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Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The DAMS Act (Dam Assessment and Mitigation Support Act) would amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to reauthorize certain state-level assistance and extend funding through 2031. The bill makes two targeted changes: it repeals a specific provision in section 8(e) (by striking paragraph (4)), and it strengthens requirements around how high-hazard potential dams are prioritized. Specifically, if a state does not operate its own risk-based priority system for identifying high-hazard dams, it must adopt and use the federal priority system established or recognized under the act. The measure clarifies that appropriations for the program are extended to 2031, thereby providing a longer funding horizon for dam safety activities.
Key Points
- 1Repeal of a provision: The bill strikes paragraph (4) of section 8(e) of the National Dam Safety Program Act, removing whatever rule or requirement that paragraph imposed.
- 2Priority system (state implementation): For rehabilitation of high-hazard potential dams, the bill requires that any state without its own risk-based priority system must use the federal priority system for identifying such dams.
- 3Extended funding authorization: The authorization of appropriations for the National Dam Safety Program is lengthened from 2026 to 2031, extending federal funding for dam safety activities.
- 4Short title: The act may be cited as the Dam Assessment and Mitigation Support Act (DAMS Act).
- 5Purpose and scope: The bill aims to reauthorize and modernize federal support for state dam safety programs, with a particular emphasis on prioritizing rehabilitation of high-hazard dams and ensuring consistent use of a risk-based prioritization framework.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: States and state dam safety programs, particularly those responsible for identifying and prioritizing high-hazard dams and administering rehabilitation projects.Secondary group/area affected: Dam owners, local governments, engineers and consultants working on dam safety and rehabilitation, communities at risk from dam failures, and federal agencies overseeing dam safety.Additional impacts: Potential changes in compliance or reporting requirements for states (depending on the specifics of the repealed provision and the federal priority system), and a longer-term federal funding horizon that could influence planning and milestone setting for dam safety projects.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 2, 2025