[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7519 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7519
To require the District Commanders of the Corps of Engineers to provide
to offices of Members of Congress annual briefings on projects funded
or led by the Corps of Engineers in watersheds within such district,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 11, 2026
Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mr. Latimer) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the District Commanders of the Corps of Engineers to provide
to offices of Members of Congress annual briefings on projects funded
or led by the Corps of Engineers in watersheds within such district,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be referred to as the ``Army Corps Congressional
Engagement Act''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL BRIEFINGS ON CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECTS WITHIN UNITED
STATES WATERSHEDS.
(a) Annual Briefing.--For each calendar year beginning after the
date of enactment of this Act, the District Commander of each district
of the Corps of Engineers shall provide to each office of a Member of
Congress for which the respective congressional district is located,
fully or partially, in the district of the Corps of Engineers, an
annual briefing, virtually or in-person at the discretion of the
District Commander--
(1) regarding each project that is--
(A) located in the district of the Corps of
Engineers and, fully or partially, in the respective
congressional district;
(B) fully or partially located within a watershed;
and
(C) funded, partially funded, led, or partially led
by the Corps of Engineers, or on which the Corps of
Engineers has consulted during the period covered by
the report;
(2) conveying for each such project--
(A) the location, including identification of any
other congressional districts in which the project is
being carried out;
(B) the status and progress towards project
completion;
(C) any delays, or potential delays, in the project
timeline;
(D) the amount of funding expended by the Corps of
Engineers, total and for the period covered by the
report;
(E) an estimation any additional funds required to
complete the project;
(F) a list of project expenses for which funds were
expended by the Corps of Engineers, since project
inception and for the period covered by the report;
(G) a summary of any environmental impacts of the
project and any identifiable impacts of the project on
the community local to the project;
(H) a summary of any engagement between the Corps
of Engineers and a non-Federal sponsor or the public
with respect to the project; and
(I) any opportunities identified by the District
Commander for a related study or project authorization
that may be carried out in the same congressional
district in which the project is being carried out;
(3) detailing any request for additional appropriations for
use in one or more such projects; and
(4) that includes a period during which the Member of
Congress and staff of the office may ask questions regarding
any project being carried out in the congressional district of
the Member.
(b) Failure to Brief.--
(1) Written statement.--For each calendar year beginning
after the date of enactment of this Act, if a District
Commander has not provided an annual briefing required under
subsection (a) by December 1 of the calendar year, the District
Commander shall, prior to December 31 of the calendar year,
submit to each office of a Member of Congress the District
Commander has yet to brief as required under subsection (a) a
written statement that includes--
(A) an explanation of why the briefing has not
occurred;
(B) indication of whether the District Commander
has contacted the office about scheduling the briefing;
and
(C) a description of how the District Commander
plans to ensure that the briefing is scheduled as soon
as possible.
(2) Investigation.--If a District Commander fails to submit
a written statement required under paragraph (1), not later
than 30 day after the date on which the written statement was
due, the Inspector General of the Army shall submit to each
office of a Member of Congress the District Commander has yet
to brief as required under subsection (a) and the relevant
Congressional Committees a report containing--
(A) the results of an investigation of the
Inspector General as to why the briefing did not occur
during the calendar year in which it was required; and
(B) recommendations of the Inspector General to
facilitate and ensure the briefing takes place as soon
as possible.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress''
includes a Delegate to Congress and a Resident Commissioner to
Congress.
(2) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant
Congressional Committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(C) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
and
(D) the Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate.
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