The WATERS Act is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Introduced on December 18, 2025, the bill updates how the Office is run, expands its work to include coastal hazards and education, and adds integrated ecosystem assessments. It was reported with an amendment and placed on the Union Calendar on August 20, 2026.
Federal funding and programs that support bay research, education, and coastal hazard work at NOAA depend on this authorization. If you live near waterways connected to federal environmental programs, this shapes which work NOAA is allowed and funded to do.
