Bill · S. 4041· Senate(119-S-4041)
Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 3/10/2026
- Last activity
- 9/17/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 656.
- Sponsored by
- Steve Daines
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 2
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026. It updates and continues the existing Cooperative Watershed Management Program. The legislation adjusts grant amounts and allows for extensions under specific circumstances. It also includes Indian tribes and groups with ancestral lands within watersheds in the program definitions. Finally, the bill authorizes $20,000,000 to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.
Yes· 3 of 28
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+9
Specifically expands program eligibility to include Indian tribes and those with ancestral lands.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+8
Directly focuses on improving the management of public watersheds through cooperative grants.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
Significant benefits for rural land management and disaster recovery from wildfire and drought.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill increases appropriations and grant amounts for watershed management.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
The bill authorizes new spending of $40 million annually from 2027 to 2031.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Grant Funding: Section 2(b)(1)(B)(i) increases the first-phase grant amount from $100,000 to $150,000, which gives recipients more resources to work with.
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Help for Disasters: Section 2(b)(1)(A)(iii) adds a priority for projects that demonstrate a significant need due to drought, wildfire, or other natural disaster, helping communities hit hardest by these events.
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Expanded Support Services: Section 2(b)(1)(C) adds activities like grant writing, project management, technical assistance, and post-construction monitoring to what funding can cover, making it easier for groups to actually complete their projects.
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Better Access and Transparency: Section 2(b)(1)(D) sets up continuous enrollment so applications can be submitted and looked at multiple times a year, and Section 2(b)(2) requires reports to be made available to the public, holding officials accountable.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+9Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Farmers+6Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Business Owners+2Good For African Americans+1Good For Asian Americans+1Good For Children+1Good For High Income Households+1Good For Hispanic Americans+1Good For Middle Aged+1Good For Middle Class Households+1Good For Seniors+1Good For Union Workers+1Good For Urban Residents+1Good For White Americans+1Good For Young Adults+1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+8Improves Environmental Protections+7Improves Rural Development+6Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5Reduces Carbon Emissions+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+2Improves Economic Growth+1Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-1
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 656.
- 7/29/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
- 3/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona