Support Authorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)

Action Needed:

Urge federal lawmakers to pass continued the two-year Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) cycle by passing a WRDA bill during the 119th Congress.

Background: 

WRDA bills authorize water resources studies and projects and set policies for navigation, flood control, hydropower, recreation, water supply and emergency management for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps). This legislation advances county interests related to ports, inland waterways, levees, dams, wetlands, watersheds and coastal restoration.

Congress has passed WRDA legislation on a two-year authorization cycle since 2014. The authorizing committees for the U.S. Army Corps – the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) and the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) – are currently negotiating bill text  for the 2026 WRDA bill. 

Counties work with the U.S. Army Corps to strengthen local infrastructure, and NACo has played a key role in including county priorities in previous WRDA bills. During the 2018 WRDA cycle, NACo testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the county role in strengthening America’s water infrastructure and ultimately secured several provisions supported by counties, such as requiring the Army Corps to consult with impacted stakeholders, including local government, on future pending WRDA projects, annual district budgets, deauthorized projects and guidance documents. 

These provisions were continued by the 2024 WRDA bill. NACo leadership was also active during the 2020 and 2022 WRDA cycles, sending multiple letters to Congressional leaders advocating for county priorities.

Projects authorized by the 2026 WRDA bill will enhance the nation’s economic competitiveness by ensuring continued investment in strong infrastructure and continued access to clean and safe drinking water for communities across the country.

On June 26, 2026, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which would continue the two-year WRDA authorization cycle. NACo has urged Congressional Leadership to pass a WRDA bill before the end of the 119th Congress.

Key Talking Points: 

• As owners, users and regulators of water resources and infrastructure, counties are directly impacted by the policies and funding authorized in WRDA legislation.
• Local governments need a strong WRDA to address critical water infrastructure needs in our communities such as protecting, maintaining and further developing ports, waterways and clean and safe drinking water.
• Passing WRDA on a biennial basis provides critical stability and certainty local governments need to meet water infrastructure needs while also supporting the safety, environment and economic development of our communities.
• Counties support preserving and maintaining the partnership between federal, state and local governments for funding, implementing and maintaining essential and environmentally sound navigation, harbor, beach management and flow control projects across the nation.
• Through WRDA, the U.S. Army Corps supports certain projects and studies, allowing some communities with limited funds to move forward with vital projects that would otherwise be unaffordable.