The legislation authorizes 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects and 14 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-vetted projects that are ready for congressional authorization.
It also includes policy changes to speed up water infrastructure projects by giving local stakeholders more say in feasibility studies and helping them access Army Corps resources to get projects started.
WRDA will strengthen flood control and infrastructure projects, according to a news release from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Dive Insight: Congress has authorized Army Corps locally generated water resources infrastructure projects through bipartisan WRDAs every two years since 2014.
“WRDA 2026 makes significant improvements across the country to our inland waterways, ports and harbors, flood protection, and other critical water infrastructure,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo.