Legislation addresses water infrastructure needs nationwide
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL) released the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, a bill that addresses important water infrastructure needs across the U.S. Since 2014, Congress has enacted a WRDA every two years to help improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment and other aspects of water resources and infrastructure.
“This bill streamlines Corps of Engineers’ processes, providing targeted and commonsense reforms to improve project delivery and empower local stakeholders,” said Graves. “For North Missouri in particular, WRDA 2026 advances a comprehensive flood control plan on the Missouri River, ensuring that people and property are the main priority when managing the river. It also expands the ways our levee owners can work with the Corps to build flood risk management infrastructure and provides necessary, streamlined assistance to levee districts facing maintenance challenges. It also strengthens my state’s representation in Missouri River basin management. I want to thank Ranking Member Larsen, Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Wilson for their work throughout this process, as well as the hundreds of Members of Congress who participated in the development of this bipartisan bill.”
The WRDA represents a continuous effort to advance water infrastructure needs across the country, grow the economy and ensure that communities have access to water resources.
