The U.S. Senate is preparing its bipartisan water infrastructure bill, S. 3591, for consideration. Consistent with past efforts, the measure would authorize new Army Corps of Engineers projects as well as Environmental Protection Agency restoration programs, including several provisions directed to projects in California and the West. It is expected this measure will take shape over the next months. Also this week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its score for the measure and estimated it would increase the federal deficit by $2.4 billion over a decade. At the time of this writing, it is unclear whether this legislation will move forward in a lame-duck Congress in late November/early December or be immediately pursued in the 117th Congress, which convenes during the first full week of January.
