Press Releases

Opening remarks, as prepared, of Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA) from today’s hearing, entitled, “Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 – Administration Priorities”:

I’d like to thank Assistant Secretary Telle and Lieutenant General Graham for joining us today as we discuss the Administration’s priorities for the Water Resources Development Act of 2026.

The biennial WRDA bill is the primary way that Congress guides the Corps’ projects and priorities. It is important for the Committee to hear directly from Corps leadership at the beginning of the WRDA process. By authorizing projects and studies, and providing direction on programmatic changes, WRDA bills improve the ability of the Corps to achieve its key civil works missions of navigation, flood control, and ecosystem restoration.

WRDA 2026 will be the seventh WRDA bill since the Committee returned to the biennial structure in 2014. A dependable two-year WRDA cycle has allowed for the Corps and its non-federal sponsors to keep critical water infrastructure projects moving forward and respond to local water resource needs more effectively.

An efficient response to the evolving water resource needs across the country is vital for our security, safety, and economic stability. Our nation’s ports and inland waterways move essential goods, support local economies, and provide the marine infrastructure that contributes over $500 billion to the nation’s GDP. A consistent WRDA process helps to improve and maintain our ports and waterways to meet growing needs.

As I proudly shared last fall, in my home state of Georgia, the Port of Savannah achieved its second busiest year ever in 2025, serving nearly 1,700 container ships and handling around 15,000 truck moves daily. This growth and success are supported by a consistent and reliable WRDA process.

I was happy to hear that dredging is finally underway in the Port of Brunswick’s inner and outer harbor, but it has been several years since this vital port received routine maintenance dredging. Similar routine dredging projects across the country are burdened by an undue regulatory process and environmental windows that seem to prevent the consistent maintenance of federal channels. I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses to get a better understanding of how we can prevent such delays.

In addition to our nation’s ports, the inland waterways are critical arteries for transportation and commerce. Since becoming Chairman of this subcommittee, I have been able to visit several Corps projects across the country, including the Wilson and Chickamauga Locks in Alabama and Tennessee. These critical assets that serve our nation’s economic and national security are in need of rehabilitation. The necessary maintenance for these projects is taking too long and costing taxpayers too much.

In Congress, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer money, and the Corps must do better to complete projects on time and on budget. I look forward to hearing about ways this can be done from our panel this morning. With that, I want to welcome Assistant Secretary Telle and Lieutenant General Graham here today to discuss their priorities for WRDA 2026.

Click here for more information from today’s hearing, including video and witness testimony.