Senator Wicker Votes to Advance Water Resources Legislation

Senator Wicker Votes to Advance Water Resources Legislation July 20, 2026 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., voted to pass the 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Senator Wicker’s unique position on the committee allows him to advocate for Mississippi’s communities and priorities. The committee’s legislation would expand water infrastructure projects and streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' planning and project delivery process. The bill will now move to the full U.S. Senate for consideration. “These investments will help advance critical water projects, strengthen Mississippi's economy, and support the communities and industries that rely on our waterways. I will continue using my position on the Environment and Public Works Committee to deliver meaningful results for Mississippi communities,” said Senator Wicker. Among other policies that are going to benefit Mississippi, WRDA would: Increase transparency of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ annual funding capabilities, informing congressional funding allocations for water resource projects. Authorize a feasibility study for flood risk management and restoration along the Hatchie River in Tippah, Alcorn, and Union counties. Authorize a feasibility study to improve and reconstruct the Walkiah Bluff weir in Pearl River County. Expedite completion of the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Study.  Ultimately, this study would modernize the operations of the Bonnet Carré Spillway. Require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the condition of locks and dam facilities along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway system. Require a study on the use of hydrokinetic turbines in the Mississippi River. Authorize $5 million in Section 1301 environmental infrastructure funding for 10 Mississippi communities, including Brandon, Choctaw County, Columbus, Flowood, Forest, Hattiesburg, Lucedale, Natchez, Vicksburg, and West Jackson County Utility District. Increases Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure authorizations for four Mississippi communities including: Clinton, from $13.6 million to $18.6 million; Madison County, from $24 million to $26 million; Oxford, from $10 million to $15 million; and Picayune, from $5 million to $10 million. Update the water supply contract for the Pat Harrison Waterway. Improve the national levee safety program to support the long-term planning for, inspection of, and rehabilitation of levees. Mississippi maintains one of the nation’s largest levee systems. Authorize a feasibility study for the Gulfport Widening and Deepening Project to increase the depth and width of its main ship channel. The 2026 WRDA also contains a host of provisions for nationwide drinking water and wastewater infrastructure initiatives: Grants technical assistance for emergencies affecting small public water systems at $26 million for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030, an $11 million increase. Reauthorizes funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, $3.75 billion for fiscal year 2027: $4 billion for fiscal year 2028, $4.25 billion for fiscal year 2029, and $4.5 billion for fiscal year 2030. Reauthorizes the Safe Water for Small and Disadvantaged Communities program, including $140 million for the fiscal years 2027 through 2030. Addresses perfluoroalkyl substances and lead service line replacement projects, reauthorizing $3.5 billion for each of the fiscal years of 2027 through 2030. Reauthorizes $65 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to publish the amount of time for the application to be processed by the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget before the obligation of funding. Reauthorizes $50 million for the National Estuary Program during each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030 and adds the Mississippi Sound to the program. ### Permalink: https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/7/senator-wicker-votes-to-advance-water-resources-legislation/8a27cd34-5f0a-422b-8e24-e64d0c05f838