S. 4949, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, advanced out of committee on July 15, 2026.
S. 4949 — Water Resources Development Act of 2026
What it does
This bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct feasibility studies for water resources projects (flood control, coastal protection, navigation, ecosystem restoration) in dozens of communities nationwide, and streamlines the Corps' internal processes—including faster environmental reviews for smaller projects, simplified evaluation procedures, and expedited reporting to Congress. It also mandates that the Corps resume previously paused studies and projects, provide regular status updates to Congress and local sponsors, and establish new working groups on flood risk management.
Quorum's transparency scan gave Water Resources Development Act of 2026 a high transparency warning.
What happens next
S. 4949 advanced out of committee. Next stop: a floor vote.
Who is behind it
Filed by Shelley Capito. Cosponsored by Adam Schiff, Angela Alsobrooks, Kevin Cramer and Sheldon Whitehouse.