Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, a biennial bill considered a must-pass measure that includes provisions to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment and other aspects of the nation’s water resources infrastructure.

Passed by a vote of 415 to 9, H.R. 9497 was sent to the Senate, where S. 4949, that chamber’s version of WRDA, awaits a floor vote.

“WRDA 2026 makes significant improvements across the country to our inland waterways, ports and harbors, flood protection and other critical water infrastructure,” said Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“This bill also makes common-sense reforms to the Army Corps of Engineers’ policies, empowers local communities and expedites project delivery.”

As approved by the House, WRDA 2026 authorizes 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects and 14 projects that have been vetted by the Corps and are ready for construction authorization by Congress.

In addition, WRDA 2026 includes various policy changes to improve infrastructure project delivery, including strengthening and reauthorizing alternative project delivery programs, emphasizing non-federal interests’ input for feasibility studies and helping ensure non-federal interests can find the right Corps resources to get projects off the ground.

Since 2014, Congress has approved a WRDA bill every two years, and supporters want to add to that record by passing a WRDA 2026 measure before the current congressional session adjourns.

“I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get a bill across the finish line,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House committee.

House Reauthorizes DERA

The House easily approved a bill to reauthorize a decades-old program to replace older, heavily polluting diesel engines that has strong support from U.S. ports.

With a vote of 343 to 79, H.R. 2140, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2025, was sent to the Senate.

The bill authorizes $100 million annually through 2029 to provide grants and rebates that help schools, local governments, small businesses and fleet operators to replace or upgrade older diesel-powered trucks, buses, construction equipment and other heavy-duty engines.

“For more than two decades, DERA has been a model of effective, bipartisan policymaking,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), the bill’s sponsor. “And now, as diesel prices reach $6 per gallon nationally, DERA is more important than ever.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 207 DERA grants have been awarded for port projects between 2008 and 2021, totaling approximately $196 million.

An additional 67 grants have been awarded through DERA to multi-sector projects that involve ports, with only a portion of the more than $88 million of funds for these projects going to the port sector.

Coast Guard Assessment

By a voice vote, a key House committee advanced a bill directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess whether the Coast Guard has the workforce, resources and tools needed to carry out its maritime cybersecurity mission.

Introduced by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.), H.R. 7625, the Marine Transportation System Cybersecurity Budget and Evaluation Report Act of 2026, also examines the service’s ability to enforce cybersecurity requirements, evaluate industry compliance and provide guidance to maritime stakeholders.

Capital Construction Fund Filing Revision

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) is seeking comments on a proposal to revise its regulations governing the filing of applications and administration of Capital Construction Fund (CCF) Program accounts.

MarAd explained in the September 22 edition of the Federal Register that the proposed rule would conform the regulations to recent statutory amendments, extending CCF Program application to all U.S.-built vessels engaged in United States domestic or foreign commerce. It would eliminate limitations on CCF Program availability to certain geographic trades, clarify the maximum allowable completion time for reconstruction projects and provide for funds to be used for acquisitions under certain circumstances.

In addition, the agency said its proposed rule includes a mechanism to terminate inactive accounts, accounts with a zero balance and accounts where a CCF Program objective has failed to commence within a 10-year period.

Comments should be filed by November 23, but late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

They may be submitted under Docket No. MARAD-2026-1552 via www.regulations.gov, mail/hand delivery or courier at Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. For additional information, contact David Gilmore at 202-366-5737 or marinefinancing@dot.gov.

Great Lakes Pilotage Rates

The Coast Guard is requesting comments on its notice to propose Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2027 shipping season that would boost operating costs by approximately 10 percent compared to the 2026 season.

“We are conducting a full ratemaking for 2027,” the Coast Guard said in the September 21 edition of the Federal Register.

“We are requesting comments on the Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology, including one proposed update to that methodology. We also propose the pilotage rate for the Straits of Mackinac, newly designated for pilotage requirements by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.”

Comments and related material must be received by October 21 and may be submitted under Docket No. USCG-2026-0049 at www.regulations.gov.

For additional information, contact Brian Rogers at 571-608-8418 or Brian.Rogers@uscg.mil.

Commercial Diving Marine Casualty Reporting

The Coast Guard published Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) 06-26, which summarizes reporting requirements for marine casualties associated with commercial diving operations for both the service and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

In addition to reviewing the MSIB, commercial maritime entities are encouraged to contact the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG-OES) for additional information at HQS-DG-1st-CG-OES-2@uscg.mil.