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HR 9497 Passed a chamber

Authorizes and directs the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a wide range of water projects, studies, and program changes, including new offices, dam safety updates, dredging rules, and project authorizations across the country.

Official title: Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Next stop Senate: awaiting action
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced 29-JUN-2026
Referred 29-JUN-2026
Approved by committee 14-JUL-2026
Reported 03-SEP-2026
On the calendar 03-SEP-2026
Passed 16-SEP-2026
Senate
Received 17-SEP-2026
Key points
  • Requires the Army Corps of Engineers to create several new offices within its Directorate of Civil Works, including ones for inland navigation construction and water supply and drought resiliency, and to report to Congress on them.
  • Establishes a Levee Owners Board of eleven Federal levee owner-operators that meets at least twice a year to advise the Secretary and Congress on levee reliability.
  • Authorizes dozens of new feasibility studies and project modifications for flood control, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and water supply, and lists specific new environmental infrastructure grants for communities in many states.
  • Prohibits diverting or exporting water from the Missouri River for use outside Missouri River states unless every Missouri River state's governor approves.
AI-generated from the Engrossed in House text of 16-SEP-2026 · verify · report an error
Official CRS summary

Covers an older version. The newest CRS summary describes the bill as of "Reported to House" (03-SEP-2026); the text has changed since (Engrossed in House, 16-SEP-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov
Committee referrals (2) Policy area

Water Resources Development

Sponsor Sam Graves (R-MO) Cosponsors · 3
■ 2 D■ 1 R
1 Republican