Sponsors
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress July 10, 2025
The bill directs sustained federal funding and coordinated binational programs to improve water quality and public health in U.S. border communities, trading increased federal and local fiscal responsibilities plus potential delays and oversight risks arising from cross‑border coordination.
Border communities (including residents along the New River and Tijuana watersheds) will receive funding and projects that reduce contaminants and improve drinking water, wastewater, and overall public-health outcomes.
Local, state, tribal governments and nonprofits gain a dedicated federal funding stream and grant/technical-assistance program (including $50M/year FY2026–2036 and support for feasibility, construction, and O&M) to build and operate water infrastructure projects.
The bill requires EPA to adopt a science-based action plan with priorities, cost estimates, and O&M plans (updated every 5 years) and clarifies IBWC authority, improving planning transparency and helping coordinate project delivery across jurisdictions.
Federal taxpayers will ultimately fund the program (including the $50M/year authorization) and could also bear costs for cross-border projects and their ongoing operations and maintenance.
Local governments, utilities, and small ratepayers may face required cost‑shares, matching requirements, or additional operational burdens that increase local spending and could strain small budgets.
Projects that involve work in Mexico or require Mexican agency support expose projects to international approvals, treaty compliance, and binational oversight complexity, which can delay, block, or slow domestic water-quality improvements and expose U.S. funds to cross-border implementation risks.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Creates new EPA programs and a border infrastructure grant authority to fix water pollution and public‑health problems in the Tijuana River and New River watersheds and to fund eligible water, wastewater, stormwater, and water‑reuse projects near the U.S.–Mexico border. The bill directs EPA to stand up two regional restoration programs, develop science‑based action plans within one year, coordinate with Mexican and local partners, authorize $50 million per year for each watershed for FY2026–FY2036, and let the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) construct and operate approved projects in the U.S. and work jointly with Mexican counterparts.