Water is one of Arkansas’s greatest natural resources. It supports our farmers and strengthens our economy, and dedicated professionals throughout our state work hard to ensure communities and families have access to safe, reliable drinking water. Protecting and improving the infrastructure that delivers it is crucial to maintaining a strong Arkansas today and for generations to come. 

This year, Congress has the opportunity to update and develop the laws that manage our nation’s water through the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and related authorities for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) water infrastructure programs. These bipartisan bills authorize projects carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and help communities address flood control, ecosystem restoration, water supply and navigation. In 2024, I worked with my colleagues to champion multiple provisions specifically supporting Arkansas’s water infrastructure that were signed into law. 

For Arkansas, WRDA has helped advance projects that support our economy and protect communities from flooding while bolstering important infrastructure like the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), which moves millions of tons of goods through our state each year. I was proud that the 2024 WRDA strengthened the MKARNS and increased its economic returns, all while lowering the supply chain’s environmental footprint and addressing uncertainty in the global agricultural and energy markets. 

While major water infrastructure projects are important, many of the challenges Arkansas communities face are closer to home.

In Northwest and Central Arkansas, communities are looking to expand water allocations and capacity to adequately serve growing populations as well as incoming industries. Across rural Arkansas, small water systems are working hard to keep up amid challenges including aging pipes, water loss and demand shifts. These systems often operate with limited staff and tight budgets, yet they are responsible for providing clean drinking water to thousands of Arkansans.

That is why I introduced the bipartisan Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026. This legislation would help water utilities adopt modern technologies that can detect leaks, improve system monitoring and boost reliability. These tools will allow communities to conserve water while reducing costly repairs and preventing problems before they disrupt service.

I am also working to improve coordination between federal agencies, states and local partners when planning water projects through the Advancing Water Resources Collaboration (AWRC) Act. The partnerships it sustains are key to ensuring projects move forward efficiently and produce results for the communities that depend on them.

Here in The Natural State, we are fortunate to have leaders who understand the importance of durable, functioning water infrastructure. Governor Sanders has made improving water systems across the state a priority, helping direct significant investments toward modernizing infrastructure and supporting long-term planning through updates to the Arkansas Water Plan.

We sometimes take reliable water infrastructure for granted. That is understandable given it is not glamorous –– but it truly underpins our economy, locally and nationally.

Meeting Arkansas’s water needs will require continued cooperation at every level of government. When federal, state and local partners work together, we can strengthen infrastructure, support economic growth and protect the natural resources that make Arkansas such a special place to live.