Water Resources Development Act Submission Form

Welcome to U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly's Electronic Submission Form for WRDA. Based on the information below, please determine if your submission is a (1) Project-Specific Request, (2) Policy Request, or (3) Environmental Infrastructure Request. Based on that determination, please complete one of the appropriate forms in its entirety and upload the necessary documents.

The last day to submit a request for WRDA will be Thursday, January 11, 2024.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 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 see below for more information on each type of request.

Project-Specific Requests (including studies):
The Corps constructs projects for the purposes of navigation, flood control, hurricane and storm damage reduction and shoreline protection, hydroelectric power, recreation, water supply, environmental protection, restoration and enhancement, and fish and wildlife mitigation.

Typically, a Corps project begins with a Congressional request, enacted through a WRDA, for the Corps of Engineers to partner with a non-federal interest in conducting a feasibility study for one (or more) of the authorized purposes listed above. Member requests for new feasibility studies (or modification of existing feasibility studies) would be appropriate for consideration in a new WRDA.

A completed feasibility study is then submitted to Congress in the form of a Report of the Chief of Engineers (Chief’s Report) that would also need to be enacted to proceed to construction. Member requests to authorize a Chief’s Report submitted to Congress would be appropriate for consideration in a new WRDA.

Other types of project-specific requests appropriate for consideration in a new WRDA would include:

Requests to authorize or modify a Corps project or study;
Requests to deauthorize an existing Corps project; and
Requests to transfer, exchange, or convey lands or real property owned by the Corps, or to modify an existing easement held by the Corps over property.

In WRDA of 2014, Congress directed the Corps to annually solicit and compile project-specific requests from non-federal interests for potential congressional authorization through future WRDA bills. These "Annual Reports to Congress on Future Water Resources Development” reports (more commonly referred to as Section 7001 reports) identify completed Chief’s Reports, proposed feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects or feasibility studies, submitted by non-federal interests that are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps. A list of Section 7001 Reports that have been submitted to Congress can be accessed through the Committee website (https://transportation.house.gov/wrda-2024/)

Please click here if you have a Project-Specific Request.

Policy Requests

WRDAs also provide the Corps with statutory authority on how the agency carries out its general missions and authorities. Proposals to amend this authority, or to create new authority, would be considered policy requests, and can be submitted for consideration in a new WRDA bill. Generally speaking, if a Member request does not directly relate to a specific Corps study or project, it is likely that such a request should be submitted as a policy request.

Examples of policy-related provisions include:

Changes in how the Corps utilizes its federal resources under the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) or Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF);
Provisions related to how the Corps considers and evaluates future water resources development projects, including potential modifications to the Corps’ benefit-cost ratios (BCR) or affordability guidelines;
Provisions on how the Corps acts and reacts to emergencies, such as flooding, drought, and coastal storms, under its P.L. 84-99 authorities;
Provisions related to how the Corps identifies and evaluates potential project alternatives in the formulation of projects (e.g., consideration of natural or nature-based features); and
Provisions related to the role of non-federal interests in the development and funding of Corps’ studies and projects.

Please click here if you have a Policy Request.

Environmental Infrastructure Requests

Since WRDA of 1992, Congress has authorized the Corps to carry out environmental infrastructure projects to address local water supply, wastewater, and stormwater projects in partnership with non-federal interests. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has published a report providing more information about the Corps’ environmental infrastructure authorities (IF11184).

In WRDA of 2016, Congress specifically amended the requirements for the formulation of
Section 7001 Reports to allow for the inclusion of environmental infrastructure project requests in future 7001 Reports.

Please click here if you have an Environmental Infrastructure Request.

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Lastly, as in prior Congresses, WRDA will focus exclusively on activities within the scope of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Committee will not consider requests for programs or activities outside of the Corps’ jurisdiction for inclusion in WRDA.

Please remember that the last day to submit a request for WRDA will be Thursday, January 11, 2024.