' rights to manage water under the 10th Amendment.
- Political: Introduced by bipartisan senators (Democrats Gallego and Padilla, Republican Kelly), signaling cross-party support for western water issues; reauthorization and new funding could influence future infrastructure debates, emphasizing equity in resource allocation amid growing climate concerns, but may face scrutiny over federal spending priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-17: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
- 2026-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Water Security and Drought Resilience Act — issued 2026-01-29 — PDF (8 pages)