CRS INSIGHT
Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Annual Report
on Future Studies and Projects
May 16, 2019 (IN11118)
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Anna E. Normand
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Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy (anormand@crs.loc.gov, 7-9846)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), through its civil works mission, undertakes water resource development
studies and projects and other assistance activities that are specifically authorized by Congress. In Section 7001 of the
Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014 (P.L. 113-121
; 33 U.S.C. §2282d), Congress
established an annual process for identifying proposals for site-specific studies and projects within USACE's water
resource mission and authorities. The process includes a call for nonfederal proposals and concludes with a report by the
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) to USACE's congressional authorizing committees.
Congress authorizes USACE studies and projects prior to appropriating funds and typically considers omnibus USACE
water resource authorization bills biennially, typically titled as Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs). Most
project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into three categories: feasibility studies, construction projects, or
modifications to existing authorizations. (See this CRS report for more on the USACE authorization process.)
Inclusion of a proposal in a Section 7001 annual report does not provide congressional authorization or appropriation.
Rather, inclusion of a proposal in a report facilitates congressional consideration of authorizing the proposal (in a
manner consistent with congressional earmark moratorium policies). For example, Congress has used Section 7001
annual reports from 2015 through 2018 in developing USACE water resource authorization legislation in 2016 and 2018
—WRDA of 2016 (Title I of P.L. 114-322) and WRDA of 2018 (Title I of P.L. 115-270), respectively. USACE is
accepting nonfederal proposals for consideration for inclusion in the 2020 Section 7001 annual report at
http://www.wrrda7001proposals.us/ through August 27, 2019.
Section 7001 Report
Section 7001 of WRRDA 2014, as amended, directs the Secretary of the Army to submit an annual report to the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The report may
include the following:
completed feasibility reports;
proposed feasibility studies;
proposed modifications to authorized studies and projects; and
proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure assistance authorities.
The Section 7001 criteria for inclusion in the annual report are:
