S. 4350Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated May 1, 2026 at 6:51 AM UTC

The Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026 adds a new program to the Clean Water Act that focuses on the coastal watersheds of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The program, run by the EPA, will fund projects to reduce pollution, restore habitats, improve water quality, and build resilience in those watersheds. Grants can be awarded to states, local governments, tribes, regional planners, nonprofits, and colleges, with up to 75% of project costs covered by federal funds. The bill also sets aside $30 million per year for the program from FY 2027 through FY 2031.

Key Provisions

Defines “coastal watersheds of southeast New England” as all watersheds in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts that drain into coastal waters between Long Island Sound and the Gulf of Maine.
Establishes the Southeast New England Program within the EPA to protect, enhance, and restore those watersheds.
Allows the EPA Administrator to award grants for activities such as pollution reduction, site cleanup, habitat restoration, water‑quality improvement, storm‑water management, resilience building, workforce training, and technical assistance.
Specifies eligible grant recipients: states, local governments, federally recognized tribes, regional planning organizations, nonprofit groups, and higher‑education institutions.
Limits the federal share of grant funding to a maximum of 75% of project costs.
Authorizes up to $30 million in annual appropriations for FY 2027‑2031, with up to 10% of grant funds usable for technical‑assistance grants and up to 5% for administrative expenses.
Requires the EPA to coordinate with other federal agencies, enter interagency agreements, create working groups, and staff the program adequately.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1859)

Environment and Public Works Committee

April 21, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 21, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1859)

Environment and Public Works Committee

April 21, 2026

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4350 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Apr 21, 2026

Mr. President today I am introducing the Southeast New England Program Authorization Act, along with Senators Whitehouse, Markey, and Warren. Our bill would formally authorize the EPA's Southeast New England Program, or SNEP, to ensure that it can continue to benefit the region for years to come.

In 2012, as chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I created SNEP to fund local, community-based projects that contribute to the restoration and protection of Narragansett Bay and other watersheds and tributaries in southeast New England. Since then, SNEP has invested over $70 million to support over 100 projects in the region. From improving stormwater management infrastructure, to creating urban greenways, to removing invasive species from local watersheds and more, SNEP projects have brought lasting solutions to communities across Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts.

SNEP supports three main objectives: creating a resilient ecosystem of safe and healthy waters, supporting thriving watersheds and natural lands, and building sustainable communities. In carrying out these goals, SNEP has empowered more than 150 organizations to undertake projects that contribute to the protection of critical habitat and environmental resources that are important to public health and the local economy. Along the way, the program leverages non-Federal investments in communities that are often overlooked, supporting local construction and engineering businesses, tourism. and recreation.

Since its inception, SNEP has made great progress in protecting our region's natural resources, helping to mitigate the impacts of development and reverse the impact of decades of pollution on our waterways. The projects and partnerships that SNEP supports are also helping coastal communities throughout southeast New England meet new challenges, such as rising sea levels, more frequent and volatile storms, and catastrophic flooding caused by climate change.

I applaud the work of the local SNEP partner organizations, including Save the Bay, the Nature Conservancy, Restore America's Estuaries, the Audubon Society, and many others. Together, they have worked with the States and localities to identify and implement successful projects in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They are making a huge difference in improving the health of our estuaries and coastal ecosystems, and I am pleased that they have endorsed this bill.

I urge my colleagues to join Senators Whitehouse, Warren, Markey, and me in supporting this commonsense legislation.

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Apr 21, 2026

I urge my colleagues to join Senators Whitehouse, Warren, Markey, and me in supporting this commonsense legislation.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 21, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4350

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 21, 2026

Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Markey, and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish the Southeast New England Program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026.

Southeast New England Program

Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

127.

Southeast New England Program

(a)

Definition of coastal watersheds of southeast New England

In this section, the term coastal watersheds of southeast New England means all of the watersheds of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts that drain into coastal waters between Long Island Sound and the Gulf of Maine.

(b)

Establishment

There is established in the Environmental Protection Agency a program, to be known as the Southeast New England Program (referred to in this section as the Program).

(c)

Purpose

The purpose of the Program shall be to protect, enhance, and restore the coastal watersheds of southeast New England by developing, funding, and advancing implementation of protection and restoration projects in collaboration with partners across the southeast New England region.

(d)

Grant program

(1)

In general

In carrying out the Program, the Administrator may award grants to support and carry out projects in the coastal watersheds of southeast New England that assist in—

(A)

eliminating or reducing pollution;

(B)

restoring contaminated sites;

(C)

protecting or restoring ecosystems or habitat;

(D)

improving water quality;

(E)

monitoring watersheds to evaluate trends;

(F)

reducing stormwater runoff;

(G)

promoting resilience of the coastal watersheds;

(H)

supporting workforce development, training, or education initiatives that contribute to the health of the coastal watersheds of southeast New England; or

(I)

providing technical assistance in carrying out projects described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).

(2)

Eligible recipients

An entity eligible for a grant under this subsection is—

(A)

a State;

(B)

a county or local government, or a subdivision of such a government;

(C)

a federally recognized Indian tribe;

(D)

a regional planning organization;

(E)

a nonprofit organization; and

(F)

an institution of higher education.

(3)

Cost-share

The Federal share of an activity carried out using a grant under this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent.

(e)

Coordination

The Administrator shall coordinate the actions of Federal agencies that affect water quality and the living resources of the coastal watersheds of southeast New England to improve those resources and enhance efficiency.

(f)

Authorities and duties of Administrator

(1)

In general

In carrying out this section, the Administrator may—

(A)

enter into interagency agreements;

(B)

establish interagency working groups; and

(C)

contract for services to carry out the purposes of this section.

(2)

Staffing

The Administrator shall provide adequate staff to carry out this section.

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available until expended.

(2)

Technical assistance

Of the amounts made available to award grants under subsection (d) in a fiscal year, not more than 10 percent may be used to award grants the primary purpose of which is providing technical assistance pursuant to paragraph (1)(I) of that subsection.

(3)

Administrative expenses

Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses.