Members cite flood losses and warn cuts to water programs threaten resilience and local projects

Several Democratic members used personal and regional flooding examples during the subcommittee markup to argue for stronger water infrastructure funding and to criticize cuts in the FY2026 energy and water spending bill. Representative Kaptur described recent extreme flash flooding in Texas and West Virginia, noting “we had 4 year, 1000 year floods last week alone” and called for resilient infrastructure, land‑use planning and disaster warning systems. She said communities in her district had invested in sewers and underground catchment basins to protect the Lake Erie shoreline. Representative Lemon said the WaterSMART program — which provides federal dollars to local communities for water supply and conservation projects — was cut by 75 percent in the bill and warned that reductions in Army Corps construction funding and project work plans could leave essential local projects without needed federal support. Chairman Fleischman’s opening summary listed $9.9 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, including Harbor Maintenance Trust activities and priority inland waterways projects, and cited $1.9 billion for Bureau of Reclamation projects prioritized for water supply and drought resilience. Members from the Great Lakes and coastal districts stressed local consequences: Representative Mervan praised Corps funding for maintaining commercial and recreational harbors in Northwest Indiana and for clean water infrastructure, while warning that partisan cuts elsewhere would undercut jobs and local economic activity. Discussion in the markup linked the appropriations choices to recent disaster response needs, continued maintenance of harbors and inland waterways, and ongoing priorities for drought resilience and water conservation. The bill was reported to the full committee; members said they will press for restorations or clarifications on specific water programs at later stages.