Senate Passes “Do Not Flush” Labeling Legislation
On March 22, the Senate passed the WIPPES Act (S.1092) under unanimous consent, a procedure reserved for bipartisan, non-controversial legislation that has the support of the committee of jurisdiction’s leadership and draws no objection from the full Senate. S.1092 would establish federal “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for nonflushable wipes packaging, mirroring California’s existing law. The legislation has been received in the House and is awaiting further action.

Last year, the House passed companion legislation, H.R. 2269, by a bipartisan voice vote on the Floor. To ensure the highest likelihood of final passage, CASA will continue working with House sponsors Representative Lisa McConnell (R-MI) and Representative Kevin Mullen (D-CA), and fellow stakeholders to pass S.1092 to enact it into law by year’s end. Final passage would mean California’s “Do Not Flush” label standard becomes the official national labeling standard for nonflushable wipes.

S.1092’s passage under unanimous consent reflects the effectiveness of CASA’s leadership of this initiative and as the leader of the WIPPES Act stakeholder coalition over two Congresses. The coalition spans over 20 organizations representing national and state clean water associations, wipes industry and trade groups, environmental advocates, and civil engineers.

The coordinated engagement strategy CASA employed, with the help of the wipes industry and national clean water associations, was instrumental in securing bipartisan committee and preventing floor objection.

 

White House Transmit Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
On April 3, the White House released their Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Request. The Budget Request outlines the Administration’s recommended funding levels for federal agencies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year. For FY2027, the Administration is again recommending significantly reducing domestic spending. Read more below to find out how this impacts the critical water infrastructure programs most relevant to CASA.

The Budget Request recommends a 10% reduction in overall non-discretionary funding compared to Fiscal year 2026 enacted levels. The transmittal of the Budget Request to Congress officially starts the FY2027 appropriations process. While the Request outlines the Administration’s priorities, it is tradition for Congress to largely ignore it.

Similar to the Administration’s FY2026 Budget Request, the FY 2027 Budget Request proposes significant reductions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In response to these proposed cuts, CASA is advocating both independently and collaboratively as part of a water sector stakeholder coalition group of national and state associations, to congressional appropriators for full federal funding of these programs in FY2027. The following identifies the Administration’s key funding proposals for critical water infrastructure programs most relevant to CASA.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Requests $4.2 billion in total funding, which represents a 52% decrease from the FY2026 enacted level.

  • Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF): Cuts the program overall by $2.5 billion, recommending $155 million for Clean Water SRF, citing that the SRF program has strayed from its original purpose and should be funded primarily by the states.
  • WIFIA Program: Recommends $8 million, effectively cutting the program.
  • Categorical Grants Program: Reduced by approximately $1 billion.
  • Surface Water Protection Program: Recommends $209.8 million.
  • Geographic Program: Recommends $584.9 million to fund environmental remediation and water quality restoration activities.
  • Eliminates Agency’s environmental justice program.
  • Cuts new Superfund Program funding.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – Recommends overall $1.3 billion in current appropriations, of which $.1.1 billion is for the Bureau’s Water and Related Resources account.

  • Eliminates funding for WaterSmart Grants for local ecosystem restoration projects, climate studies, and water recycling plants.
  • Cuts funding for Title XVI Program.
  • Refocuses mission to manage water in western U.S. and ends activities that stray from priority including assistance to install solar panels over water canals.
  • Recommends $67 million for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund.
  • Recommends $32 million for the California Bay-Delta Restoration Fund.
  • Ends funding for programs that support “frivolous local projects.”

 

EPA Seeking Public Feedback on Water Affordability Tool
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public feedback on its Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) guidance. The guidance aims to be a resource to help keep local water bills affordable, as clean water agencies look to invest in system upgrades.

Through May 26, 2026, the Agency is soliciting public comments on the guidance and how the Agency should update the document to reflect ratepayers’ abilities to support infrastructure upgrades. Specifically, the Agency is seeking public feedback on the guidance methodologies, data collection, benchmark scheduling, cost of living metrics, and implementation improvements.