Washington Report – July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

The House of Representatives is considering action on a continuing resolution (CR), the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, that would fund federal government operations at existing FY26 levels through Dec. 4;
The House Rules Committee is expected to consider the package today, with a possible floor vote before the House departs for their scheduled August Recess on Friday.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) both passed Water Resources Development Acts of 2026 (WRDA 2026) bills out of their committees;
WRDA is a biannual bill that reauthorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) programs and regional projects, including feasibility studies and reports;
The House’s WRDA 2026 bill would:
- Improve the Corps’ electronic permitting system and ensure it is compatible with other existing electronic permitting systems
- Further codify the part of non-federal entities, such as public works departments, in the project process and ensures they are at the table during project discussions
- Reaffirm that nonstructural approaches to water resources and comprehensive flood risk management are a part of the Corps’ mission
The Senate’s WRDA 2026 bill contains similar Corps provisions plus drinking and wastewater infrastructure authorizations, including:
- $3.5B for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (APWA advocated for $3.25B)
- $3.75B for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in FY27 with increasing amounts annually up to $5B in FY30 (APWA advocated for $3.25B)
- $65M for the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (APWA advocated for $72.4M)
Both chambers now need to work together to come up with unified bill language.

Within a larger package of 10 bills, the Committee on Education & Workforce approved H.R. 9607, a bill that would shift the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education to the U.S. Department of Labor from the Department of Education, where it currently resides;
This action corresponds with the Trump Administration’s desire to group federal workforce oversight mostly within the Labor department;
No further legislative action has been announced.

APWA is supporting the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act of 2026, which is a bipartisan bill to develop an organized federal response to climate hazards threatening human health and well-being, critical infrastructure, and natural environments;
Highlights of the bill:
- Establishing a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House to implement the plan
- Establishing a federal information hub to streamline resilience resources to communities
- A press release from U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA-50), the bill’s lead sponsor, has additional information.

The White House announced the creation of the Gold Eagle initiative;
This is intended to serve as a cybersecurity clearinghouse to assist federal agencies, critical infrastructure operators and artificial intelligence developers to patch crucial security flaws that have been uncovered by advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that $600M will be available through the FY26 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current (Swift Current) funding;
Swift Current provides funding for community-led projects to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program;
Application deadlines vary and states, tribal nations, and territories must have received a flood-related emergency or major disaster declaration between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027, to be eligible for the funding opportunity.

FEMA says $3.8M will be available to help communities address earthquake risks through the National Earthquake Hazards Reductions Program
Of this:
- $2.3M – Individual State Earthquake Assistance for conducting safety inspections of buildings and critical infrastructure, updating building codes to enhance safety, conducting exercises or training to prepare first responders and emergency managers, and educating the public about earthquake safety
- $1.5M – Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance for higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations to develop and implement regional or national earthquake risk mitigation activities.

FEMA announced its FEMA Corps program is accepting applications;
By participating in the FEMA Corps program, young adults have opportunity to serve communities impacted by disasters, while gaining valuable professional development skills and emergency management experience;
Applicants between the ages of 18 and 24 interested in serving as a member of FEMA Corps can apply for the February class by Oct. 19 here;
Visit americorps.gov/NCCC to learn more about the program.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extended the public comment period for the proposed rule, Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility, to Aug. 5;
Section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (FESSA 2209) directs the FAA to establish a process by which certain critical infrastructure owners and operators may petition the FAA to prohibit or restrict, including temporarily, the operation of an unmanned aircraft in close proximity to a fixed site facility;
Comments may be submitted by email at 2209-UAFR@faa.gov.

July 21 at 10:15 a.m., the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing on a variety of bills, including HR 8003 – Expanding the Fast Track Act of 2026;
July 22 at 9:30 a.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee will conduct a business meeting and will include action on the nomination of Cameron Hamilton to serve as the next FEMA Administrator;
July 22 at 10:30 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee has scheduled an executive session to consider numerous bills, including broadband permitting, emergency communications, and security for connected vehicles;
July 23 at 10 a.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee will hold an executive session to vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor;
July 24 at 10 a.m., the House Committee on Education & Workforce will hold a field hearing, Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America’s Workforce;
Aug. 27-28 FEMA will offer in-person Procurement Under Grants Training, at its National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU) campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. For additional information, see the NETC online admissions application.