Bill Number: HR 6229 | Origin Chamber: House | Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. | Policy Area: Water Resources Development
Reauthorizes and expands federal water infrastructure loan program.
Ms. Schrier (D-WA) and Mr. Newhouse (R-WA) are lead sponsors.
Introduced in the House, referred to committees.
This bill, known as the 'Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Amendments of 2025,' reauthorizes and modifies the federal WIFIA loan program to support water infrastructure projects. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of representatives, including Ms. Schrier (D-WA) and Mr. Newhouse (R-WA), who are likely focused on improving water systems in their districts and nationwide. The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, where it will undergo review before potentially moving to a floor vote.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on November 20, 2025, and has been referred to two committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce. It will need to be reviewed and approved by these committees before it can be considered for a vote by the full House. If it passes the House, it would then move to the Senate for their review and vote before it could be sent to the President to be signed into law.
If this bill becomes law, small communities (those with populations under 25,000) would find it easier to access federal loans for water projects, as the minimum project cost eligible for assistance would drop from $5 million to $1 million, and they would receive technical assistance. Additionally, the federal loan program would expand to cover more types of water infrastructure, including state-led water storage projects, increasing options for financing. For very large and durable projects, such as major dams or reservoirs, repayment periods on federal loans could be extended up to 55 years, making it more financially feasible to undertake these long-term investments.
Supporters Say
Supporters argue the bill helps communities nationwide upgrade critical water infrastructure by making federal financing more accessible and flexible, particularly for smaller areas.
Critics Say
Critics might raise concerns about the expanded scope of federal involvement in local projects or the overall effectiveness and oversight of increased federal spending on infrastructure programs.
Proponents of the bill emphasize its role in ensuring safe and reliable water systems across the country. They highlight the provisions aimed at assisting small communities, which often struggle to finance costly infrastructure improvements, and the expansion of eligible projects as key benefits. While specific criticisms are not detailed in the bill text, general concerns about federal spending and the efficiency of large government programs could be raised by those cautious about expanding the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.