"Water Resources Development Acts Implementation: Review and Oversight of Past Provisions"

House Public Works and Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources

2025-09-10

Loading video...

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment convened to review the performance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the implementation of recent Water Resources and Development Acts (WRDAs) [ 00:22:40 ] . Assistant Secretary Adam Tell and Lieutenant General William Graham Jr. testified, emphasizing the shared goal of making the Corps operate faster, more efficiently, and more economically [ 00:23:09 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Efficiency and Project Delivery

Multiple members and witnesses expressed significant concerns regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project delivery efficiency [ 00:23:24 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Chairman Collins highlighted the importance of completing projects on time, under budget, and correctly, citing issues like study delays, dredging backlogs, and mismanagement of repairs to vital infrastructure [ 00:23:37-00:24:06 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Lieutenant General Graham acknowledged the Corps' current on-schedule rate of 80.1% as "unacceptable," and outlined a commitment to procedural improvements focusing on engineering, project management, and team composition . Assistant Secretary Tell pointed out that only about a third of funds appropriated to the Corps are directly used for construction or maintenance, suggesting a need to optimize program delivery for quality, speed, and cost .

Funding and Budget Concerns

A major theme was the concern over funding and budget allocations for the Corps . Ranking Member Wilson criticized the Trump administration for proposing major cuts, leading to a loss of experienced professionals and a federal hiring freeze that prevents new hires . Ranking Member Larsen highlighted a proposed 24% reduction in Corps funding for fiscal year 2026, which he stated would significantly slow project delivery, delay critical benefits, and leave communities vulnerable . He also noted the budget request ignores the legal requirement to spend 100% of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund dollars, which would lead to increased import/export costs and further impact critical maintenance . Assistant Secretary Tell acknowledged a $78 billion backlog in authorized but unfunded projects, emphasizing that demand for Corps services far outpaces supply [ 01:02:03 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Dredging and Navigation

The critical importance of consistent dredging for America's harbors and waterways was a key discussion point [ 00:25:09 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Chairman Collins cited Brunswick Harbor in his home state of Georgia, which went years without dredging to its federally authorized depth, causing shoaling and threatening ship groundings [ 00:25:40 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. He urged streamlining Corps dredging processes, including contracting practices and environmental windows [ 00:26:04-00:26:18 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Assistant Secretary Tell underscored that dredging capacity is crucial for national competitiveness and highlighted the need to re-evaluate contracting, research expanded environmental windows, and recapitalize Corps assets . Lieutenant General Graham confirmed collaborative efforts with the dredging industry and expressed particular concern for dredging capacity in the Great Lakes .

Recreation Site Management

The management and accessibility of Corps recreation sites generated discussion, including the potential for increased local control [ 00:26:54 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Chairman Collins noted past failures at Lake Lanier in Georgia and expressed a desire for the Corps to transfer recreation site management to focus resources on core missions like navigation and flood control [ 00:26:59-00:27:09 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Assistant Secretary Tell acknowledged workforce shortages that led to recreation site closures, stating that rehiring seasonal staff was underway and that delegating responsibilities to state and local partners could improve efficiency . Congressman Pappas raised concerns about how a federal hiring freeze impacted recreation areas in New Hampshire, leading to reduced services and affecting the outdoor recreation economy .

Water Resources and Infrastructure

Several members emphasized the critical need for investment in water resources and infrastructure projects, encompassing navigation, flood control, environmental restoration, and water supply [ 00:32:50 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Chairman Collins noted the aging state of inland waterway locks and dams and the slow pace of rehabilitation efforts [ 00:24:28 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Ranking Member Wilson highlighted the Corps' role in the Florida Everglades restoration but expressed concerns about funding and political interference hindering progress . The importance of water supply, particularly in the western United States, was underscored, with Assistant Secretary Tell and Lieutenant General Graham discussing the optimization of existing infrastructure through forecast-informed reservoir operations (FIRO) to manage scarce water resources more effectively . Concerns were also raised about the lengthy timelines for flood risk and resiliency studies, hindering timely protections for communities [ 01:47:03-01:47:12 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Regulatory Streamlining

Efforts to streamline regulatory processes and clarify environmental definitions were also discussed . Assistant Secretary Tell stated the administration's commitment to ending confusing definitions of "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) and adhering to the Supreme Court's Sackett decision . He noted that interim guidance has been issued, and a proposed rule for a permanent definition is expected by the end of the year to cut red tape and lower costs . Additionally, reforms to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures were made to modernize and expedite environmental reviews . Some members, like Congressman Patronis, expressed frustration with slow and seemingly unnecessary permitting processes for minor local projects, questioning the Corps' involvement in such matters .

