{"id":4908,"date":"2025-09-11T15:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waterways.org\/?p=4908"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:08:13","slug":"nwc-news-alert-september-11-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waterways.org\/wordpress2\/nwc-news-alert-september-11-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"NWC News Alert (September 11, 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A special thanks to <\/em><\/strong>Valley Water<\/em><\/strong><\/a> for their generous support of this Federal Spotlight. Your commitment helps drive our mission forward.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

T&I WRDA Implementation Hearing\/Regulatory Priorities\/ Grant Standoff<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sept. 11, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11<\/b><\/p>\n

Today marks twenty-four years since the September 11 attacks, a day of unimaginable loss and collective grief. We pause to honor the lives taken, the families forever changed, and the bravery of first responders and service members who stood in the breach.<\/p>\n

The aftermath of that day also revealed the importance of resilience \u2013 in people, in communities, and in the systems that sustain our nation. Strong and reliable infrastructure, coordinated response, and the ability to recover in the face of crisis are essential to moving forward together. On this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to strengthening the nation\u2019s water resources \u2013 navigation, flood control, ecosystem restoration, hydropower, recreation, and water supply \u2013 so that future generations inherit a safer and more resilient future.<\/p>\n

CONGRESSIONAL OVERVIEW<\/b><\/p>\n

Since our alert earlier this week, Congress this week wrestled with both must-pass legislation and politically charged debates. The White House put forward a continuing resolution to extend current funding through January 31, 2026, a move meant to avert a shutdown at the September 30 fiscal year deadline. At the same time, the Senate narrowly blocked a Democratic amendment to the annual defense authorization bill that would have required public release of Jeffrey Epstein case files, with two Republicans siding with Democrats in support.<\/p>\n

Next week, attention will intensify on the funding debate. Negotiators must decide whether to move on the White House\u2019s longer stopgap or push for shorter extensions, with the shape of that resolution likely to influence ongoing appropriations talks. Parallel efforts in the House to force action on Epstein records could complicate floor dynamics, adding to the uncertainty as leaders look to balance policy disputes with the urgent need to keep the government open.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

T&I SUBCOMMITTEE EXAMINES USACE WRDA EXECUTION<\/b><\/p>\n

On September 10, 2025, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing titled\u00a0\u201cWater Resources Development Acts Implementation, Review and Oversight of Past Provisions,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle and Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr., Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as witnesses. Members examined delivery speed, costs, and dredging backlogs, including priorities such as inland waterway lock rehabilitation, Brunswick Harbor maintenance, and the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Telle emphasized consistency and accountability across the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, USACE headquarters, divisions, and districts, and called for optimizing quality, speed, and cost. He said the administration plans to finalize a permanent definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) consistent with the Supreme Court\u2019s Sackett decision, and he noted updates to USACE procedures that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Graham described USACE\u2019s focus on getting the engineering right, getting projects built, and getting the team right, including beneficial use of dredged material, stronger feasibility study and preconstruction engineering and design (PED) discipline, risk management, and early contractor engagement. The committee underscored the need to keep Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) implementation on schedule and to reduce dredging backlogs that affect navigation and flood risk management.<\/p>\n

Resources:<\/p>\n