Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.
By Jim Myers
WJ Washington Correspondent
A key House committee postponed a scheduled markup of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 “until further notice” after Republican disagreements shut down floor action over the Senate’s inability to move an unrelated elections measure.
“We’ll announce when it’s rescheduled,” Justin Harclerode, communications director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said of the WRDA markup. Both the House and the Senate are scheduled to return July 13.
The National Waterways Conference (NWC), which recently addressed the crowded congressional calendar, cited other delayed legislation, such as the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act and the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of FY 2027. In its news alert, NWC also stated it had submitted a letter in support of the House committee’s continued commitment to advancing WRDA on a bipartisan, biennial basis.
Drone Restriction Authority
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Rulemaking advocating for more drone restriction authority in the agency’s rules.
The AAPA took the action in response to the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the designation of unmanned aircraft flight restrictions (UAFRs) around eligible fixed site facilities, including ports.
The NPRM is part of the FAA’s implementation of Section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016.
In the letter to the FAA, AAPA President and CEO Sang Yi stressed that “ports routinely handle hazardous materials, military cargo, cruise passengers, energy products, chemical shipments and essential consumer goods that are vital to national economic and homeland security.” Yi said that unauthorized drone activity in the vicinity of any of these facilities raises safety, surveillance and operational concerns.
“Moreover, the threat posed by attack drones is particularly acute in the cruise sector, where a single vessel may carry several thousand passengers and crew,” he stated.
Based on input from ports, the industry’s comments outlined recommendations to streamline eligibility for maritime transportation facilities, recognize port authorities as governing critical infrastructure operators, allow flexibility beyond strict property-line boundaries, address vertical boundary limitations and aerial surveillance risks, improve coordination and processing capacity, address authorized operations and operational flexibility, protect sensitive security information and security documentation and continue advancing detection and mitigation authorities.
Arctic Security Cutters
The Coast Guard announced the finalization of two contracts for the construction and delivery of six Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), a new class of polar icebreakers that are to strengthen America’s position in the Arctic. Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C. of Lockport, La., was awarded a contract for four ASCs valued at approximately $2.2 billion.
Rauma Marine Constructions Oy of Rauma, Finland, was awarded a contract for two ASCs valued at approximately $1.1 billion.
The first vessel under this contract is scheduled to be delivered in 2028, and all six vessels are scheduled to be delivered by 2031.
The Coast Guard’s contracts with Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C. and Rauma Marine Constructions Oy were awarded initially in December 2025. According to the Coast Guard, the initial contract awards allowed shipbuilders to begin planning while final details were negotiated.
“America’s future in the Arctic demands strength, capability and resolve,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.
“These cutters will deliver the enduring operational capability our nation needs to defend our sovereignty, deter adversaries and safeguard vital resources for the American people.”
Coast Guard Readiness Plans
Despite advances in certain areas, the Coast Guard still needs to do more to help ensure effective use of the unprecedented billions of dollars Congress appropriated for the service’s modernization efforts, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Testimony from the federal watchdog agency cited the impact of the “decades of underinvestment, neglect and strategic drift” on the service. According to the leadership of the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, GAO said the multi-mission service is facing a “readiness crisis.”
In its report to Congress, GAO said it found gaps when reviewing documents for the Force Design 2028 effort that aims to modernize Coast Guard operations into a more capable and agile force to meet future challenges across several areas. Republican and Democratic members raised issues during an oversight hearing of the Coast Guard’s modernization methods held by House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Marine Transportation.
Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) repeated his long-held concerns that the Coast Guard has not provided his panel with statutorily required long-term acquisition planning documents for years.
Citing the GAO report, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) ranking member of the full committee, said the Coast Guard is not only falling behind on its acquisition and procurement targets but has made operational decisions that have actively harmed its ability to carry out essential duties.
