The forthcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 must support the timely and efficient delivery of water resources projects, while continuing to meet national missions, according to U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
“Flexibility is key to ensuring that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can identify and carry out solutions that are tailored to the needs of each community,” said Sen. Capito, chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, during a Feb. 25 EPW hearing.
In her opening remarks, Sen. Capito discussed the importance of passing the 2026 WRDA legislation on time and with collaboration from stakeholders, and pointed out the need for legislation that supports the efficient delivery of water resources projects while preserving the role of non-federal sponsors in addressing communities’ needs.
“We must also continue to preserve the role of our non-federal sponsors in this process,” the senator said. “To achieve this goal, WRDA 2026 will advance studies and projects, without forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.”
During the hearing to help the committee develop the next WRDA, she also praised the Army Corps’ critical work both in West Virginia and across the country in supporting navigation, mitigating flood risk, and restoring ecosystems.
“WRDA not only authorizes water resources studies and projects but sets national policies for the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program,” said the senator. “Since 2014, this committee has kept to a biennial schedule of passing this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to continuing that track record this Congress.”
The EPW Committee learned more about the Trump administration’s recently announced priorities for the Corps; examined the agency’s implementation of prior WRDAs; and discussed ongoing projects and programs of the Corps.
Sen. Capito added that the work of the Corps has and will continue to make a difference in communities, especially in her home state of West Virginia, where the Corps is actively working on several studies and projects.
For instance, “the fifth and final phase of the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance Mega-Project — it is a huge project — in the city of Hinton continues to make significant progress,” she said. “Once completed, that project will protect more than 150,000 people and $20 billion worth of infrastructure.”
The senator also said that she looks forward to making sure that the next WRDA contains the necessary authorizations and authorities for the Corps to continue to carry out its important work.