Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
Contaminated Wells Relocation Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Contaminated Wells Relocation Act," authorizes the NASA Administrator to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia. The reimbursement covers costs directly linked to removing and replacing certain drinking water wells. The process includes developing a plan to remove wells located on NASA-administered property. It also covers establishing alternative wells on property controlled by the Town of Chincoteague. This agreement can span a period of up to five years.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill addresses the removal of contaminated drinking water wells to ensure safer water access.
- Scored +2
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill invests in the critical water infrastructure of the Town of Chincoteague.
- Scored +1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Securing reliable public water infrastructure benefits all residents regardless of income level.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, which constitutes a new federal expenditure.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Drinking Water Security: The bill provides for the removal of existing wells and the establishment of alternative drinking water wells on property under the control of the Town of Chincoteague (Section 2(a)).
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Cost Recovery for Local Government: The NASA Administrator is authorized to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague for costs directly associated with developing a removal plan and establishing alternative wells (Section 2(a)).
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Comprehensive Relocation Planning: The agreement aims to include the removal and relocation of the three remaining wells, including estimated costs for property, engineering, design, permitting, and construction (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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 addresses the removal of contaminated drinking water wells to ensure safer water access. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill invests in the critical water infrastructure of the Town of Chincoteague.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Securing reliable public water infrastructure benefits all residents regardless of income level. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The replacement of water wells ensures continued access to safe municipal water services. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill improves local infrastructure and water security for the residents of Chincoteague.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, which constitutes a new federal expenditure.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Securing clean drinking water infrastructure provides a basic necessity for community stability.
- 9/8/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-61.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149.
- 4/30/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor 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.
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia