U.S. Chamber Backs Water Resources Bill S. 4949

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pressing the full Senate to pass S. 4949, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, calling the bipartisan bill one of Congress' most effective tools for building modern, resilient infrastructure.

In a letter addressed to Chair Capito and Ranking Member Whitehouse, the Chamber's Marty Durbin — President of the Global Energy Institute and Senior Vice President of Policy — said the business group "strongly supports S. 4949" and commended the committee's bipartisan leadership in advancing the legislation unanimously through Committee.

The bill, known as WRDA, targets three broad goals the Chamber identifies as central to economic policy: strengthening America's water resources infrastructure, improving project delivery, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Why the Chamber says it matters

The Chamber frames the stakes in commercial terms. America's waterways, ports, flood protection systems, water supply projects, and related infrastructure "help move commerce, protect communities, strengthen supply chains, and keep our nation competitive," Durbin wrote.

WRDA, the letter argues, "remains one of Congress' most effective tools for building the modern, resilient infrastructure our economy requires." That is the Chamber's case for treating water policy as economic policy rather than a narrow environmental file.

What is in the bill

According to the letter, S. 4949 advances practical policies that would reduce delays, improve coordination, and give non-federal sponsors greater certainty.

The Chamber highlights several provisions it finds particularly encouraging:

• Streamlined permitting and project delivery
• Strengthened navigation and inland waterways
• Advanced flood resilience
• Drought preparedness

The Chamber also backs the bill's drinking water and wastewater provisions. These include improvements to the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds and programs focused on water reuse.

WIFIA takes center stage

A significant portion of the letter concerns financing. The Chamber states it is "pleased that S. 4949 would strengthen EPA's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) as a proven tool for financing large-scale water infrastructure."

That endorsement includes efforts reflected in the DROUGHT Act to better support underserved communities facing water scarcity — a signal that the Chamber sees the bill as reaching beyond traditional port and navigation projects into water supply and drought territory.

The business group also encourages Congress to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' own WIFIA program and to preserve its ability to assist a wide set of projects: flood risk management, water reuse, water supply and storage, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects involving non-federal sponsors.

The emphasis on non-federal sponsors runs through the letter. Local and state partners, utilities, and private entities frequently co-fund and co-manage water infrastructure projects, and the Chamber argues the bill should give those partners greater certainty in return.

The ask

Durbin's letter closes with a direct call to action. "S. 4949 is a timely opportunity to modernize water resources policy, accelerate infrastructure delivery, and build stronger, safer, and more competitive communities," he wrote. "We urge the full Senate to approve this bipartisan legislation as soon as possible."

The unanimous committee vote the letter cites suggests the bill has cleared its first procedural hurdle with bipartisan cover — a rarity in the current Senate. Water infrastructure legislation has historically moved on that basis, with WRDA bills typically advancing on a regular two-year cycle.

For businesses that depend on inland waterways, ports, and reliable water supply, the Chamber's endorsement puts the weight of the country's largest business lobby behind faster permitting and expanded federal financing tools. If the full Senate follows the committee's lead, WIFIA's reach — both at EPA and the Corps — and the State Revolving Funds would stand at the center of the next wave of U.S. water infrastructure investment.