A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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 "Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program Enhancements Act of 2026," aims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. It introduces a process for selecting a fiscal agent to manage the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program. This agent will be chosen jointly by the Steering Committee and the Administrator. The bill requires regular assessments of the agent's effectiveness and provides guidelines for selecting new agents through a competitive process. Additionally, it authorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to undertake specific work within the Lake Champlain drainage basin.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill authorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to undertake work related to fisheries research, sea lamprey control, and aquatic invasive species prevention in the Lake Champlain basin.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill encourages the selection of a fiscal agent that maintains a significant staffing presence within the Lake Champlain drainage basin.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill's preference for local fiscal agents may support regional business and staffing presence.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Stakeholder Input: The bill requires the Steering Committee and the Administrator to consult with and include feedback from impacted stakeholders during assessments of the fiscal agent (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(A)(B)(ii)).
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Program Continuity: If a new fiscal agent is selected, the bill mandates that the Steering Committee and Administrator ensure the continuity of staff, programming, funding awards, and other administrative functions (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(A)(B)(iv)(II)).
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Local Economic and Staffing Support: The bill encourages the selection of a new fiscal agent that is headquartered in the Lake Champlain drainage basin, or if not possible, in New York or Vermont, or maintains a significant staffing presence in the drainage basin (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(A)(B)(iv)(III)).
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Ecological and Educational Support: The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is authorized to undertake work including fisheries and aquatic ecosystem research, monitoring, restoration, management, sea lamprey control, aquatic invasive species prevention, and public engagement and education (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(G)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Reorganization: Under the new selection process, the Administrator has the authority to de-obligate unexpended funds from a previous fiscal agent and re-obligate them to a new one (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)(A)(B)(iv)(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 authorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to undertake work related to fisheries research, sea lamprey control, and aquatic invasive species prevention in the Lake Champlain basin.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill's preference for local fiscal agents may support regional business and staffing presence. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill promotes local staffing and administrative functions within the Lake Champlain drainage basin.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill encourages the selection of a fiscal agent that maintains a significant staffing presence within the Lake Champlain drainage basin.
- 2/11/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York