US House releases bipartisan water infrastructure billThe House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed bipartisan legislation Frid...
Published by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
US House releases bipartisan water infrastructure bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed bipartisan legislation Friday that would authorize infrastructure and studies addressing flood risk and other water challenges, but the package is slimmer on new projects than past versions.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 includes 10 project authorizations and 131 new studies to be conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. Four of the projects in the bill are new, while the other six are alterations of projects previously approved by Congress.
The bill would also direct the agency to prioritize various issues and studies that have been sidelined by the Trump administration, with provisions seeking to promote nature-based and nonstructural flood solutions.
“WRDA 2026 helps build and maintain safe and reliable waterways, flood protection, and other water infrastructure throughout the United States,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement. “This bill streamlines Corps of Engineers’ processes, providing targeted and commonsense reforms to improve project delivery and empower local stakeholders.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee spokesperson Justin Harclerode said more information was to come this week about when the committee will vote on the bill.
Enacted every two years since 2014, the Water Resources Development Act has historically received widespread bipartisan support, but it got a slow start this year.
The bill is a chance for Congress to express priorities on flooding, wetlands restoration, dam safety and navigation and for lawmakers to advance pet projects back home.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed bipartisan legislation Friday that would authorize infrastructure and studies addressing flood risk and other water challenges, but the package is slimmer on new projects than past versions.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 includes 10 project authorizations and 131 new studies to be conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. Four of the projects in the bill are new, while the other six are alterations of projects previously approved by Congress.
The bill would also direct the agency to prioritize various issues and studies that have been sidelined by the Trump administration, with provisions seeking to promote nature-based and nonstructural flood solutions.
“WRDA 2026 helps build and maintain safe and reliable waterways, flood protection, and other water infrastructure throughout the United States,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement. “This bill streamlines Corps of Engineers’ processes, providing targeted and commonsense reforms to improve project delivery and empower local stakeholders.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee spokesperson Justin Harclerode said more information was to come this week about when the committee will vote on the bill.
Enacted every two years since 2014, the Water Resources Development Act has historically received widespread bipartisan support, but it got a slow start this year.
The bill is a chance for Congress to express priorities on flooding, wetlands restoration, dam safety and navigation and for lawmakers to advance pet projects back home.
Tags
- Water Resources
- Infrastructure
- Economics Of Water Resources Projects
- green infrastructure
- protection
- flood protection
- United States