Summary
Approves various projects to improve rivers, harbors, and water resources, and supports water conservation and development across the country.
What problem does this solve?
Our nation's rivers, harbors, and water systems need constant updates to prevent floods, help ships move, and protect nature. This law approves new studies and projects to fix these problems and keep our water resources safe and useful.
Who does this affect?
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- State and local governments
- Coastal and riverfront communities
- Native American Tribes
What does this law do?
Changes cost sharing for inland waterway projects
Increases the federal government's share for building inland waterway projects from 65% to 75%. The remaining 25% will come from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.
Increases federal cost share for harbor deepening
Increases the depth for which the federal government pays 100% of harbor operation and maintenance costs from 50 feet to 55 feet. This helps major ports accommodate larger ships.
Authorizes new water infrastructure projects
Approves the construction of 18 new large-scale water projects for navigation, hurricane protection, flood control, and ecosystem restoration across the country.
Establishes a new stormwater management program
Creates a program for the Army Corps of Engineers to partner with local communities on projects to control, hold, and reuse stormwater to help with flood control.
Increases funding for smaller water projects
Raises the funding limits for several Continuing Authority Programs, which allow the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out smaller projects for things like emergency streambank protection, small flood control, and ecosystem restoration.
Creates a pilot program for Tribal project implementation
Establishes a pilot program that allows Native American Tribes to directly manage and carry out certain water resources projects on their lands.
Reference
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Subtitle B—Grace F. Napolitano Priority for Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency Act of 2024
Promotes water supply and drought resiliency
Enacts the 'Grace F. Napolitano Priority for Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency Act', which directs the Army Corps of Engineers to use weather forecasts to better manage reservoirs for water supply and drought.
Authorizes hundreds of new studies and project modifications
Gives the Army Corps of Engineers authority to study hundreds of new water projects and make changes to existing ones, covering everything from flood control and navigation to ecosystem restoration in nearly every state.
Reauthorizes economic development programs
Includes the 'Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024', which renews and updates programs under the Economic Development Administration and various regional commissions to support economic growth.
Reforms management of federal buildings
Includes several acts aimed at improving the management of federal public buildings, such as requiring agencies to track building usage, consolidating underused office space, and selling unneeded federal properties.
What is the real world impact?
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Secures funding for local projects
Authorizes hundreds of specific studies and construction projects in nearly every state. These types of bills are often used by members of Congress to bring federal money and jobs back to their home districts, which can help them get re-elected.
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Bundles unrelated legislation
Includes major, separate acts that are not directly related to water resources, such as reauthorizing the Economic Development Administration, changing highway funding, and reforming the management of federal public buildings. This makes it easier to pass many different items at once.
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Maintains critical water infrastructure
Provides necessary authorizations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue its work. This includes maintaining shipping channels for commerce, repairing levees and dams for flood protection, and restoring important ecosystems.
When does this start?
This law takes effect on January 4, 2025, but it sets many different deadlines for the government to take specific actions.
Plan for implementation
Within 90 days of the law's enactment, the Secretary of the Army must develop a plan for how to carry out all the new provisions in the law.
Alternative project delivery pilot program
Within 180 days of the law's enactment, the Secretary must start a pilot program that allows local partners to use different, potentially faster, methods to build smaller water projects.
New cost-share for inland waterways
Beginning on October 1, 2024, the federal government's share of costs for new and ongoing inland waterway construction projects will increase to 75%.
Tribal project implementation pilot program
Within 180 days of the law's enactment, the Secretary must establish a pilot program allowing Native American Tribes to directly carry out certain water projects.