December 11, 2025
Ms. Barragán introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase certain criminal fines, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Clean Water Justice Act
.
Sec. 2. Criminal penalties
Section 309(c)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (B)—
(1)
by striking $5,000
and inserting $25,000 (subject to adjustments under this paragraph)
;
(2)
by striking $50,000
and inserting $250,000 (subject to adjustments under this paragraph)
;
(3)
by striking $100,000
and inserting $500,000 (subject to adjustments under this paragraph)
; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following: The Administrator shall annually adjust the maximum penalties under this paragraph by the percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers published by the Department of Labor for the month of October preceding the date of the adjustment exceeds such Consumer Price Index for the month of October in the preceding year, and shall publish each such adjustment in the Federal Register. An adjustment shall apply only with regard to a violation committed after the date of such publication.
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