H.R. 9313 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
Water Access Act
Cosponsors: 1 (1 D, 0 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-08
Introduced: 2026-06-15
Latest action (2026-06-15): Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
What H.R. 9313 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 9313 yet. Its official title: “Water Access Act”.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Not graded yet
H.R. 9313 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.50
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The Founders are split 2-2 on the constitutionality of HR-119-9313. Hamilton and Marshall find the bill constitutional under the General Welfare and Necessary and Proper Clauses, viewing water assistance as a legitimate object of federal spending for the general welfare. Madison and Jefferson find it unconstitutional, arguing that the General Welfare Clause is limited to enumerated powers and that such local welfare matters are reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment. The conditional nature reflects that the bill's constitutionality depends on whether the General Welfare Clause is interpreted broadly (as Hamilton and Marshall argue) or narrowly (as Madison and Jefferson argue).
The proposed appropriation falls squarely within Congress's power to provide for the general welfare under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. Assisting low-income households with water access is a legitimate object of national concern, as water is essential to life and commerce, and the federal government may properly use its spending power to address such needs. The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) further authorizes Congress to select the means to execute its enumerated powers, including appropriations. As I argued in Federalist No. 30, the power to raise revenue an…
The Constitution enumerates specific powers to the federal government, and providing direct monetary assistance for water bills to low-income households is not among them. Such a program exceeds the limited authority granted by Article I, Section 8, and intrudes upon powers reserved to the states and the people. The Tenth Amendment explicitly reserves to the states all powers not delegated to the United States, and this legislation represents an unwarranted expansion of federal reach into domestic welfare, which is properly the province of the states.
This bill appropriates federal funds for a low-income household water assistance program, a matter of local welfare not enumerated among the powers delegated to Congress. The General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) is not an independent grant of authority but is limited to the objects of the subsequent enumerated powers, as I argued in Federalist No. 41. Providing direct relief for water bills falls outside those enumerated objects, such as regulating interstate commerce or providing for the common defense. Moreover, the Tenth Amendment reserves such police powers to the states…
The Congress possesses the power to appropriate funds for the general welfare, and the provision of water assistance to low-income households is a legitimate object of federal spending. The necessary and proper clause empowers Congress to enact laws that are appropriate to carry out its enumerated powers, including the power to tax and spend for the general welfare. The program in question is a valid exercise of that power, as it addresses a national concern and does not infringe upon any state sovereignty protected by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states powers not del…
Report an error in this Founders' Verdict
What should pass
“VFA SI Solution”
No solution yet
A sourced SI draft appears here once it passes automated checks (Constitution citation, source verification, independent SI critic). How publication works.
For journalists and bloggers
“Embed this grade”
Free to use with the link back. The badge and card update when the grade changes. Embed terms →
