H.R. 9348House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Public Access Protection Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 25, 2026 at 2:11 PM UTC

The Public Access Protection Act requires the Secretary of the Army to ensure that any Corps of Engineers water‑resources project includes a plan to keep public recreational areas—such as parks, trails, and waterways—accessible at the same level as before construction. It aims to reduce disruptions for the public and to provide alternative access when necessary, affecting future Army Corps projects and the communities that use these amenities.

Key Provisions

The bill expresses Congress’s view that the Secretary of the Army should keep public recreational access (parks, trails, green spaces, waterways, etc.) at the same level during construction of Corps of Engineers water projects.
It directs the Secretary to try to limit temporary disruptions by coordinating with local communities and, when needed, to provide alternative access routes or facilities while construction is underway.
When conducting a feasibility study and issuing a final recommendation for any water‑resources development project, the Secretary must assess how construction could affect existing recreational amenities and must include a plan to preserve equivalent public access.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

June 18, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 18, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

June 18, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 18, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9348

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Ms. Friedman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Army to include in any final recommendation for a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers a plan to maintain equivalent levels of access to existing public recreational amenities, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Access Protection Act.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that, during construction of a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers that affects a public recreational amenity, including a park, a trail, a green space, a recreational waterway, and any other public open space, the Secretary of the Army should—

(1)

maintain an equivalent level of recreational access to such public recreational amenity;

(2)

minimize temporary disruptions to such access through project planning and coordination with affected communities; and

(3)

provide alternative public access where necessary to ensure continued recreational opportunities for the duration of such construction.

Recreational access preservation plan

To the maximum extent practicable, in carrying out a feasibility study for a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers, the Secretary shall—

(1)

review the potential impact of construction of the project on existing public recreational amenities, including facilities for hiking, biking, walking, and waterborne recreation; and

(2)

include in any final recommendation for such project a plan to maintain an equivalent level of access to such amenities during construction of the project.