Bill > HR4144

This bill, called the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025, requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of groundwater rise in coastal areas of the continental United States. The bill recognizes that sea levels have risen 5-6 inches in the past 30 years and are expected to rise another 8-15 inches by 2050, with potential significant impacts on infrastructure and public health. Within 18 months, the USGS Director must develop detailed maps of groundwater rise projections through 2100, identifying priority areas at increased risk of flooding, and create a public website to share this information. The bill also mandates a two-phase study by the National Academies to examine the potential impacts of groundwater rise, with the first phase focusing on infrastructure risks like soil liquefaction and damage to roads, utilities, and buildings, and the second phase exploring public health concerns such as potential contamination of drinking water and agricultural areas. The study will provide recommendations for mitigating these risks, and the Director is required to submit a report to Congress within three years. The bill authorizes $5 million in funding for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to support these efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4144/all-info