The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee plans to develop a new Water Resources Development Act (or WRDA) for this Congress. WRDA is a comprehensive water resources infrastructure development bill successfully enacted, on a bipartisan basis, in each of the last five Congresses. Specifically, WRDA authorizes studies and projects within the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works mission areas, including navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration. Through WRDA legislation, Congress also provides the Corps with authority to address water supply and conservation needs, aid in the production of hydropower, and manage a national recreation program.
Regular consideration of locally driven, rigorously studied, and nationally significant Corps infrastructure is key to preserving our Nation’s economy, protecting our communities and businesses, creating jobs, and maintaining our quality of life. This work, typically carried out by the Corps, is made possible through predictable and timely enactment of WRDAs.
The biennial enactment of WRDA provides Congress with a regular opportunity to oversee Corps policy on the development and implementation of water resource studies and projects. WRDAs include provisions related to both projects (including studies) carried out by the Corps, as well as the underlying policy that guides how the Corps implements its civil works authority. Members can submit requests under THREE provision categories—(1) project-specific requests (including requests for new or modified Corps’ studies), (2) policy requests, or (3) environmental infrastructure requests. Please visit the link below for more information on each type of request.
We want to ensure communities with potential water projects are aware of the opportunity and have access to the portal ahead of the deadline. The deadline for submissions will be January 31st at 6 PM, please fill out this WRDA application form:https://oampluspublic.senate.gov/public/login/455e9711-e634-405e-a15f-f731a56ea732. Late requests will not be considered. Please be aware that deadlines may be extended or shortened without notice.