H.R. 7519: Army Corps Congressional Engagement Act

This bill, known as the Army Corps Congressional Engagement Act, proposes a requirement for the District Commanders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Here's a breakdown of its main parts:

Annual Briefings

• Starting the calendar year after the bill becomes law, each District Commander must provide an annual briefing to the offices of Members of Congress whose districts are located, in whole or in part, within the District's area.
• The briefings can be conducted virtually or in-person, based on the preference of the District Commander.

These briefings must cover:

• All projects within the District that are:
• Located fully or partially in the district of the Corps and the congressional district
• Within a watershed
• Funded or led by the Corps, or where the Corps consulted during the reporting period
• Details for each project included in the briefing must provide information on the following:
• Location, also identifying other congressional districts involved
• Status and progress towards completion
• Any delays, or potential delays
• Total funding expended and specifically for the reporting period
• Estimation of additional funds needed to finish the project
• A comprehensive list of expenses incurred so far
• Summary of environmental impacts and community effects
• A summary of engagement with non-Federal sponsors or the public
• Opportunities for related studies or project authorizations within the same district
• It must also include any requests for additional funding needed for the projects discussed, and allow time for questions from congressional offices about any projects in their districts.

Failure to Provide Briefing

• If a District Commander does not provide the required briefing by December 1 of the year, they must send a written statement by December 31 explaining why the briefing was missed.
• This statement should include:
• Reasons for not providing the briefing
• Whether the District Commander has made any attempts to schedule the briefing
• Plans to ensure the briefing occurs as soon as possible
• If a written statement is not submitted, the Army's Inspector General must investigate and report to Congress, detailing the reasons for the briefing failure and recommendations for improving compliance.

Definitions of Key Terms

The bill also defines important terms used throughout:

• Member of Congress: Includes Delegates and Resident Commissioners.
• Relevant Congressional Committees: Includes specific committees in both the House and Senate, such as the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Relevant Companies

• None found