119-HR-338 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bipartisan plan to expand and extend a federal small water‑storage grant program—adding larger groundwater recharge projects and keeping the program running longer—to help communities capture more water for dry times. [4]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-2026…[1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — All Info - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-…

What It Does

The bill updates who can get grants under the Bureau of Reclamation’s Small Storage Program. It keeps support for small reservoirs and groundwater projects (200–30,000 acre‑feet) and adds a new path for larger, long‑term groundwater recharge projects—up to 150,000 acre‑feet per year on average over a project’s life—so long as they raise aquifer levels or move water to and from underground storage. It also extends the program’s authority from 5 years to 10 and clarifies that nothing here overrides state or tribal water rights or federal law. [4]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-2026…[5]Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) — 43 U.S.C. § 3203 — Small wat…

Who’s For It

• Sponsor Rep. Jim Costa (D‑CA) and original cosponsors Reps. Russ Fulcher (R‑ID) and David Valadao (R‑CA); additional cosponsors include Adam Gray (D‑CA), Josh Harder (D‑CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R‑PA), and Michael Simpson (R‑ID). [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — All Info - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-…
• Supporters say expanding eligibility will speed groundwater recharge projects and help stabilize aquifers in drought‑prone regions, citing benefits for California’s San Joaquin Valley. [6]Office of Rep. Jim Costa — Costa, Valley Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Bills to…
• Program context: Reclamation’s Small Storage Program already funds small storage and recharge in Western states (plus AK and HI), with a 25% federal cost‑share cap; this bill builds on that framework. [2]U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (DOI) — Small Storage Program[5]Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) — 43 U.S.C. § 3203 — Small wat…

Who’s Against It

• No prominent, organized opposition is publicly documented yet; debates are likely to focus on implementation. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — All Info - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-…
• Environmental and public‑health researchers caution that recharging on farm fields can mobilize pesticides or nitrates into groundwater if not carefully sited and managed. [7]PubMed (NIH/NLM) — The impact of managed aquifer recharge on the fate and trans…[8]U.S. Geological Survey — The effects of artificial recharge on groundwater leve…
• Policy analysts note practical hurdles: finding surplus water to recharge, legal and permitting complexity, and funding/land needs—issues local agencies must solve for projects to deliver promised benefits. [9]Public Policy Institute of California — Groundwater Recharge in California
• Supporters counter that projects must still comply with environmental laws like NEPA, which applies to this grant program. [5]Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) — 43 U.S.C. § 3203 — Small wat…

What’s Next

The bill is in the House Natural Resources Committee; the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee set a legislative hearing for November 19, 2025. After hearings, next steps could include subcommittee and full‑committee markups before any House floor vote. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — All Info - H.R.338 - 119th Congress (2025-…[3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Legislative Hearing on H.R. 338 — House Na…

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