Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act

Bill: 119-hr-3428
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]
Introduced: 2025-05-15
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Delaware

District of Columbia

Government studies and investigations

Lakes and rivers

Maryland

New Jersey

New York State

Pennsylvania

Virginia

Water resources funding

West Virginia
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-05-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on the ethics policies, practices used to communicate with the public, and funding of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. These commissions are the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.</p><p>The GAO must submit a report to Congress on (1) the findings of the review, and (2) any recommendations to increase the transparency or congressional oversight of the commissions.</p><p>Within 90 days of the GAO submitting its report,&nbsp;and annually thereafter for five years, each commission must submit to Congress a plan detailing actions the commission has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in the GAO's report.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3428 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 9, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works AN ACT To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act . 2. Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions (a) GAO report (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (2) Requirements In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— (A) review the ethics policies and practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (B) review the practices each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission uses to communicate with the general public; (C) review current Federal responsibilities at each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission, including the types of actions taken by relevant Federal agencies in carrying out such responsibilities; (D) describe the level and sources of Federal and State funding received by each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (E) identify duties and responsibilities of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission that may be duplicative of, or overlap with, other Federal authorities; and (F) review policies and best practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission for reporting activities of the Commission. (3) Report Upon completion of the review conducted under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing— (A) the findings of such review; and (B) any recommendations, including any recommendations for statutory or administrative changes or changes to ethics policies and practices, to increase the transparency or congressional oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (b) Plan for compliance Not later than 90 days after the Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (a)(3), and annually thereafter for five years, each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing actions such Commission has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in such report. (c) Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission defined In this section, the term Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission means— (1) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–575 (84 Stat. 1509); (2) the Delaware River Basin Commission created by the Delaware River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 87–328 (75 Stat. 688); and (3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin created by the Potomac River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–407 (84 Stat. 856).

Passed the House of Representatives September 8, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3428 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act . 2. Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions (a) GAO report (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (2) Requirements In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— (A) review the ethics policies and practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (B) review the practices each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission uses to communicate with the general public; (C) review current Federal responsibilities at each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission, including the types of actions taken by relevant Federal agencies in carrying out such responsibilities; (D) describe the level and sources of Federal and State funding received by each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (E) identify duties and responsibilities of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission that may be duplicative of, or overlap with, other Federal authorities; and (F) review policies and best practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission for reporting activities of the Commission. (3) Report Upon completion of the review conducted under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing— (A) the findings of such review; and (B) any recommendations, including any recommendations for statutory or administrative changes or changes to ethics policies and practices, to increase the transparency or congressional oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (b) Plan for compliance Not later than 90 days after the Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (a)(3), and annually thereafter for five years, each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing actions such Commission has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in such report. (c) Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission defined In this section, the term Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission means— (1) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–575 (84 Stat. 1509); (2) the Delaware River Basin Commission created by the Delaware River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 87–328 (75 Stat. 688); and (3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin created by the Potomac River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–407 (84 Stat. 856).

Passed the House of Representatives September 8, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 198 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3428 [Report No. 119–241] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 15, 2025 Mr. Bresnahan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure September 8, 2025 Additional sponsor: Mr. Perry September 8, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act . 2. Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions (a) GAO report (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (2) Requirements In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— (A) review the ethics policies and practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (B) review the practices each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission uses to communicate with the general public; (C) review current Federal responsibilities at each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission, including the types of actions taken by relevant Federal agencies in carrying out such responsibilities; (D) describe the level and sources of Federal and State funding received by each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (E) identify duties and responsibilities of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission that may be duplicative of, or overlap with, other Federal authorities; and (F) review policies and best practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission for reporting activities of the Commission. (3) Report Upon completion of the review conducted under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing— (A) the findings of such review; and (B) any recommendations, including any recommendations for statutory or administrative changes or changes to ethics policies and practices, to increase the transparency or congressional oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (b) Plan for compliance Not later than 90 days after the Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (a)(3), and annually thereafter for five years, each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing actions such Commission has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in such report. (c) Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission defined In this section, the term Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission means— (1) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–575 (84 Stat. 1509); (2) the Delaware River Basin Commission created by the Delaware River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 87–328 (75 Stat. 688); and (3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin created by the Potomac River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–407 (84 Stat. 856).

September 8, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3428 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 15, 2025 Mr. Bresnahan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act . 2. Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions (a) GAO report (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (2) Requirements In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall— (A) review the ethics policies and practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (B) review the practices each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission uses to communicate with the general public; (C) review current Federal responsibilities at each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission, including the types of actions taken by relevant Federal agencies in carrying out such responsibilities; (D) describe the level and sources of Federal and State funding received by each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission; (E) identify duties and responsibilities of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission that may be duplicative of, or overlap with, other Federal authorities; and (F) review policies and best practices of each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission for reporting activities of the Commission. (3) Report Upon completion of the review conducted under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing— (A) the findings of such review; and (B) any recommendations, including any recommendations for statutory or administrative changes or changes to ethics policies and practices, to increase the transparency or congressional oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. (b) Plan for compliance Not later than 90 days after the Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (a)(3), and annually thereafter for five years, each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing actions such Commission has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in such report. (c) Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission defined In this section, the term Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission means— (1) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–575 (84 Stat. 1509); (2) the Delaware River Basin Commission created by the Delaware River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 87–328 (75 Stat. 688); and (3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin created by the Potomac River Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law 91–407 (84 Stat. 856).