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
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Jun 29, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jun 29
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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.
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Sep 16, 2026 · Engrossed in House On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended — Passed, 415–9 · Roll Call 313
… 2 unchanged passages …
(2) contributed by such agency head
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(subject to the availability of future appropriations).
… 2 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.
(a) In general. In carrying out an analysis of a measure benefitting Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the head of another Federal agency as part of the feasibility study for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation, Coastal Virginia, authorized by section 1201(9) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (132 Stat. 3802), the Secretary may use, for any portion of the cost of such analysis, funds—
(1) made available to the Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act for water resources development investigations; or
(2) contributed by such agency head (subject to the availability of future appropriations).
(b) Federal expense requirement. The Secretary shall carry out each analysis described in subsection (a) at Federal expense, except that, with respect to an analysis described in subsection (a) to the extent it relates to formulation of measures to reduce risk to a military installation, upon request of the non-Federal interest for the project described in subsection (a), the Secretary may use funds contributed by the non-Federal interest pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreement between the Secretary and the non-Federal interest for the project that relate to sharing the cost of the study.
(c) Savings provision. Nothing in this section affects any cost-sharing requirement applicable to the head of a Federal agency, other than the Secretary, for the construction of an authorized water resources development project, or a separable element of such project, resulting from the study described in subsection (a).
IV Water Resources Infrastructure
V Dam Safety