Sponsors (3)
The bill creates a rapid, federally led assessment to identify and prioritize Puerto Rico's water system needs and improve coordination to access funding and speed projects, but it does not guarantee funding or immediate repairs, may increase federal costs, and the tight 180‑day timeline risks incomplete analysis.
Residents of Puerto Rico, local governments, and utilities will receive a federally led, comprehensive assessment of drinking water and wastewater system vulnerabilities and modernization needs within 180 days, creating a clear basis to prioritize projects and pursue federal funding and technical assistance.
Local governments and utilities will get recommendations to improve Federal–local coordination that could accelerate repairs and resilience upgrades, reducing the frequency and duration of future service disruptions after disasters.
Local governments and utilities will benefit from a report that identifies delays and gaps in WRDA §219 projects, helping federal and local leaders prioritize fixes and potentially speed future project delivery.
Residents of Puerto Rico may not see immediate repairs or upgrades because the assessment does not authorize funding or direct implementation, so identified needs could remain unaddressed for some time.
Taxpayers could face higher federal costs if implementing the recommended coordination, acceleration, or modernization actions requires additional federal resources or reprogramming of funds.
Local and state governments may receive an incomplete or limited analysis because the 180‑day deadline for the assessment is tight, risking missed problems or less helpful recommendations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Army Corps to assess Puerto Rico's water and wastewater infrastructure and report needs, vulnerabilities, project status, and recommendations to Congress within 180 days.
Introduced February 5, 2026 by Pablo José Hernández · Last progress February 5, 2026
Requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Puerto Rico’s water and wastewater infrastructure and to report findings and recommendations to Congress. The assessment must be completed within 180 days of enactment and prepared in consultation with the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and other relevant local and federal agencies. The report must describe system conditions and vulnerabilities, identify modernization needs to improve resilience to disasters, droughts, and failures, summarize the status of projects authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (section 219), and recommend ways to improve federal–local coordination to speed project delivery.