H.R. 9497
Water Resources Development Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sam Graves
3 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Water Resources Development Act of 2026
This bill authorizes and modifies certain water resource infrastructure projects and programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and makes related requirements. For example, the bill authorizes and modifies various water resources feasibility studies and projects of the Corps of Engineers, such as studies or projects to
- maintain ports and harbors,
- make certain waterways more navigable,
- reduce flood and storm damage,
- restore aquatic ecosystems and protect fish and wildlife,
- protect shorelines,
- address harmful algal blooms,
- rehabilitate dams,
- manage recreational sites and facilities,
- support water supply and storage projects, and
- support other water resources infrastructure.
The bill also directs the Corps of Engineers to establish an Office on Alternative Delivery Methods in order to accelerate project delivery of infrastructure.
In addition, the bill directs the Corps of Engineers to issue a rule that establishes categorical permissions for certain harbor or river improvements that will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects.
Text of the bill
I General Provisions
II Studies and Reports
III Deauthorizations and Modifications
Where this section came from
-
Jun 29, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jun 29
-
Sep 3, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jul 14 Reported by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Sep 3 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
Section 5056 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1213) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b
)(
)— (A) in paragraph (
1)(A), by striking
construction and
all that follows
construction
through enhancement
and inserting
construction,
and design of water resource protection and restoration projects; and
;
(
2
B
) by striking
subsection
paragraph
(
b)(
2) and inserting
the following
:
… 10 unchanged passages …
(
3
2
) in subsection (f), by striking $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2029 and inserting $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030; and (
4
3
) by
inserting
adding
at the end the following:
… 7 unchanged passages …
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
Section 5056 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1213) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking construction and all that follows through enhancement and inserting construction, and design of water resource protection and restoration projects; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2) Use of existing information. In carrying out the program authorized by paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider data and analyses developed under paragraph (1)(B) and any relevant Federal, State, and local water resource planning efforts in the Rio Grande Basin.
(3) Projects. In carrying out the program authorized by paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall include projects for—
(A) drought, wildfire, flooding, and other natural disaster resiliency mitigation, including through the use of measures utilizing a natural feature or nature-based feature (as those terms are defined in section 1184(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (33 U.S.C. 2289a));
(B) the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat;
(C) addressing the impacts of excess sedimentation and salinity on surface and groundwater availability;
(D) improvements or rehabilitation of water-resources related infrastructure;
(E) the prevention and control of the spread of aquatic invasive species; and
(F) other water resource protection and restoration activities determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(2) in subsection (f), by striking $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2029 and inserting $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(g) Reports. Not later than December 31, 2027, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—
(1) contains an evaluation of the program carried out under subsection (b)(1)(A), including a description of all projects carried out under such program;
(2) contains a description of future projects planned to be carried out under such program;
(3) provides updates of a systemic habitat needs assessment and an assessment of needs for other related purposes in the Rio Grande Basin, including flood damage reduction, wildfire risk mitigation, and drought mitigation; and
(4) identifies any needed adjustments in the authorization of such program.
IV Water Resources Infrastructure
V Dam Safety