Brownsville Federal Legislative Priorities: Water Supply

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce has finalized its plans for 2025 Brownsville Chamber Washington, D.C. Fly-In.

More than 30 officials from the public and private sectors will participate. They will depart Brownsville on Sept. 9 and return Sept. 11. 

The officials will promote Brownsville’s federal legislative priorities. One of the priorities is water supply.

Here are Brownsville’s priorities for water supply:

Water Supply

Sustainable Water Supply

Support the development and federal co-investment in regional and statewide strategies to ensure an adequate, resilient and cost-effective water supply to meet the needs of Texas’ rapidly growing population and industries.

- Advocate for the inclusion of South Texas water infrastructure in FY 2026 Appropriations and Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) funding cycles.

- Urge reauthorization and increased funding for the EPA State Revolving Funds (SRF) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to support local and regional projects.

- Support federal incentives for public private partnerships (P3s) in long-term water infrastructure planning.

- Oppose the exclusion of new funding for utility infrastructure in recent federal legislation through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Aging water systems, growing PFAS concerns, and rising demand from industrial development threaten the reliability and safety of our water supply. Federal disinvestment shifts the burden to municipalities and states, many of which are already overextended.

Innovation and Flexibility in Water Management

Encourage federal policies that enable innovation, technological adoption, and market-based water management, particularly in drought-prone regions like South Texas. 

Support federal research and demonstration grants, three, through DOE, USDA and EPA, for

• Brackish Groundwater Desalination (i.e., Southmost Regional Water Authority Optimization and Expansion Projects)
• Advanced Water Recycling & Reuse
• Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) & Direct Potable Reuse Systems
• Digital water infrastructure for leak detection, metering and smart allocation.
• Encourage expanded eligibility for these projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding mechanisms still active through FY 2026
• Advocate for regulatory flexibility and streamlined permitting via EPA and USACE for innovative water reuse and impoundment projects.

Preparedness for Growth 

Secure support for strategic investments in water infrastructure that protect the long term viability of Texas' economy - especially in sectors like agriculture, energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

• Advocate for inclusion of water resiliency provisions in any national industrial or energy competitive in this package.
• Ensure Department of Commerce and USDA federal development programs prioritize funding for water projects that serve high-growth areas near ports and industrial zones like Brownsville.