Lawmakers introduce bipartisan WIFIA amendments

In November, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Amendments of 2025 aimed at broadening funding provided by WIFIA loan program at U.S. EPA.

The amendments were introduced by U.S. Reps. Kim Schrier (D-WA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) on Nov. 20.

Specifically, the amendments would:

• Broaden and restore WIFIA funding and financing eligibility to state entities and non-federal cost shares in federally involved projects. This includes state-led water storage projects, transferred works of the Bureau of Reclamation, and congressionally authorized Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects. 
• Authorize the use of collaborative project delivery methods for WIFIA projects, allowing more flexibility and reducing the time and cost of the project.  
• Allow certain federal water infrastructure loans to have maturity dates of up to 55 years.
• Reauthorize the USACE WIFIA program through FY2029.    

“Our nation’s water infrastructure is facing several challenges — from conservation and storage to wastewater treatment — that compromise access to this vital resource,” said Schrier. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will fix our aging water infrastructure by empowering cities and towns throughout our country to make the infrastructure investments necessary to support our farmers and ensure that their respective communities have dependable drinking water.”

“Much of our vital water storage infrastructure is in need of repair or maintenance, and we need to build new storage facilities to help maintain reliable and affordable water supplies,” said LaMalfa. “To ensure long-term success, we must make it easier, not harder, to get water projects approved, funded, and built. This legislation improves financing options, cuts red tape, and enables project designers and builders to collaborate, ensuring more localities have the chance to create and build the critical infrastructure they need, such as levees, treatment plants, and reservoirs.”