Water Reservoir Transparency Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9484
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T20:57:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation requires the Secretary of the Army to study how new commercial and industrial water users affect water levels and operations at reservoirs managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its goal is to increase transparency about these impacts.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, must conduct a study on the effects of new commercial and industrial water users on Corps of Engineers reservoir water levels and operations.
- Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report on the study results to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- The study must be made publicly available on a Corps of Engineers website.
- The term “Secretary” is defined as the Secretary of the Army acting through the Chief of Engineers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces a new, one-time study requirement but does not amend or repeal any existing statutes. It adds a specific reporting obligation for the Corps of Engineers without altering current water management authorities or policies.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Corps of Engineers must allocate resources to complete the study and publish results within the 180-day deadline.
- Citizens and stakeholders: The public gains access to the report, potentially informing future discussions on water allocation.
- International relations: No direct effects are indicated.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (primary implementer).
- Commercial and industrial water users.
- Congressional committees with oversight of water resources.
- The general public, who will have access to the published study.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill raises no apparent constitutional issues and operates within Congress’s authority to direct federal agencies. It emphasizes transparency without creating new regulatory powers or restrictions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Water Reservoir Transparency Act — issued 2026-06-25 — PDF (2 pages)