A proposal to direct $13 million toward Milton-Freewater’s water system has cleared the U.S. House, bringing the eastern Oregon city closer to replacing a failing reservoir while leaving two federal decisions ahead before funding could reach the project.
The House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 last week with a provision authorizing the Milton-Freewater project. The Senate must also pass the authorization, and Congress would then need to appropriate the money. The House vote did not itself award the city a $13 million grant.
Milton-Freewater is seeking federal support to replace and expand part of its aging water supply system. At the center of the request is the Middle Reservoir, one of the city’s three reservoirs. It is 70 years old, is failing and cannot be repaired, according to information provided to Congress by the city.
The cost presents a difficult choice for a community facing other utility improvements in the near future. City leaders want to avoid borrowing the estimated $13 million for the reservoir project because repaying that debt would require an increase in water and sewer rates. Those rates are already close to $80 a month.
Mayor Mike Odman, the city manager and a city councilor met with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz in January to discuss the reservoir and ask for help pursuing federal funding. Bentz submitted the project for consideration under the Water Resources Development Act, and the Milton-Freewater provision was included in the bill that passed the House.
The act, which Congress considers every two years, authorizes certain water infrastructure studies and projects involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Authorization makes a project eligible for federal funding, but it does not provide the money on its own. For Milton-Freewater, the next steps are Senate approval and a subsequent appropriation through the federal energy and water development funding process.
“The Middle Reservoir is a critical component of our municipal water system, and its replacement will help ensure a safe, reliable water supply for our residents for decades to come,” Odman said.
Odman also credited Bentz’s office with helping the city navigate the application process, from early discussions about the project’s scope through its submission. He said that assistance was valuable to a small community with limited capacity to prepare grant applications.
For now, the House action places Milton-Freewater’s request in a federal water bill. Whether the city receives the $13 million will depend on what the Senate and Congress do next.