Water Resources Development Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7575
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2020-07-13 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Alabama
Alaska
Alternative and renewable resources
American Samoa
Animal and plant health
Appropriations
Aquatic ecology
Arizona
Arkansas
Army Corps of Engineers
Atlantic Ocean
Atmospheric science and weather
Budget deficits and national debt
Buy American requirements
California
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Chesapeake Bay
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Connecticut
Dams and canals
Disaster relief and insurance
District of Columbia
Due process and equal protection
Ecology
Economic development
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Federal-Indian relations
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Florida
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Gulf of Mexico
Hawaii
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Hunting and fishing
Hydrology and hydrography
Illinois
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Inflation and prices
Intergovernmental relations
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mining
Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi River
Missouri
Missouri River
Montana
Natural disasters
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York State
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Outdoor recreation
Pacific Ocean
Pennsylvania
Performance measurement
Pest management
Pollution liability
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Puerto Rico
Racial and ethnic relations
Rhode Island
Rural conditions and development
Sales and excise taxes
Seashores and lakeshores
Small towns
South Carolina
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Tennessee
Texas
Transportation programs funding
U.S. territories and protectorates
User charges and fees
Utah
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington State
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: 

Water Resources Development Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies water resources infrastructure funding and addresses Army Corps of Engineers projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration.
 
The bill removes certain funds appropriated for harbor operations and maintenance from annual discretionary spending limits. This allows additional funds to be appropriated for these purposes without the amounts counting against annual discretionary spending limits. Further, the bill increases the percentage of available funds allocated annually to emerging harbors (i.e., those that handle less than 1 million tons of cargo annually).
 
Additionally, the bill modifies cost-sharing requirements for the construction of inland waterway projects for FY2021-FY2027.
 
Further, the Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to address the flood and storm damage risk reduction needs of economically disadvantaged communities. The Corps of Engineers may also construct projects for flood and coastal storm risk management in areas that have had been impacted by repetitive flooding. The Corps of Engineers must also identify any engineering or maintenance defects for levees in the national database.
 
The bill also creates a process to de-authorize projects that are no longer viable for construction and authorizes new projects, including projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration.
 
In addition, the Government Accountability Office must study (1) consideration by the Corps of Engineers of natural and nature-based features during project planning, (2) mitigation of the impact of water resources development projects, and (3) the operation and maintenance needs of federally authorized harbors and inland harbors.

action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Water Resources Development Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies water resources infrastructure funding and addresses Army Corps of Engineers projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration.
 
The bill removes certain funds appropriated for harbor operations and maintenance from annual discretionary spending limits. This allows additional funds to be appropriated for these purposes without the amounts counting against annual discretionary spending limits. Further, the bill increases the percentage of available funds allocated annually to emerging harbors (i.e., those that handle less than 1 million tons of cargo annually).
 
Additionally, the bill modifies cost-sharing requirements for the construction of inland waterway projects for FY2021-FY2027.
 
Further, the Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to address the flood and storm damage risk reduction needs of economically disadvantaged communities. The Corps of Engineers may also construct projects for flood and coastal storm risk management in areas that have had been impacted by repetitive flooding. The Corps of Engineers must also identify any engineering or maintenance defects for levees in the national database.
 
The bill also creates a process to de-authorize projects that are no longer viable for construction and authorizes new projects, including projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration.
 
In addition, the Government Accountability Office must study (1) consideration by the Corps of Engineers of natural and nature-based features during project planning, (2) mitigation of the impact of water resources development projects, and (3) the operation and maintenance needs of federally authorized harbors and inland harbors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3927-3951)
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7575.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3927-3962)
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Mr. DeFazio moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: ORDER OF BUSINESS - Mr. DeFazio asked unanimous consent that debate under clause 1(c) of rule XV on the motion to suspend the rules relating to H.R. 7575 be extended to one hour. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-07-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 369.
action_date: 2020-07-24
text: Committee on the Budget discharged.
action_date: 2020-07-24
text: Committee on the Budget discharged.
action_date: 2020-07-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-460, Part I.
action_date: 2020-07-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-460, Part I.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.
action_date: 2020-07-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Introduced in House