The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026, which includes $750,000 in federal funding for a sewer replacement project in Virginia’s Ninth District. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration ahead of the government funding deadline on January 30.
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who represents Virginia’s Ninth District and has served in Congress since 2011 after replacing Rick Boucher, helped secure this funding for the Western Hills Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. The recipient of these funds is the Bedford Regional Water Authority.
Griffith stated: “I am proud to help secure in this appropriations bill $750,000 for the Bedford Regional Water Authority. These important funds will help the Authority update a sewer system to provide sanitary water to residents, serve the sewer needs of a growing community and attract commercial business interest.
“I am hopeful that the Senate passes this interior appropriations bill so Bedford Regional Water Authority is one step closer to receiving these funds to complete this important community project.”
In April 2025, Griffith attended an Earth Day event hosted by the Bedford Regional Water Authority where he joined officials in celebrating upgrades at a wastewater treatment plant. He submitted the request for community project funding for fiscal year 2026.
Other appropriations bills considered by Congress this week include those related to energy and water as well as commerce, justice and science.
Griffith was born in Philadelphia in 1958 and currently lives in Salem. He graduated from Emory and Henry College with a BA in 1980 and earned his JD from Washington and Lee University in 1983.