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely professional and appreciative of the Corps' foundational work, particularly with new leadership in place [ 00:22:40 ] . However, it was underscored by significant frustration and urgency from many members regarding project delays, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and critical funding shortfalls [ 00:23:24 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. There was notable bipartisan concern for local communities affected by slow project delivery and aging infrastructure [ 00:24:06-00:24:49 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. A palpable undercurrent of partisan tension emerged around proposed budget cuts and their potential impact on the Corps' ability to fulfill its mandates . Personal touches, such as condolences for Assistant Secretary Tell's recent loss, added a respectful and human element to the proceedings .

Participants

Transcript

Subcommittee on Water Resources Environment will come to order.   I ask unanimous consent that the chairman be authorized to declare a recess at any time during today's hearing.  Without objection, so ordered.  I also ask unanimous consent that members not on the subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at today's hearing and ask questions.  Without objection, so ordered.  As a reminder, if members wish to insert a document into the record, please also email it to documentsti at mail.house.gov.   I now recognize myself for the purpose of an opening statement for five minutes.  I'd like to thank Assistant Secretary Tell and General Graham for joining us today as we review the core performance and implementation of recent Water Resources and Development Acts.  I wanna give special congratulations to you, Assistant Secretary Tell, on your confirmation by the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote just over a month ago.   Based on the conversations we've had, I'm confident that you will provide much needed leadership to the Army Corps of Engineers.  I look forward to working with you to ensure the Corps fulfills its critical missions.  I know that you both share the same goal as I do, to make the Corps act faster, more efficiently, and more economically.  Unfortunately, Corps project delivery often falls short of where it should be.   I have a background in the trucking business where delivering on time is what keeps our doors open.  And my goal as chairman of the subcommittee is to get the Corps to complete its projects on time, under budget, and correctly.  I understand some of the budgetary problems that the Corps faces, but these are not excuses for study delays, year-long dredging backlogs, and mismanagement of repairs to vital locks and dams on our inland waterway system.   Earlier this year, I was able to visit Wilson and Chickamauga Locks in Alabama and Tennessee, which are crucial assets that serve America's economic and national security by ensuring two of our nation's largest rivers are navigable to the Gulf of America.
These locks and dams are a testament to the Corps' legacy of building America, but like so many other inland waterway projects, they are past their prime.  So rehabilitating and replacing them is taking too long and costing taxpayers   far more than it should.  We have a responsibility to invest and manage America's hard-earned tax dollars wisely and efficiently.  While these projects are expensive, the Corps can and must do better.  I am hopeful that Section 1126 of the Water 2024, which changed the cost share of these projects required to come from the Inland Waterway Trust Fund, will help the Corps move these projects along.   Another area where the Corps can improve is the consistent dredging of America's harbors.  My home state of Georgia's economy relies heavily on the consistent dredging of the Port of Savannah and Brunswick.  2025 represented the busiest year on record for the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick, which recently became America's number one port for automobiles.   Despite this incredible growth at Georgia's seaports, it has been years since Brunswick Harbor had been dredged to its federally authorized depth, leading to shoaling and threatening of ships grounding.  While I am pleased that the Corps has made Brunswick a priority this year, this vital port should not have gone this long without routine maintenance.  The challenge at Brunswick is why I've made streamlining the Corps dredging processes, including contracting practices and environmental windows,   that seem to prevent consistent maintenance of federal channels a top priority.  Water 2024 and other recent waters have also focused on Corps recreation projects.  I look forward to the Corps' implementation of these provisions to allow greater local control of the Corps' recreation sites to ensure public access.   Recent failures by the Corps to manage and provide access to recreation sites at Lake Lanier in Georgia were a wake-up call that more needs to be done.
Ultimately, I would like to get the Corps out of the business of running campgrounds and maintaining recreation sites so it can focus resources on navigation and flood control.  Finally, I urge the Corps to prioritize implementation of Section 1315 of Water 2024 regarding the new Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam in Georgia.   This issue has been around for decades, and Section 1315 provides a clear legal guideline for the Corps to follow, protecting the water supply behind the dam, providing for rehabilitation of the lock and dam, and clarifying the cost-sharing requirements.  The Corps must prioritize finalizing the engineering necessary to complete the project and provide an accurate cost estimate so that all parties involved understand the cost of completing the project   and can work to secure the appropriations necessary to put the issue to rest once and for all.  Thank you.  And I now recognize Ranking Member Wilson for five minutes for an opening statement.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for hosting this, the leadership of the U.S.  Army Corps of Engineers.  The Corps plays a critical role for communities across the country.   especially in my home state of Florida.  Our ports, beaches, and hurricane preparedness depend on the Corps.  We also are home to the Corps' largest environmental restoration endeavor in history, the restoration of the Florida Everglades.  Assistant Secretary Tell and Lieutenant General Graham, you each carry a huge responsibility.  However,   I'm concerned with your ability to be successful given the conditions you are facing.  In just nine months, the Trump administration has put the core under tremendous pressure.

Sign up for free to see the full transcript

Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.

Sign up