Public Buildings Accountability Act of 2023

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4367) to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 4367, as amended, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4367, as amended, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which is a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation that is going to help address infrastructure needs across the country.

Earlier this year, the House advanced H.R. 8812, the House-developed WRDA bill, with a strong bipartisan vote of 359-13.

I thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen; Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair David Rouzer; Ranking Member Grace Napolitano; and our Senate colleagues, Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, for all of their hard work in developing and negotiating this final product.

It is important to note that, with WRDA 2024, we are continuing the bipartisan, bicameral tradition of passing a WRDA bill every 2 years, something that we have done since 2014.

The bipartisan legislation provides necessary authority and direction to the corps to carry out its mission to maintain and improve our water resource infrastructure, from ports to levees to navigation channels. It also makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get water resource projects done faster.

The bill is a big win, in particular, for levee districts across the country. Encroachments that don't impact the structural integrity of the levee can now be grandfathered in for both Federal and non-Federal levee districts.

It also rejects the corps' latest P.L. 84-99 rule, preventing them from kicking levee districts out for failing to complete irrelevant disaster preparedness exercises. These exercises encompass everything you can think of except for operations and maintenance, which is what levee districts should be focused on.

The legislation also reauthorizes and modernizes the Economic Development Administration, or the EDA, including removing hurdles to broadband, manufacturing, and workforce development, and ensuring that the EDA works better for small, rural communities.

It builds in strong oversight and transparency of Federal economic development programs to ensure that these programs are more accountable to the American taxpayer.

The legislation also includes critical reforms to how we manage Federal real estate, with the potential to save taxpayers billions of dollars by setting benchmarks for space utilization, directing the sale and consolidation of unused space, and strengthening congressional oversight of Federal building projects.

This bill also includes provisions to address concerns raised over the past several years by State departments of transportation surrounding a process known as August redistribution by redistributing unobligated balances under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, commonly called TIFIA, which provides for much-needed relief and flexibility to our State DOTs.

Finally, I include in the Record a statement of extended views of the chairman and ranking member, which provide additional direction and clarity to the corps about how we intend for this legislation to be implemented.

explanatory statement to accompany division a of the house amendment to s. 4367, the thomas r. carper water resources development act of 2024,

division a, the water resources development act of 2024

S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development

Act of 2024 as passed by the Senate and amended by the House

of Representatives is the legislative vehicle for the Water

Resources Development Act of 2024. This explanatory

statement, submitted on behalf of Chairman Sam Graves and

Ranking Member Rick Larsen of the House Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, reflects the view of the

Chairman and Ranking Member responsible for managing

negotiations to develop a final version of WRDA 2024,

hereafter in this statement referred to as ``the managers.''

This statement of the managers describes the intent of the

final legislation.

Background:

WRDA 2024 primarily addresses the Civil Works program of

the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The bill

supports the Nation's global economic competitiveness and

environmental resilience by authorizing the Corps to

undertake projects, programs, and initiatives in their Civil

Works program relating to navigation, ecosystem restoration,

flood and coastal storm risk management, hydropower,

recreation, emergency management, and water supply.

A water resources development act (WRDA) is the authorizing

legislation for the programs and projects of the Corps' Civil

Works program. Ideally enacted every two years, such an act

is the main vehicle for authorizing water resources

development projects to be studied, planned, and developed by

the Corps. WRDAs typically authorize new water resources

development

projects pursuant to completed feasibility study reports from

the Chief of Engineers, modifications to existing projects

pursuant to reports from the Director of Civil Works, other

modifications to existing projects, study authorizations for

new projects, the authorization of miscellaneous projects

consistent with the Corps' programs that also demonstrate a

Federal interest, and other programmatic changes to the

Corps' authorities. Projects and programs contained in WRDAs

fall within one or more of the Corps' Civil Works' missions

and authorities, which include navigation, ecosystem

restoration, flood and coastal storm risk management,

hydropower, recreation, regulatory, emergency management, and

water supply.

General Overview of WRDA 2024:

WRDA 2024 builds on a long-standing commitment to address

the Nation's water resources challenges, primarily through

the efforts of the Corps. WRDA 2024 aims to enhance the

Corps' ability to deliver critical water infrastructure

projects efficiently, meeting the diverse needs of river and

coastal navigation, flood and hurricane storm damage

reduction, shoreline protection, water supply, ecosystem

restoration, recreation, hydropower, and disaster response

and recovery.

WRDA 2024 authorizes for construction 22 projects and

project modifications based on reports submitted to Congress

by the Secretary or the Chief of Engineers. These projects

address various mission areas of the Corps, including

ecosystem restoration, flood and coastal storm risk

management, navigation, and water storage for water supply.

