HR 2774119th CongressIn Committee

Safeguarding Our Levees Act

Introduced: Apr 9, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Safeguarding Our Levees Act would amend Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1941 to tighten the timeline and modify cost-sharing for repairs or restoration of flood control works. Specifically, it requires the Secretary (typically the Army Corps of Engineers) to begin repair or restoration within 180 days after receiving a repair request from a non-Federal sponsor (usually a state or local levee district). It also changes the cost-sharing calculation by inserting that the non-Federal sponsor must contribute 25 percent of the difference between total repair costs and the Federal contribution. The goal is to accelerate repairs to levees and other flood-control works and clarify and adjust sponsor financial obligations.

Key Points

1180-day initiation deadline: After a non-Federal sponsor submits a request to repair or rehabilitate a flood control work described in the statute, the Secretary must start the repair or restoration within 180 days.
2Applicable to Flood Control Act of 1941 §5: The deadline applies to the flood-control works described in Section 5(1) (the specific projects covered by the provision about repair and rehabilitation).
3Changed cost-sharing provision: In the related cost-sharing calculation, the bill adds that the non-Federal sponsor must contribute 25 percent of the difference (between total project costs and the Federal share), rather than prior terms.
4Purpose and scope: The bill is designed to speed up repairs after requests and to adjust financial responsibility of non-Federal sponsors for repairs/rehabilitation.
5Legislative status and sponsorship: Introduced in the 119th Congress on April 9, 2025, as H.R. 2774, sponsored by Rep. Harder (CA) with Rep. Higgins (LA) as a co-sponsor; referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Non-Federal sponsors of flood control projects (e.g., state or local levee districts) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Secretary) who would be required to initiate repairs within the 180-day window.Secondary group/area affected: Communities protected by levees and flood-control works, who would benefit from faster repairs and potentially more reliable flood protection after damage or disasters.Additional impacts: The change in cost-sharing (25% of the difference to be paid by non-Federal sponsors) could affect budgeting decisions for local sponsors and could influence which projects pursue repair, depending on available funding. The measure does not specify new appropriations, so implementation would rely on existing or future funding authorizations.

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