H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, advanced out of committee on July 14, 2026.
H.R. 9497 — Water Resources Development Act of 2026
What it does
This bill modernizes how the Army Corps of Engineers manages water resources projects by streamlining permitting, accelerating project timelines, and expanding non-federal funding options. It creates new offices to help local governments access federal assistance, establishes a board of levee operators to advise Congress on flood management priorities, and allows the Corps to issue categorical permits for routine activities without individual case-by-case review.
Quorum's transparency scan gave Water Resources Development Act of 2026 a moderate transparency flag.
What happens next
H.R. 9497 advanced out of committee. Next stop: a floor vote.
Who is behind it
Filed by Sam Graves. Cosponsored by Frederica Wilson, Mike Collins and Rick Larsen.