Discussion on Specific WRDA 2024 Provisions:

WRDA 2024 increases the per-project and programmatic

authorization limits for continuing authorities programs

(CAPs) for small projects that require no additional

Congressional authorization. Congress recognizes the

importance of CAPs, while acknowledging the impact of

inflation on infrastructure projects. These changes ensure

that critical projects receive adequate funding from the

start, reducing the need for piecemeal approaches and

enabling more robust, long-term solutions.

Section 1108 creates a new CAP for stormwater management

projects, emphasizing the growing demand for addressing

stormwater issues in communities, and highlighting

opportunities for integration of water resources management

through reclamation, recycling, and reuse of flood water and

stormwater associated with projects. This inclusion

recognizes the increasing challenges posed by larger and

stronger storms, which cause severe flooding and associated

damage in urban and rural areas alike. WRDA 2024 authorizes

the Corps to be more flexible and responsive to stormwater

management, while also making it easier for communities to

qualify for and receive Federal assistance. This change

highlights the program's adaptability to local needs and its

commitment to proactive flood risk management, which is

crucial for protecting lives, property, and the environment

in the face of changing climate patterns and urban

development pressures.

WRDA 2024 augments the Corps' authority to address

infrastructure resilience to increasing frequency and

intensity of extreme weather events, such as increased

precipitation and droughts. As noted earlier, WRDA 2024

creates opportunities, where appropriate, to reclaim, treat,

and reuse flood and stormwater associated with projects to

further enhance the resiliency of communities. Similarly,

this legislation amends the authority for Project

Modifications for Improvement of the Environment (33 U.S.C.

2309a) to authorize the Secretary to modify existing Corps'

projects to enhance drought resiliency. Under this modified

authority, the Secretary would be authorized to carry out

modifications to existing water resources development

projects, such as enhanced water conservation measures,

removal of excess sediment, the planting of native

vegetation, and other actions to increase drought resilience,

water conservation, and water availability.

The Community Revitalization Program (enacted as Section

165(a) of WRDA 2020) has been made permanent, ensuring long-

term support for community-led efforts to revitalize and

enhance local infrastructure. This stability provides support

for projects that address critical needs, promote sustainable

development, and improve overall community well-being.

Increasing the number of projects that can be carried out

through this program provides all communities across the

Nation with greater access to Corps expertise in addressing

local water resources challenges, enabling communities of all

economic means to undertake vital projects that might

otherwise be unaffordable. Such investments lead to improved

local economies, enhanced quality of life, and greater

resilience to future challenges,

Section 1107(a) creates a new pilot program for alternative

delivery for CAP projects. This new CAP delivery process

focuses on accelerating the delivery of projects through the

use of methods such as progressive design-build and

construction manager at risk approaches to project delivery,

with a goal of enhancing project efficiency and

effectiveness.

Similarly, Section 1105 of WRDA 2024 introduces reforms to

enhance consistency and efficiency within the Corps to modify

existing water resources development projects under Section

408. These policy modifications will provide non-Federal

entities with clear, consistent, and timely recommendations,

ensuring uniformity across Corps Districts. Non-Federal

entities may request pre-application meetings to clarify

technical requirements, determine optimal design package

submissions, and address potential concerns or conflicts with

proposed actions.

In addition to establishing the new alternative delivery

CAP, Sections 1109 and 1110 of WRDA 2024 amend Sections 203

and 204 of WRDA 1986, respectively, to clarify and enhance

the responsibilities of non-Federal interests in conducting

studies and construction activities for authorized projects.

These amendments provide clear guidelines and expectations,

ensuring efficient processes and effective project oversight.

WRDA 2024 marks a pivotal advancement in infrastructure

development policy, introducing strategic reforms aimed at

enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery

across the Nation. Through targeted policy changes, this

legislation empowers the Corps to better manage processes,

optimize resource allocation, and foster greater

collaboration with non-Federal entities. These not only

prioritize timely project completion but also ensure that

taxpayer dollars are invested judiciously, supporting

sustainable infrastructure solutions that meet the evolving

needs of communities nationwide.

In response to concerns received by the Committee regarding

the appropriate use of real estate interests by the Corps for

project purposes, Section 1104 of WRDA 2024 modifies the

requirements for minimum real estate interests. The Committee

recognizes that in some instances, the Corps has utilized

higher levels of real estate instruments than necessary for

project objectives, thereby increasing project costs and

administrative burdens. WRDA 2024 mandates a recalibration of

minimum real estate interests, ensuring that the Corps

utilizes instruments that are more proportionate to project

needs, rather than defaulting to fee simple ownership. This

adjustment aims to optimize project efficiency and cost-

effectiveness by requiring the use of lesser interests when

feasible and appropriate. The intent behind this change is to

align the Corps real estate practices more closely with

project requirements, promoting the use of alternatives that

provide sufficient control and access while minimizing

unnecessary acquisition costs and administrative

complexities.

