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Congress·In Committee·about 2 months ago

Water Power: Research and Development Update

Also known as: Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Key Points

  • This bill would provide $300 million every year through 2030 to improve how we get energy from water. Most of the money ($200 million) goes toward marine energy, like waves and tides, while $100 million is for traditional hydropower like dams.
  • The plan focuses on making water power more reliable and secure. It includes new research into protecting power plants from cyberattacks and finding better ways to connect water energy to the national power grid so it can be used more easily.
  • It aims to help coastal and remote communities by developing small-scale power systems. These systems could help with things like turning salt water into drinking water, powering fish farms, and providing electricity during disaster recovery.
  • The bill also creates new training programs to help students and workers get jobs in the water power industry. It partners with colleges, trade schools, and maritime academies to teach the skills needed for the next generation of energy jobs.
  • Researchers will look for ways to make water power equipment last longer in tough conditions, such as very cold water or icy environments. They will also use advanced manufacturing, like 3D printing, to build parts more efficiently in the United States.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 16, 2026House

Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act

Bill NumberHR 7129
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

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