H.R. 6422 — American Water Stewardship Act

This section extends the authorization of appropriations for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through FY2031 (from FY2026). The initiative, led by EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office, coordinates restoration efforts across the Great Lakes basin (i.e., Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario and connecting waters) to address toxic pollution, areas of concern, invasive species, and nonpoint source runoff in support of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

This section revises the funding provisions of the San Francisco Bay restoration program by (1) striking "grant" from the section heading; (2) changing the subsection (e) heading to "Program implementation" (from "Grant program"); (3) authorizing the EPA to provide assistance through interagency agreements, contracts, or other funding mechanisms to Federal, State, and local agencies, special districts, public or nonprofit agencies, and other public or private entities (previously limited to State and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit agencies); (4) limiting the federal share to 75 percent of the total cost of a project, activity, or study; and (5) requiring non-Federal entities to provide at least 25 percent of the costs from non-Federal sources. (As background, the program supports implementation of the San Francisco Bay Plan through an annual priority list of projects for water quality improvement, restoration, endangered species recovery, and climate adaptation.)

This section amends the National Estuary Program (NEP), which designates estuaries of national significance and convenes management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans addressing point and nonpoint source pollution affecting water quality, public water supplies, wildlife, and recreation in multi-state areas, by (1) adding Mississippi Sound, Mississippi, to the list of estuaries given priority consideration for management conferences; (2) extending the program's authorization through 2031 (from 2026); and (3) prohibiting the EPA Administrator from using FY2026 appropriations, or FY2027 appropriations unless at least $850,000 more than FY2024 appropriations, to implement the addition of Mississippi Sound (including convening a management conference, developing or implementing a management plan, or providing grants).

This section revises the coastal recreation water monitoring and notification grant program under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 (BEACH Act) by (1) authorizing grant recipients to use funds to identify specific sources of contamination in coastal recreation waters adjacent to public beaches or similar points of access and requiring states to share related data with the EPA; (2) reauthorizing the program through FY2031 (from 2001 through 2005); and (3) reauthorizing related appropriations through FY2031 (from 2001 through 2005). The section further expands the definition of coastal recreation waters to explicitly include the mouths of rivers and streams, nearby shallow waters, and waters present on beaches (in addition to coastal estuaries). (As background, the BEACH Act grant program supports state and local monitoring of pathogens and pathogen indicators in these waters adjacent to public beaches to protect swimmer health and requires public notification of water quality standard exceedances.) Finally, this section directs the EPA Administrator, in providing grant guidance, to incorporate innovations in water contamination testing technologies.

This section prohibits federal funds appropriated for FY2026 through FY2031 to carry out sections 118 (Great Lakes water quality), 119 (basin management pilot projects), 123 (state management programs), 125 (interstate commissions), 320 (National Estuary Program), or 406 (Great Lakes dredging) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act from being provided to any non-federal entity—(1) domiciled in, headquartered in, organized under the laws of, or with principal place of business located in a foreign country of concern; or (2) for projects conducted with a foreign country of concern. A foreign country of concern means the People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran, or any other country determined to be a country of concern by the Secretary of State (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 19237).

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment, a report evaluating 11 specified EPA geographic programs (i.e., Chesapeake Bay Program under CWA §117 (33 U.S.C. 1267), Great Lakes Restoration Initiative under CWA §118, and nine others focused on restoring specific U.S. watersheds and water bodies). For each program, the report must assess (1) fund management, including efficiency, effectiveness, and Federal fund use; (2) progress toward goals and objectives, including measurable outcomes; (3) obstacles to success; (4) coordination efficacy with other Federal, state, Tribal, and local programs, including duplication; and (5) ethics policies and practices of the responsible EPA office. The report must also include recommendations, as appropriate, to improve program efficiency, accountability, and effectiveness.