Rep. Williams. U.S. House bill seeks more funding for green water infrastructure projects

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams in the U.S. House aims to increase investment in sustainable and efficient water infrastructure through mandated funding for green projects, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8459 was introduced on April 22, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to mandate that states allocate at least 20% of funds received for revolving fund capitalization grants towards green projects. These projects include initiatives aimed at enhancing green infrastructure, improving water or energy efficiency, and supporting other environmentally innovative activities, provided that there are sufficient eligible project applications. The effective date of this requirement is the day the legislation is enacted. This legislation aims to promote sustainability and efficiency within water infrastructure systems through increased investment in environmentally beneficial projects.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Nikema Williams (Democrat-GA-5th District) and co-sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat-GA), Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (Democrat-GA-13th District), and Rep. Shri Thanedar (Democrat-GA-13th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Williams has introduced another 31 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Nikema Williams is a Representative from Georgia. She served in the Georgia state senate from 2017 to 2021 and has been a member of Congress since January 3, 2021, having been elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Seventeenth and to the two succeeding Congresses.

Williams graduated with a B.A. from Talladega College in 2000. She has held leadership roles in the Democratic Party of Georgia, including vice-chair from 2011 to 2013, acting chair in 2013, and chair from 2019 to 2025, and has been a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.