Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4234 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4234 To amend the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to improve that Act, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 26, 2026 Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to improve that Act, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; DECLARATION OF POLICY. The first section of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001) is amended to read as follows: ``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; DECLARATION OF POLICY. ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act'. ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds that erosion, floodwater, drought, and sediment damages in the watersheds of the rivers and streams of the United States cause loss of life, declines in agricultural production, harm to fish, birds, wildlife, and recreation opportunities, and damage to property, thereby constituting a menace to the national welfare. ``(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should cooperate with States and political subdivisions of States, Tribal organizations described in section 2(2)(C), insular areas (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), soil or wat