Safeguarding Our Levees Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2774
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-12T08:06:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Safeguarding Our Levees Act (H.R. 2774) aims to improve the timeliness of federal responses to damage on flood control projects, such as levees and dams, by adding deadlines for repairs after natural disasters. It also adjusts cost-sharing rules to encourage quicker action and shared responsibility.
Key Provisions
- Deadline for Initiating Repairs: The U.S. Secretary of the Army (who oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) must start repairing or restoring a damaged flood control project within 180 days of receiving a formal request from a non-Federal sponsor (typically a local government or organization responsible for the project).
- Adjustment to Cost-Sharing: In cases where repair costs exceed the original project value, the non-Federal sponsor's required contribution is limited to 25% of the difference between the repair costs and the original value. This reduces the local burden for emergency fixes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n(a)), which previously authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to repair flood control works damaged by disasters but lacked a specific timeline for starting work. The new 180-day deadline introduces mandatory speed, and the cost-sharing tweak (adding "25 percent of" to the existing formula) caps the non-Federal share more explicitly, potentially lowering local costs compared to prior interpretations where the full difference might have applied.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Army Corps of Engineers will face stricter timelines, possibly requiring faster resource allocation and planning, which could strain budgets during multiple disasters but improve overall efficiency in disaster response.
- On Citizens: Residents in flood-prone areas, especially in regions like California and Louisiana (where the bill's sponsors are from), may benefit from quicker levee repairs, reducing risks of flooding, property damage, and loss of life.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic infrastructure law focused on U.S. flood control.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Primary federal agency responsible for executing repairs under tighter deadlines.
- Non-Federal Sponsors: Local governments, levee districts, or other entities that co-fund and maintain flood projects; they gain from the repair timeline and reduced cost obligations.
- Communities in Flood-Prone Areas: Citizens and businesses protected by these works, particularly in coastal or riverine regions vulnerable to hurricanes, storms, or heavy rains.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens emergency response mandates without altering core federal authority under the Flood Control Act; the 180-day deadline could lead to litigation if unmet due to logistical challenges, but it promotes accountability.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate navigable waters and disaster mitigation; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it involves cooperative federal-local partnerships.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in infrastructure resilience (sponsored by representatives from flood-vulnerable states), potentially influencing future disaster funding debates by emphasizing timely federal action over unlimited discretion.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safeguarding Our Levees Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (2 pages)