HR 8812 United States House · 118th Congress

Water Resources Development Act of 2024

# Summary of Water Resources Development Act This comprehensive legislation authorizes numerous water infrastructure projects across the United States, with a focus on flood control, water supply, wastewater management, environmental restoration, and shoreline protection. Key elements include: 1. **Project Authorizations**: The act authorizes funding for hundreds of specific water infrastructure projects across all 50 states, with significant allocations for: - Water and wastewater infrastructure ($200 million for San Diego County, $100 million for Kings County NY, $100 million for Mohawk River area) - Flood control and stormwater management (particularly in coastal and riverine areas) - Environmental restoration projects 2. **Key Amendments**: - Increased funding for the Upper Mississippi River restoration program ($15 million for FY 2024, $20 million annually thereafter) - Modified the Santa Ana River Mainstem project to treat Santiago Creek as a separable element - Reduced navigation as an authorized purpose for the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam - Increased funding for the Missouri River levee system ($65 million) 3. **Specific Project Highlights**: - $100 million for water infrastructure in Kings County, New York (addressing combined sewer overflows) - $50 million for environmental infrastructure in Broward County, Florida - $25 million for water infrastructure in Delaware's coastal communities - $20 million for water infrastructure in the Lake Tahoe Basin - $30 million for Oakland-Alameda Estuary water infrastructure 4. **Program Changes**: - Established a Western Washington State environmental assistance program - Modified the New York and New Jersey Harbor study to maximize public benefits - Added new projects to the lakes program (East Lake Tohopekaliga, Dillon Lake, etc.) - Authorized conveyances of property to local governments (e.g., Los Angeles fire station facility) 5. **Funding Details**: - The legislation contains numerous specific funding allocations ranging from $100,000 to $200 million for various water infrastructure projects - Includes provisions for cost-sharing arrangements, with Federal shares typically at 75% for new projects The legislation represents a significant investment in water infrastructure, with a focus on addressing aging infrastructure, improving water quality, reducing flood risks, and enhancing environmental protection across diverse geographic regions in the United States.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2024
Committee Review
Jul 2024
House Passage
Jul 2024
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Jun 25, 2024 Last action Jul 23, 2024
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House Engrossed in House · 12 edits · Jul 22, 2024
MAJOR
The engrossed version of HR 8812 (a Water Resources Development Act) adds several new sections including a Levee Owners Board, an emergency drought operations pilot program, and a Sacramento River Native American cultural resource protection pilot program. It also increases funding for drought resilience measures, converts the community revitalization program from a capped pilot to a permanent uncapped program, and replaces the Chicago shoreline protection project with a New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam project in Georgia and South Carolina.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded with new pilot programs (drought operations, Native American cultural resource protection), a new Levee Owners Board governance body, additional project authorizations in Louisiana and Georgia/South Carolina, and the conversion of the community revitalization program from a time-limited pilot to a permanent uncapped program.
FISCAL

Drought resilience funding increased from $10 million to $12.5 million per fiscal year (subsection d) and from $50 million to $62 million per fiscal year (subsection h).

SCOPE

The community revitalization program was changed from a 'pilot program' limited to 20 projects to a permanent program with no cap on the number of projects.

New section 154 establishes a Levee Owners Board, creating a new governance mechanism for levee management.

New section 152 creates an emergency drought operations pilot program.

New section 151 creates a Sacramento River watershed Native American site and cultural resource protection pilot program.

New section 153 requires a report on minimum real estate interest.

Section 128 was changed from 'National inventory of dams and low-head dams' to 'Improvements to National Dam Safety Program,' shifting focus from inventory to program improvements.

Section 323 was changed from 'Chicago shoreline protection, Illinois' to 'New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, Georgia and South Carolina,' replacing one project authorization with another.

New section 342 requires congressional notification of deferred payment agreement requests.

New study sections 219 (Wilson Lock floating guide wall, Alabama) and 220 (Algiers Canal Levees, Louisiana) were added to Title II.

New project authorizations added in Title III: section 325 (Larose to Golden Meadow, Louisiana) and section 326 (Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana).

REQUIREMENT

The environmental improvement section now explicitly includes 'providing drought resiliency' as a separate authorized purpose alongside improving environmental conditions.

Floor votes · House Jul 22, 2024

How they voted

35913
Passed · 59 other
Total votes 431
Jul 22, 2024
D Democratic212
182 Yea 1 Nay 29
85% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican218
176 Yea 12 Nay 30
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Jul 22, 2024
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 - 13 (Roll no. 358). (text: CR H4665-4703)
lower
Jul 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 - 13 (Roll no. 358). (text: CR H4665-4703)
lower
Jul 22, 2024
Introduced
Mr. Graves (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Jul 18, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-587.
lower
Jun 26, 2024
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 61 - 2.
lower
Jun 26, 2024
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged
lower
Jun 25, 2024
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
lower
Jun 25, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
lower
Jun 25, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors