Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.

A key House subcommittee kicked off its effort on a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 and almost immediately triggered sharp criticism over delays blamed on a new communication policy with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Are the Corps of Engineers folks supposed to run, run scurrying away like rats when my staff approaches them in a room to ask for help in order to get culverts cleared out, in order to get dikes inspected?” said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), whose district has been hit by recent flooding.

Larsen, ranking member of the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, put the blame squarely on the Department of Defense.

He questioned whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have to sign off on efforts to save lives in his district.

“This is a practical impact of a ridiculous, short-sighted policy that is being applied to the Corps of Engineers,” the congressman said.

Both Larsen and Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), the ranking member of the House T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, said they have heard concerns over communications with the Corps from members from both sides of the aisle.

Communication also was a top theme addressed by Julie Ufner, president and CEO of the National Waterways Conference, one of the four witnesses appearing before the subcommittee.

Ufner also emphasized the importance of maintaining the years-long tradition of passing WRDAs on a biennial basis.

“Predictability matters,” she said. “Quite simply, WRDA is a partnership that works.”

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, said the hearing was the first of a series his panel will hold on WRDA 2026.

Meeting Canceled

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council’s December 11 meeting was canceled without explanation before or after the move. For that meeting, the council’s agenda included a vote on its much-anticipated report on possibly overhauling the agency.

“The President’s Council to Assess FEMA meeting has been postponed,” the council’s office announced in a statement. “We will keep you apprised of the new date as soon as possible.”

Multiple requests over several days to the council, individual members, the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA’s parent agency) and the White House did not produce additional information.

Key Democrats welcomed the cancellation.

“Fortunately, Congress does not need to wait for the review council to act,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “We do not need the council’s work because Congress already did its work.”

Larsen cited the bipartisan bill he and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House T&I committee, introduced and advanced through their committee with near-unanimous support.

“I hope we can take immediate action to move our bipartisan bill through Congress because disaster-affected communities in Washington and across America can’t afford to wait any longer,” Larsen said.

Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), ranking member of the T&I’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, also called on Congress to pass Larsen and Graves’ Fixing Emergency Management for America Act.

“FEMA’s mission is to help Americans in their darkest hour,” Stanton said. “The agency isn’t perfect, and its job is getting harder as disasters grow more frequent and more severe, but the solution is not to tear FEMA down. It’s to work across the aisle to build the agency up.”

Permitting Reform

A divided House narrowly passed a permitting reform bill supporters say will cut red tape and make permitting more efficient and transparent under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

By a vote of 221 to 205, H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review For Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act was sent to the Senate.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), the bill’s sponsor, said it will have an immediate impact on energy producers, the agriculture industry, home and road builders, water utilities and everyday Americans regulated under the CWA by allowing critical infrastructure projects to be built more quickly and efficiently.

He said supporters of his bill include the Georgia Ports Authority, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Farm Bureau.

Critics warn the bill would weaken the CWA, which they consider one of the key laws needed to protect the environment, including community drinking water aquifers.