Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026 to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
Introduce legislation to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
Occurrences
The "Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026" (FLOWS Act of 2026), S.3967, was introduced in the Senate on March 3, 2026, by Senator Boozman (R-AR) and one cosponsor. Its primary purpose is to establish a grant program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to provide infrastructure assistance to eligible entities for digital infrastructure technology in rural public water systems and treatment works. The grants would support the adoption of digital infrastructure technology, including remote sensing, real-time monitoring, industrial control systems (SCADA), artificial intelligence, and digital design software, aimed at improving efficiency, detecting water loss, and assessing infrastructure conditions in rural water systems.
Senators Boozman and Kelly introduced the FLOWS Act to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. KELLY) introduced the following bill ... To establish a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program ... (b) GRANT PROGRAM.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall establish a grant program to provide infrastructure assistance to eligible entities in accordance with this subsection. ... (ii) providing training and workforce development activities to help project and construction managers and owners and operators of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities manage water infrastructure projects using digital infrastructure technology; and (iii) mitigating risks and employing countermeasures to reduce the vulnerabilities of digital infrastructure technology for water infrastructure from cyber-attacks through on-site cybersecurity training and technical assistance.
Evidence
Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026 to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. KELLY) introduced S.3967, the 'Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026,' establishing a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program.
Senators Boozman and Kelly introduced the FLOWS Act to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
Official bill text (S.3967) shows the measure was introduced March 3, 2026, and lists 'Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Kelly)' as sponsors; the bill establishes a competitive EPA grant program to help small and rural water, wastewater, and stormwater systems adopt digital technologies, workforce training, and cybersecurity assistance.
Senator Kelly's office press release (Mar 5, 2026) announces that Sens. Mark Kelly and John Boozman introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act to help rural utilities improve reliability and to strengthen and modernize cybersecurity.
Bill text (S.3967) introduced March 3, 2026 by Mr. Boozman "for himself and Mr. Kelly" establishing a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program including cybersecurity assistance.
Analysis/track: S.3967 introduced March 3, 2026 and 'is in an early legislative stage, having been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.' No subsequent committee actions reported as of April 12, 2026.
The introduced Senate bill text for S. 3967 lists Sen. Mark Kelly as a cosponsor and says the bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The bill would create a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program to help small and rural water systems improve operations, reliability, and cybersecurity.
"Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. KELLY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works" and the bill text states: "To establish a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program."
"Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026 to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity."
The release says the senators "introduced the FLOWS Act" and that it would "help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity."
Assessments
The promise was specifically to introduce legislation, not to enact it. Evidence shows Kelly was named on S.3967, the FLOWS Act of 2026, introduced March 3, 2026 by Boozman for himself and Kelly, and Senate office releases describe it as helping rural utilities improve reliability while strengthening and modernizing cybersecurity. That directly satisfies the promised action during Kelly's current Senate term, even though the bill appears to remain in early legislative stages.
Mark Kelly co-sponsored and was publicly announced as introducing the FLOWS Act of 2026 on March 3, 2026. The bill’s text matches the promise by creating a rural grant program to improve utility reliability and cybersecurity, so the commitment to introduce legislation was fulfilled in the same term. Later legislative progress appears limited, but that is separate from the promised introduction.
Sen. Mark Kelly co-sponsored and helped introduce S.3967 (FLOWS Act) on March 3, 2026, which establishes a competitive EPA grant program to help small and rural water/wastewater/stormwater systems adopt digital technologies, workforce training, and cybersecurity assistance. Official bill text and Senate press releases confirm the introduction and Kelly's cosponsorship; the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and had no further committee action as of mid-April 2026. This meets the promise to introduce legislation to improve rural utility reliability and modernize cybersecurity.
Primary bill text (S.3967) and multiple Senate press releases show Sen. Mark Kelly co-sponsored and helped introduce the FLOWS Act (S.3967) on March 3, 2026, which creates a competitive EPA grant program to help small and rural water, wastewater, and stormwater systems adopt digital technologies, workforce training, and cybersecurity assistance—directly matching the promised action to introduce legislation to improve rural utility reliability and modernize cybersecurity.
Sen. Mark Kelly is listed as a cosponsor on S.3967 (Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026), introduced March 3, 2026, which establishes a competitive EPA grant program to help small and rural water systems adopt digital technologies, workforce training, and cybersecurity modernization. Senate and sponsor press releases describe the bill’s purpose as improving reliability and strengthening/modernizing cybersecurity for rural utilities, matching the claimed pledge to introduce such legislation.
Senator Mark Kelly fulfilled his promise by introducing the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act during his term. The legislation specifically targets reliability improvements and cybersecurity modernization for rural utilities, matching the campaign promise’s criteria.