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H.R. 6931House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

NDSP Amendment Act

Sponsored by Chuck EdwardsRep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC)
Introduced January 10, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 1:59 PM UTC

The National Dam Safety Program Amendment Act of 2024 updates the existing dam‑safety law to better protect high‑hazard dams and support smaller, lower‑income communities. It adds a definition for “underserved community,” tightens grant requirements by demanding maintenance assurances and flood‑plain management plans, and introduces a risk‑based priority system for awarding funds. The bill also extends the program’s funding through 2028 and limits how much a state can receive based on its own spending commitments.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new definition of “underserved community” – a community with fewer than 50,000 residents and a median household income below 80% of the state median.
  • Requires dam owners receiving federal rehabilitation grants to give a written assurance that they will maintain the dam for its expected life.
  • Makes it a condition of receiving assistance that an eligible subrecipient develop a flood‑plain management plan – either an existing plan for dam removal projects or a plan to be created and implemented within two years for non‑removal projects.
  • Creates a risk‑based priority system for states to rank multiple high‑hazard dam grant applications each year.
  • Changes eligibility language so that projects benefiting underserved communities are not subject to the “any” restriction in the grant rules.
  • Extends the program’s authorized funding years through 2028 and caps a state’s annual allocation at no more than four times the amount the state itself commits to dam‑safety activities.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

January 19, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 10, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 10, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

January 19, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 10, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6931

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 10, 2024

Mr. Edwards (for himself and Ms. Kuster) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to improve that Act, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Dam Safety Program Amendment Act of 2024 or the NDSP Amendment Act.

2.

Improvements to National Dam Safety Program

(a)

Definitions

Section 2 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph (17); and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (15) the following:

(16)

Underserved Community

The term underserved community means a community with a population of less than 50,000 that has a median household income of less than 80 percent of the statewide median household income.

.

(b)

Rehabilitation of high hazard potential dams

Section 8A of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467f–2) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c)(2), by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:

(C)

Grant assurance

As part of a grant agreement under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require that each eligible subrecipient to which the State awards a grant under this section provides an assurance from the dam owner, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated, that the dam owner will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during the expected life of the dam.

;

(2)

in subsection (d)(2)(C), by striking commit and inserting for a project not including removal, obtain a commitment from the dam owner;

(3)

by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

(e)

Floodplain management plans

(1)

In general

As a condition of receipt of assistance under this section, an eligible subrecipient shall demonstrate that a floodplain management plan to reduce the impacts of future flood events from a controlled or uncontrolled release from the dam or management of water levels in the area impacted by the dam—

(A)

for a removal—

(i)

is in place; and

(ii)

identifies areas that would be impacted by the removal of the dam and includes a communication and outreach plan for the project and the impact of the project on the affected communities; or

(B)

for a project not including removal—

(i)

is in place; or

(ii)

will be—

(I)

developed not later than 2 years after the date of execution of a project agreement for assistance under this section; and

(II)

implemented not later than 2 years after the date of completion of construction of the project.

(2)

Requirement

In the case of a plan for a removal, the Administrator may not impose any additional requirements or conditions other than the requirements in paragraph (1)(A).

(3)

Inclusions

A plan under paragraph (1)(B) shall address—

(A)

potential measures, practices, and policies to reduce loss of life, injuries, damage to property and facilities, public expenditures, and other adverse impacts of flooding in the area protected or impacted by the dam;

(B)

plans for flood fighting and evacuation; and

(C)

public education and awareness of flood risks.

;

(4)

by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:

(f)

Priority system

The Administrator, in consultation with the Board, shall develop a risk-based priority system for States to use in prioritizing multiple applications each year for eligible high hazard potential dams for which grants may be made under this section.

; and

(5)

in subsection (g)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking Any and inserting Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Underserved communities

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a project carried out by or for the benefit of an underserved community.

.

(c)

Authorization of appropriations

Section 14 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

(B)

Maximum amount of allocation

The amount of funds allocated to a State under this paragraph for a fiscal year may not exceed the amount that is equal to 4 times the amount of funds committed by the State to implement dam safety activities for that fiscal year.

;

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028;

(3)

in subsection (c), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028;

(4)

in subsection (d), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028;

(5)

in subsection (e), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028; and

(6)

in subsection (f), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028.