Dredging Coordination Improvement Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6276
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-07T09:05:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Dredging Coordination Improvement Act (H.R. 6276) aims to improve the planning and execution of maintenance dredging projects—activities that remove sediment from waterways to keep them navigable—by requiring consultation with stakeholders, prioritizing certain types of dredging, and enhancing communication. This ensures more efficient and targeted use of resources for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contracts.
Key Provisions
- Consultation and Prioritization in Contracts: For any maintenance dredging contract entered into after the bill's enactment, the Secretary of the Army (acting through the Chief of Engineers) must:
- Consult with stakeholders, such as non-Federal sponsors (e.g., local governments or port authorities funding or managing projects) and other relevant entities.
- Prioritize dredging in commercially important waters, emergency situations, projects tied to "environmental windows" (specific time periods to minimize harm to wildlife, as defined by the Secretary), and those supporting national interests. Lower priority is given to recreational or non-commercial dredging.
- Exceptions: In emergencies or cases of national interest, the Secretary can set contract scope and timelines without consulting non-party stakeholders.
- Communication Requirements: If changes to a dredging project (e.g., delays or adjustments) are likely to affect the contract timeline, the Secretary must notify the non-Federal sponsor within three business days of receiving the information.
- Transparency on Capabilities: Upon request, the Secretary must provide "capability numbers" (data on equipment or resource availability) for dredging activities to non-Federal sponsors.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory stakeholder consultation and explicit prioritization criteria for determining contract scopes and timelines, which were not previously required in federal dredging law.
- Adds new obligations for timely notifications and sharing of capability data, promoting greater transparency and coordination between federal and non-federal entities.
- These changes build on existing USACE authority under laws like the Rivers and Harbors Act but formalize processes to reduce delays and improve efficiency.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USACE will face additional administrative steps for consultation and notifications, potentially increasing short-term workload but leading to better-aligned projects and fewer disputes. This could optimize federal budgeting for dredging, which is often funded through annual appropriations.
- Citizens and Businesses: Commercial shipping, ports, and industries reliant on navigation (e.g., agriculture exports via rivers) may benefit from faster prioritization, reducing economic disruptions from shallow waterways. Recreational boaters could see indirect delays in non-priority projects, while emergency dredging ensures quicker responses to floods or disasters.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. waterway maintenance could enhance trade reliability with global partners by supporting efficient ports and inland navigation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Secretary of the Army and USACE, responsible for implementing dredging contracts.
- Non-Federal Sponsors: Local governments, port authorities, and private entities that co-fund or manage dredging projects.
- Commercial and Navigation Users: Businesses and industries depending on reliable waterways for trade and transport.
- Environmental and Recreational Interests: Groups concerned with wildlife protection (via environmental windows) and non-commercial waterway users, who may experience shifted priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens accountability in federal contracting under the Administrative Procedure Act by mandating consultations, potentially reducing litigation over dredging delays. No conflicts with existing environmental laws (e.g., Clean Water Act) are evident, as it respects defined environmental windows.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority to regulate navigable waters; no apparent free speech or due process issues.
- Political: Supports bipartisan infrastructure goals by streamlining commerce-focused projects, potentially appealing to representatives from port-heavy districts. It emphasizes national interests without overriding emergency powers, balancing efficiency with flexibility.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-11-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Dredging Coordination Improvement Act — issued 2025-11-21 — PDF (3 pages)