Section 1146 of WRDA 2024 establishes a Systemwide

Improvement Plan to assist non-Federal entities in achieving

compliance with the P.L. 84-99 program by requiring that the

Corps work with non-Federal interests to develop

comprehensive compliance plans.

The Committee recognizes the critical importance of water

supply and water resiliency efforts to the nation's health,

economy, and security. Accordingly, Section 1161 of WRDA 2024

instructs the Corps to prioritize and maximize water supply,

water conservation, and drought resiliency efforts that are

in alignment with the authorized purposes of water resources

development projects, including study and construction

efforts, as well as efforts to modernize project operations,

consistent with authorized project purposes, in response to

local water resources needs and challenges. This section

underscores the necessity of prioritizing and funding water

supply projects and initiatives and ensuring that the Corps

is empowered and directed to address the Nation's water

resource needs. Similarly, Section 1164 authorizes the

Secretary to maximize water supply efforts as the primary

project purpose of certain water resources development

projects during a drought emergency in the project area

The Committee also recognizes the commitment to public

service and the development of the Nation's water resources

by the Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment

Subcommittee, Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano, and

designates Subtitle B of this Act, which contains several

policy provisions championed by Congresswoman Napolitano,

collectively as the Grace F. Napolitano Priority for Water

Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency Act of

2024.

Section 1140 of WRDA 2024 expands the types of projects

available to Tribes under the Tribal Partnership Program,

recognizing the unique needs and priorities of Tribal

communities. The Committee recognizes that Indian Tribes in

certain states, including the State of Washington, often

benefit from projects that are constructed off tribal lands

and includes a pilot program that allows the Tribal

Partnership Program to be utilized for projects constructed

in proximity to a river system or other aquatic habitat

within the State of Washington with respect to which an

Indian Tribe, an inter-tribal consortium, or a Tribal

organization has Tribal treaty rights.

Section 1303 of WRDA 2024, as amended, extends the

authorization for the pilot program established under Section

118 of WRDA 2020 for additional years, allowing additional

communities access to the benefits provided by this program.

Section 1206 includes an annual reporting requirement on

the operations and maintenance costs and needs at harbors and

inland harbors, the distribution of funds from the Harbor

Maintenance Trust Fund, and a list of unmet needs at harbors.

This requirement will provide the Committee with a continuous

baseline and understanding of the infrastructure needs at

our Nation's harbors, as well as the Corps' implementation

of Harbor

Maintenance Trust Fund allocations directed by Section 102

of WRDA 2020.

WRDA 2024 also amends Sections 101(a) and (b) of WRDA 1986

to increase the depth at which Federal ports and harbors

projects can receive Federal support for construction and

operation and maintenance. This will help ports and harbors

modernize and stay competitive on the global stage, allowing

more goods and services to be delivered into our country and

exported around the world. Additionally, this legislation

expands existing programs at the Corps that support emerging

harbors (Section 1129), remote and subsistence harbors

(Section 1147), and underserved community harbors (Section

1356), which are often critical to the economic well-being of

local communities.

Section 1126 of WRDA 2024 also updates the percentages of

funding for inland waterways navigation projects cost-shared

from direct appropriations and the Inland Waterways Trust

Fund (IWTF). This change will help the industries and

services that rely on a robust inland waterways network to

remain at the forefront of national and international trade.

Section 1130 of WRDA 2024 encourages additional beneficial

reuse of dredged materials by making the program permanent,

increasing the use of regional sediment management plans, and

codifying the Corps' goal of beneficially using 70 percent of

dredged material. The Committee notes that ecosystem

restoration efforts in McKay Bay, Florida could be advanced

through greater beneficial use of sediment, as directed by

this section.

Section 1133 of WRDA 2024 amends Section 214 of WRDA 2000

to include Indian Tribes. The Committee is aware that the

Corps has not yet implemented changes to the Section 214

program as amended by WRDA 2022. Section 8135 of WRDA 2022

expanded the Section 214 process to allow the funds to be

utilized towards the review of proposed mitigation bank sites

and mitigation banking instruments, under which the Corps

evaluates a proposed mitigation bank against certain

requirements and determines potential creditable value. The

Corps interpretation of the statute is that they only have

the ability to utilize Section 214 funds towards processing

construction permits for mitigation banks, not the approval

of the site as a mitigation bank or the mitigation banking

instrument. The Committee finds this contrary to the plain

language of the WRDA 2022 language and hopes correcting this

interpretation can be addressed administratively and aligned

with Congressional intent.

Section 1351 of WRDA 2024 provides for an updated cost

share for an ongoing feasibility study for water supply,

Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Given the importance of a secondary water source for the

Nation's capital and its national security implications, the

Committee directs the Corps to implement Section 1351 without

delaying the ongoing feasibility study.

As noted earlier, WRDA 2024 authorizes for construction 22

projects and project modifications based on reports submitted

to Congress by the Secretary or the Chief of Engineers,

including the navigation project for Oakland Harbor,

California. The Committee notes that the Chief's Report for

the harbor improvement project at the Port of Oakland does

not include the request of the non-Federal interest to cost

share the use of electric dredges. The Committee notes that

the Corps approved the cost-shared use of electric dredges

when constructing the deepening project at the Port in 1999.

The use of electric dredges is a unique opportunity to use a

commercially viable alternative to achieve additional air

quality improvement that will benefit the local population

and is strongly supported by the non-Federal interest for the

project. The Committee urges the Corps of Engineers to more

diligently advocate for and include provisions in Chief's

Reports requested by the non-federal interests.

Other Policy Matters:

The House committee report on H.R. 8812, its WRDA 2024

bill, includes direction on implementation of previously

enacted authorities. To the extent consistent with the Act

and this statement, the Committee intends for the Secretary

to follow the direction on previously enacted authorities

provided in that report. This includes but is not limited to

the items listed hereafter:

After Action Reviews.--The Committee recognizes that the

Corps performs after action reviews following completion of

each project; however, it understands that the results from

those reviews are not shared amongst the Corps' various

Districts and Divisions. The Committee encourages the Corps

to develop a database for sharing lessons learned internally

from after action reviews in a format that is helpful to

other Corps project teams, such as being searchable by

project feature.

Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.--The Committee recognizes

the importance of the Allegheny River to the inland waterways

network and to the movement of freight. In carrying out the

study pursuant to Section 1201(a)(134), the Secretary is

encouraged to coordinate with relevant Federal agencies and a

broad array of stakeholders to consider opportunities for

waterway freight diversification, multi-modal facility

development, and other economic development opportunities for

the continued viability of the Allegheny River Corridor,

Pennsylvania.

Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, Dredge Material Management Plan.--

Ensuring adequate dredged material placement capacity for

ports along Lake Erie is essential to adhere to the State of

Ohio's law prohibiting the open lake placement of dredged

material. The Committee continues to encourage the Corps to

maximize the beneficial use of dredged material and plan for

the long-term management of dredged material in Lake Erie,

particularly in Cleveland Harbor, which is expected to reach

its current dredged material capacity by 2029. The Committee

notes that the interim Dredged Material Management Plan

(DMMP) for Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, has been under development

since 2017 and that the development of the full 20-year DMMP

has been delayed. The Committee encourages the Corps to

expeditiously complete a DMMP, no later than 2025, for

Cleveland Harbor and evaluate the Cleveland Harbor Eastern

Embayment Resilience Strategy project as a locally led, long-

term dredged material placement site.

Coastal Mapping Program.--The Committee underscores that

Section 8110 of WRDA 2022 authorized the Corps to carry out a

national coastal mapping study and receive funding through

the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-42). In

addition, the Committee notes that flood risk in coastal

floodplains can be equally affected by impacts from tidally-

influenced waterways as well as by non-tidal riverine and

precipitation influences. Accordingly, the Committee

encourages the Corps to examine potential coastal impacts

from both tidal and non-tidal waterbodies (including

wetlands, streams, and rivers) in conducing comprehensive

watershed assessments.

Coordination with the 3D Hydrography Program.--The 3D

Hydrography Program (3DHP), led by the United States

Geological Survey, utilizes cutting-edge mapping and

geographic information system technologies to provide

comprehensive data on our Nation. The Committee encourages

the Corps to continue coordination with this program and

utilize 3DHP data, as appropriate, in the development and

evaluation of water resource projects.

Corps-Operated Dams for Hydropower.--The Committee is aware

that Power Marketing Agencies often utilize Corps-operated

dams for the production of hydropower. The Committee

continues to maintain that no action by the Secretary in

carrying out the Corps of Engineers' primary mission areas

preempts the Administrator of a Power Marketing Agency from

setting rates for the sale of electric power and energy

pursuant to Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944,

except in the circumstance Congress has specified that monies

appropriated to the Corps of Engineers must be repaid by

hydropower customers within a prescribed time period.

Deauthorizations.--Section 1301 of the bill establishes a

process for the deauthorization of certain water resources

development projects not yet initiated or appropriated. The

Committee notes that the following projects continue to have

support from the associated non-Federal interest and should

not be included in any list to deauthorize water resources

projects pursuant to this section:

(1) The project for environmental restoration, Matilija

Dam, Ventura County, California, authorized by section

1001(10) of WRDA 2007 (121 Stat. 1051).

(2) The project for flood damage reduction, Santa Barbara

streams, Lower Mission Creek, California, authorized by

section 101(b) of WRDA 2000 (114 Stat. 2577).

(3) San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement:

Project to modify the project for navigation, San Francisco

Bay to Stockton, California, authorized by the Rivers and

Harbors Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 109 1).

(4) Suisun Bay Channel (Slough), California: Project for

navigation, Suisun Bay Channel (Slough), California. The

Corps already abandoned its previous disposition study in

2021.

(5) Middle Creek, Lake County, California: Project for

flood damage reduction and environmental restoration, Middle

Creek, Lake County, California, authorized by section

1001(11) of the WRDA 2007 (121 Stat. 1051).

Definition of Including.--The Committee notes that a

fundamental canon of statutory construction is that the term

``include'' should be interpreted with a presumption of non-

exclusiveness--meaning that the word ``including,'' when used

by itself, means that the list is merely exemplary and not

exhaustive. The Committee is concerned that the Corps has

taken a narrower approach to the use of the term

``including'' in WRDA interpretation, and reminds the Corps

of the plain meaning of this term when used in statutory

construction.

Dredged Material Placement for Ohio Harbors.--The Committee

is aware of the ongoing issues with securing sufficient

dredged material placement sites for Federal harbors in the

State of Ohio. The Committee encourages the Corps to consider

the beneficial use facilities being designed by the Ohio

Department of Natural Resources and non-Federal interests as

viable sites for the Corps ongoing dredging operations.

Further, the Committee directs the Corps to expedite

completion of written agreements for the implementation of

any such sites that provide for the beneficial use of dredged

material for Ohio harbors.

Flood Control Projects Impacting Military Installations.--

The Committee encourages the Corps to expedite reviews

pursuant to Section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C.

408) for proposed actions that may provide a military

installation with increased protection.

Jones Levee Flood Control Project, Washington.--The

Committee instructs the Corps

to expedite completion of the study for the Jones Levee Flood

Control, Pierce County, Washington project carried out under

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C.

701s). The Committee is aware of the project history,

including the termination of a General Investigations study

in 2018, and encourages the Corps to identify a viable way to

move the project forward. The Committee believes several of

the policies within Section 1107 of WRDA 2024, as amended,

provide assistance for completing this project and directs

the Corps to use the provided authorities to implement a

locally supported, economically justified project.

Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.--The Committee is

aware the Corps is providing technical assistance to the

United States Air Force to address subsurface releases from

Kirtland Air Force Base into neighboring areas. The Committee

directs the Corps to prioritize and expedite their work with

the Air Force to identity, prevent, and remediate any such

leaks using its existing statutory authorities.

Lake Aquilla, Texas.--The Committee encourages the Corps to

expeditiously review current conditions and forecasted

regional water supply needs as part of a water reallocation

study and provide updated costs and needs at Lake Aquilla as

part of the Middle Brazos System, Texas.

Materials.--The Committee encourages the Corps to maintain

a flexible and adaptive approach in selecting construction

materials. This entails prioritizing the most suitable

materials for each specific application and may include in

its analysis factors such as performance, impact, cost-

effectiveness, and availability. The Corps should also remain

informed about advancements in material science and the

development of new materials to ensure that they are

utilizing the most current and innovative options available.

Missouri River Ice Jams.--In addition to ice jam language

in WRDA 2024, Section 1150 of WRDA 2016, as amended, provides

the Corps with authority for preventing and mitigating flood

damage and ensuring water supply associated with ice jams in

the Upper Missouri River Basin and the Northeast. The

Committee encourages the Corps to utilize this authority,

specifically addressing the dangerous levels of ice jam

impacts on the Missouri River reach (20 miles) of Omaha,

Nebraska, as evidenced by the 2021, 2022, and 2023 ice jams.

Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Virginia.--The Committee

reminds the Corps that Section 1403 of WRDA 2018 authorized

further improvements for Norfolk Harbor and Channels,

Virginia, and took no deauthorization action. The Committee

further instructs the Corps that absent any specific

deauthorization, the elements of Norfolk Harbor and Channels,

Virginia, including a depth of 55 feet for Anchorage F,

authorized by Section 201 of WRDA 1986 remain fully

authorized.

Noyes Levee, Minnesota.--The Committee encourages the Corps

to work with the State of Minnesota and other non-Federal

partners to address the maintenance needs of the Noyes Levee.

Oyster Gardens.--The Committee recognizes the role oysters

can play in improving water quality and encourages the Corps

to explore opportunities to work with states, localities, and

other non-Federal partners to support the development of

oyster gardens and other oyster restoration activities.

Red River Basin Chloride Control Area VIII, Texas.--The

Committee recognizes the importance of the Red River Basin

Chloride Control Area VIII Project, which improves water

quality and provides other important water resource benefits

to the region. The Committee encourages the Corps to continue

this project.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technology Development.--The

Committee recognizes the Corps' work through the Engineer

Research and Development Center on unmanned aircraft systems

(UAS) and encourages the continued use of these technologies,

including to support levee safety evaluations.

Zebra and Quagga Mussels in the Great Lakes.--Zebra and

Quagga mussels were first identified in the Great Lakes in

the late 1980s. The Committee notes the impact these

freshwater, non-native species have on water resources

infrastructure, often leading to increased maintenance costs,

and the hazard they pose to human health and the Great Lakes

ecosystem. The Committee encourages the Corps to address and

mitigate these nuisance species in the Great Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2024 and its objectives of improving America's infrastructure, reforming project processes, and ensuring that we are better stewards of the taxpayers' money.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), an individual we worked very closely with on this bill, the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), the chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I emphasize again the importance of the legislation that we are considering today, which will have a positive impact on communities across the country.

This WRDA bill delivers improvements to flood control infrastructure, ports and harbors, and inland waterways across the country. Many of the policy reforms that I have secured in the WRDA bill for my constituents help ensure that the corps is focused on what matters: protecting people's lives and livelihoods from devastating floods.

For example, the bill prohibits the corps from using eminent domain to seize land for fish and wildlife purposes along the Missouri River. It also includes important provisions to reauthorize the EDA, make us better stewards of federally owned spaces, and repurpose unobligated TIFIA balances.

WRDA 2024 is the result of more than a year of work by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and was developed based on input from nearly 350 Members of this body on projects, programs, and policies that are important to their constituents.

The bill also includes projects and policy reforms that will make the corps work better for our communities by empowering non-Federal project sponsors, including transparency of the corps, and streamlining processes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of S. 4367, as amended. I, too, thank the teams, Kathy on the minority side and Jack Ruddy, the staff director on our side, and the two Ryans, again, for all the work that they did, and their teams. When we do stuff like this, there are a lot of late nights, a lot of weekends, a lot of holidays, and it is simply taking time away from the family. The staff that got us here today deserve the credit and the thanks.

I want to finish by saying the queen of water, what a great job she did. It has been awesome to be able to work with her and Ranking Member Larsen on this bill. I do want to say, too, Representative Rouzer, who is the subcommittee chair over this, would have been here. He has obligations in the steering committee which prevented him from being able to come down, but he put a lot of effort, a lot of work, a lot of time into this bill. I wish he could have been here, but he just simply could not make it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support a great WRDA bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, the sixth consecutive bipartisan bill approved by Congress to address local water resources across the country.

Regular biennial consideration of WRDA, as we call it, is a proud bipartisan tradition of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It provides predictability to local sponsors and the Army Corps of Engineers in carrying out projects to improve the Nation's ports, harbors, and inland navigation systems and to protect communities from flood and storm risks.

These are locally driven projects that will create good-paying jobs for hardworking women and men by strengthening our global competitiveness and supply chains and ensuring the resilience of communities for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Graves, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Rouzer, and their staff for their partnership, insight, and collaboration in developing this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I also thank our Senate counterparts, Chair Carper and Ranking Member Capito, for their support in shepherding this bill over the finish line.

I specifically recognize Ranking Member Napolitano for her leadership on this WRDA, as well as the four previous WRDA bills. She has left her mark on this committee with her decades of visionary work to address the future water supply and drought resiliency needs of communities throughout the United States.

This final bill rightfully acknowledges her career as the ``Queen of Water'' by naming the section that encourages the corps to maximize opportunities for water supply, water conservation, and drought resiliency at its projects as the Grace F. Napolitano Priority for Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency Act of 2024.

WRDA 2024 authorizes the construction of projects in 21 pending reports of the chief of engineers. It also provides over $5 billion in new and modified environmental infrastructure authorities to address local water and wastewater needs.

This bill also authorizes over 200 new feasibility studies for future water resources development projects, as well as modifies multiple existing projects to reflect current local needs.

Mr. Speaker, WRDA 2024 makes the Corps of Engineers Tribal Partnership Program permanent and expands initiatives to assist Tribal partners while also making projects more financially accessible to all communities.

It also provides communities with tools needed to face the threats posed by climate change, from enhancing drought resilience to combating harmful algal blooms and supporting flood control projects.

WRDA 2024 supports economic growth by investing in projects that create jobs, grow local economies, boost economic competitiveness, and strengthen supply chains in the United States.

Ships are getting bigger, and our ports need to get deeper to maintain America's competitive edge. Increased Federal investment in harbor-deepening projects will strengthen our supply chains and ensure that our ports and harbors can accommodate the world's largest ships.

Further, the WRDA legislation we are considering also includes provisions related to economic development and public buildings.

The bill authorizes activities for the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, or EDA, for the next 5 years. Congress is giving EDA clear direction about our priorities, which include clarifying EDA's responsibilities in disaster recovery efforts led by FEMA, adjusting the Federal and non-Federal cost-share levels, and prioritizing investments in critical infrastructure, workforce, innovation, entrepreneurship, economic recovery resiliency, and manufacturing.

The bill also includes provisions designed to improve the efficacy and accountability of the General Services Administration, or GSA, by improving the process for disposing of underutilized Federal buildings and making GSA's process for updating design and engineering requirements transparent.

This bill further gives States and local governments access to an additional $1.8 billion in contract authority that can be applied to critical transportation projects from amounts previously authorized under the TIFIA loan program.

This bill equitably redistributes these funds according to the highway formula, including a 10 percent set-

aside for transportation alternatives, ensuring communities of all sizes in every State are guaranteed access to this funding.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself a moment here to thank Grace Napolitano for her service to this country, to this House, and to the continual work on the Water Resources Development Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Sykes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

During this Congress, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed multiple comprehensive and bipartisan bills, including the FAA reauthorization. WRDA 2024 and other titles of this bill show we are finishing the Congress strong with a continued commitment from this committee to invest in our Nation's infrastructure and to grow our economy in regions across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Graves, Chair Rouzer, Chair Perry, Ranking Member Napolitano, and Ranking Member Titus for their partnership and dedication to navigating this comprehensive bipartisan and bicameral bill to final passage.

I also thank the Democratic staff, who worked very hard on this legislation: Ryan Seiger, Alexa Williams, Logan Ferree, Ann Jacobs, Jackie Schmitz, and Michael Bauman.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my great Ranking Member Larsen and thank the gentleman for the kind accolades; Chairman Graves; my friend, Chairman Rouzer; and members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in bringing the conference agreement on S. 4367, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, to the floor.

The WRDA is our legislative commitment to investing in and protecting our communities from flooding and droughts, restoring our environment and ecosystems, and keeping our Nation's competitiveness by supporting our ports and harbors.

Through the biennial enactment of WRDA legislation, this committee has addressed local, regional, and national needs through authorization of new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, studies, and policies that benefit every corner of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I am particularly thankful that we were able to include in this WRDA policies to improve upon and address the needs of water supply.

The bill for the first time makes it a policy of the corps to maximize opportunities for water supply, water conservation, and drought resilient measures at reservoirs, recharge basins, and corps facilities. It requires the corps to work with local communities and give full consideration to local proposals to address water supply needs.

I thank Representative LaMalfa for joining me in authoring this important provision. I also thank Senators Padilla and Kelly for improving this section with their own important drought resilient initiatives.

We are seeing the need for the corps to play a bigger role in water supply, especially in drought-prone regions such as the West. This provision will prevent the bureaucratic and logistical roadblocks that many communities faced when trying to work with the corps to improve water, ground-water recharge, and other water supply improvements.

This legislation further includes the provision creating new project construction authority for the corps to consider opportunities to reclaim, treat, and reuse stormwater to address regional needs. Our bill also expands the corps' authority to modify existing dams, basins, and channels for drought resiliency measures, including water conservation measures, removal of sediment, planting of native vegetation, and other actions that increase water efficiency.

This year, the corps finally funded the donor port provisions of WRDA 2020 in their work plan. This bill requires the corps to provide an annual report on WRDA 2020 Harbor Maintenance provisions to make sure the direction of Congress on negotiated HMT expenditures is followed. This is incredibly important to my local ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to make sure they receive their fair share of harbor funding.

This bill also provides for hundreds of local concerns throughout the country. Staff took input from over 300 Members of Congress who improved this bill with their insight into the needs of their communities.

For my community, I am proud that this bill transfers the authorization of 44 channels in my region to the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. These channels are locally owned and have been successfully operated and maintained by Los Angeles County for decades. The provision will formalize the current operation of these channels.

This bill further creates a GAO study on the growing issue of homeless encampments on corps properties. This has become an increasing concern in my district and across the country with the danger of homeless encampments in active flood channels.

The study will propose options for the corps, partnering with State, Federal, and local agencies, to provide resources and prevent flood disasters.

This bill also formalizes and improves on an academic partnership with Cal Poly Pomona in my region. Cal Poly is one of the most diverse and successful engineering schools in the country and educates many future corps engineers. This provision formalizes the collaboration between the corps and the university in conducting academic research on integrated design and management of water resources development projects, including for the purposes of flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, water supply, water conservation, and sustainable aquifer management.

Mr. Speaker, WRDA is a bipartisan product that includes provisions in every part of the country and is authored by House Members themselves. It is an incredible task compiling all of these priorities and drafting this WRDA bill. I am proud, as the chairman stated, that the sixth WRDA passed on a bipartisan basis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the many people who helped this bill become a reality. I thank the leadership of the Army Corps of Engineers and their incredible staff who have worked through the hundreds of submissions they received.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our remarkable team at legislative counsel for putting all of these provisions into legislative text.

I am fortunate to have some of the best water leaders in the country in my

district and southern California who provided valuable input for this bill, including Los Angeles County Public Works director Mark Pestrella, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts general manager Robert Ferrante, Metropolitan Water District Board chair Adan Ortega, Los Angeles Harbor Commission president, a former colleague, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and San Gabriel Valley watermaster Tony Zampiello.

I particularly thank the subcommittee chairman, David Rouzer, for his friendship and collegiality throughout the hearings and meetings that led to this bipartisan accomplishment and for visiting my district.

Most importantly, I thank my incredible Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee staff: Ryan Seiger, Alexa Williams, Logan Ferree, and Ryan Hambleton, and the majority staff, and a personal thanks to my chief of staff, Joe Sheehy.

Mr. Speaker, this is my last time before Congress on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I urge my colleagues to support WRDA.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6254) to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review on the Public Buildings Service, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 6254.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 6254 directs the Government Accountability Office to review the General Services Administration's Public Building Service personnel structure, including staffing trends, work locations, and organizational structure.

GSA's Public Building Service administrative budget, including staffing, is paid for out of the Federal Buildings Fund. Because it is buried in a larger fund, it is difficult to track and evaluate the Public Buildings Service workforce and its management to conduct appropriate oversight.

This bill would seek to address that issue, increasing transparency and, ultimately, greater oversight.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden) for introducing H.R. 6254, the Public Buildings Accountability Act of 2023, and for his leadership on this important issue.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), to speak on his bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

I am not sure that that one particular singular focus should be an amendment or something like that, but as a general theme, I don't know that the committee would mind. We could take a look at that kind of activity and the effects.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Again, Madam Speaker, this bill will improve transparency and oversight of GSA's Public Buildings Service, and its staffing management structure.

Further, H.R. 6254 will inform the committee's oversight efforts to maximize the return of Federal employees to in-person work. I do urge support for this.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden) for offering this and to acknowledge his strident and outspoken work on the behalf of constituents, otherwise known as our bosses, who demand and deserve an answer when they call these folks who work for us and work for them. I thank him for his diligence and dogged determination.

Madam Speaker, I, again, urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Graves, Subcommittee Chairman Rouzer, and all the Members involved in crafting this bipartisan, bicameral agreement.

Mr. Speaker, this Water Resources Development Act stands to be successful and effective in addressing some of the critical infrastructure issues we face in central and western Pennsylvania.

For example, I am proud to have secured language stabilizing lock and dam operations along the Allegheny River. This watershed is critical to our Nation's domestic manufacturing, supporting barge traffic of raw materials, including steel, aggregates, and coal.

The navigation and ecosystem restoration project authorized by this legislation will help ensure the long-term viability of this economic corridor.

The Allegheny River has sorely needed dredging for several years to support both commercial and recreational traffic.

I am proud to have championed language in this legislation strengthening a provision from the previous WRDA to allow the Allegheny and other inland waterways to compete on a level playing field for a multiyear dredging demonstration program.

These dredging activities, in conjunction with the navigation and restoration analysis, present significant opportunities for growth and the continued success of the Allegheny.

I am also pleased to see language in this bill prioritizing levee recertification and restoration projects in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

This levee system, first built and completed in 1955, is undergoing a recertification and accreditation process with FEMA and the Army Corps.

Unfortunately, many of the necessary studies and groundwork required to be completed by the Army Corps has been delayed, threatening completion of these critical projects. Language in this legislation ensures that these projects will be prioritized for completion.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the Economic Development Reauthorization Act included within this legislation. The local development districts representing the communities throughout Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District do incredible work to build, strengthen, and revitalize our local economies in these rural areas.

This reauthorization incorporates several necessary updates, including reducing financial barriers for rural, small, and resource- challenged communities and allowing the EDA to invest in high-speed broadband, workforce development, and critical infrastructure gaps.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation before us today, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.