Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026

This bill would create the Southeast New England Program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect and restore coastal watersheds in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The EPA could give grants to states, local governments, tribes, regional planning groups, nonprofits, and colleges for projects such as reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, restoring habitat, improving water quality, and reducing stormwater runoff. Grants could cover no more than 75 percent of a project's cost. The bill would authorize $30 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, and would require the EPA to coordinate the actions of federal agencies that affect water quality in the region.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jack Reed Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors