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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Army Corps of Engineers Ecosystem Restoration

Original title: PERSPECTIVES ON ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECTS OF THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

January 1, 2023

ecosystem restorationU.S. Army Corps of EngineersWater Resources Development Actclimate changeenvironmental policyinfrastructure funding

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing informs future federal legislation and funding levels for nationwide environmental restoration projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, which currently include a record $650 million budget request for fiscal year 2024.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

The Everglades Foundation

The organization provides input on federal restoration priorities and funding.

City of Phoenix

The city coordinates with federal agencies on environmental programs and restoration projects.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

The department manages state-level environmental programs that intersect with federal Army Corps projects.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2023.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing to review the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ecosystem restoration projects. The discussion focused on the agency's expanding role in environmental protection, recent funding increases, and future legislative needs.

Key Facts

  • The Army Corps of Engineers requested over $650 million for aquatic ecosystem restoration in the fiscal year 2024 budget, the highest amount ever requested.
  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $1.9 billion for Army Corps ecosystem restoration projects.
  • The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2022 expanded the definition of ecosystem restoration to include climate change and coastal/riverine restoration.
  • Congress first directed the Army Corps to lead ecosystem restoration efforts for the Upper Mississippi River in the 1986 WRDA.
  • The hearing was held on June 7, 2023, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary purpose of the Army Corps of Engineers' ecosystem restoration work?
The work aims to address environmental impacts caused by the Corps' navigation and flood control projects, while also addressing climate change threats to communities and wildlife.
How has the definition of 'ecosystem restoration' changed recently?
The 2022 Water Resources Development Act expanded the definition to explicitly include factors such as climate change and coastal and restoration.

Why It Matters

The hearing informs future federal legislation and funding levels for nationwide environmental restoration projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, which currently include a record $650 million budget request for fiscal year 2024.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Restoration Scope

The 2022 WRDA marked a significant policy shift by formally incorporating climate change and coastal restoration into the Army Corps' mandate.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Connected Entities

personShelley Moore Capito“Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works”Map →
organizationU.S. Army Corps of Engineers“Federal agency responsible for navigation, flood control, and ecosystem restorat”Map →
personTricia Balluff“Environmental Programs Coordinator for the City of Phoenix and hearing witness”Map →
personThomas R. Carper“Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works”Map →
personEric Eikenberg“CEO of The Everglades Foundation and hearing witness”Map →
personLorianne Riggin“Director of Environmental Programs for the South Carolina Department of Natural ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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