Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)
Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026," seeks to reauthorize the Cooperative Watershed Management Program. It amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to update definitions and program structures. The legislation includes changes to how Indian tribes are defined and recognized within the program. It also modifies grant amounts and the ability for the Secretary to extend first-phase grants. Additionally, the bill establishes a continuous enrollment process for grant applications. Finally, it authorizes specific appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill enhances watershed management through increased grant amounts and expanded technical assistance for natural disaster mitigation.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill provides sustained funding and expanded technical scope for managing public watershed resources.
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill updates the definition of Indian tribes and includes them as specific interests in the watershed program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Funding and Duration: The bill changes grant amounts to $150,000 each year for a period of not less than 3 years, which provides more sustained financial support (Section 2(b)(1)(B)(i)).
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Support for Specific Needs: The program can now address groups that demonstrate significant need due to drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(i)).
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Inclusion of Indian Tribes: The bill specifically includes Indian tribes as part of the interests the program considers and updates the definition of "Indian tribe" (Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)(1)(A)(i)).
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Grant Extensions: The Secretary is given the discretion to issue a continuation of first-phase grants for up to 2 additional years for recipients demonstrating satisfactory performance (Section 2(b)(1)(B)(ii)).
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Expanded Technical Support: The definition of quantity for grants is expanded to include grant writing, project management, and technical assistance such as feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering (Section 2(b)(1)(C)).
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Continuous Opportunities: The Secretary is required to make funding opportunities available on a regular basis and allow applications to be submitted and evaluated multiple times during a calendar year (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(4)).
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Increased Transparency: The bill requires that information be made available to the public (Section 2(b)(1)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Funding Limits: Grant amounts for continued grants are subject to being "not greater than $150,000 each year" as determined by the Secretary (Section 2(b)(1)(B)(ii)).
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Reliance on Appropriations: The availability of the increased grant amounts is subject to the availability of appropriations (Section 2(b)(1)(B)(i)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill enhances watershed management through increased grant amounts and expanded technical assistance for natural disaster mitigation. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill provides sustained funding and expanded technical scope for managing public watershed resources. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill allows the program to address significant needs caused by drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill updates the definition of Indian tribes and includes them as specific interests in the watershed program. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides enhanced funding and technical assistance for watershed management which often impacts rural lands. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill supports environmental management which can benefit community-level resource stability.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill explicitly includes Indian tribes as recognized interests within the watershed management program.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires that information regarding the program be made available to the public.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill authorizes significant long-term funding for watershed management and technical assistance.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/18/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado