WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. Under the leadership of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-06) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC-07), WRDA passed the U.S. House by a vote of 399-18 last week. This legislation authorizes projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.

"After months of negotiations, the longstanding tradition of passing a biennial, bipartisan bill continues with WRDA 2024," said Chairman Rouzer. "This landmark legislation will make communities across the country resilient in the face of flooding and will increase our economic edge through the improved efficiency of our ports, harbors, and inland waterways. I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for their dedication in advancing this commonsense legislation, which will have a lasting and positive impact across the country.”

Background:

With more than 1,900 requests from Members and stakeholders, WRDA 2024 authorizes more than 200 new feasibility studies for locally proposed projects and 22 projects which have been thoroughly reviewed by the Corps and have culminated in a final report to Congress with approval by the Chief of Engineers or the Director of Civil Works 

As amended today, WRDA makes commonsense reforms to empower non-federal project sponsors, increase project transparency, and improve project delivery.  These provisions will strengthen existing alternative delivery processes, which allows non-federal entities to take the lead on projects, and creates similar methods within the for smaller projects.  The legislation also designated a Community Project Advisor at each Corps district to assist non-federal interests in accessing resources to get new projects studied and constructed. 

Furthermore, the bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Dam Safety Program through 2028 and makes changes to strengthen the High Hazard Potential Dam program and require rehabilitated dams have proper operations and maintenance plans in place.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has developed and passed WRDA legislation on a bipartisan and biennial basis since 2014.  WRDA 2024 maintains the regular consideration of this important infrastructure legislation, and it provides Congress the opportunity for input into the projects undertaken by the Corps. 

Click here for the WRDA 2024 North Carolina wins championed by Congressman Rouzer. 

Click here for legislative text and for more information on WRDA.