H.R. 7519

[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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