On Sept. 10, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held the first hearing on the Water Resources Development Act for 2026 (WRDA). At its core, the WRDA empowers the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out projects that strengthen the nation’s water infrastructure, while also giving Congress a role in shaping priorities by authorizing specific Civil Works projects.
AGC submitted a letter for the record expressing its strong opposition to the use of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) dollars to build or maintain Corps-owned dredging ships, noting that private contractors can perform this work more efficiently and at lower cost. The recently passed Energy and Water Appropriations, diverting $40 million from the HMTF for a government-owned dredge, sets a troubling precedent and wastes HMTF resources that should be dedicated to their original purpose: maintaining navigation channels for safe, reliable commerce. AGC urges Congress to remove this provision and ensure the HMTF supports its intended mission rather than expanding government competition with industry.
For more information, please contact Jordan Howard.