November 21, 2025
Mr. Mullin (for himself, Mr. Ezell, and Mr. Weber of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To require the Secretary of the Army to consult with stakeholders in determining the scope of contracts entered into for the purposes of maintenance dredging, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Dredging Coordination Improvement Act
.
Sec. 2. Maintenance dredging requirements
(a) Consultation and prioritization
In determining the scope and performance timeline to be included in any contract entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act with an entity to carry out maintenance dredging, the Secretary—
(1)
shall—
(A)
consult with stakeholders, including the applicable non-Federal sponsor and other relevant entities determined by the Secretary; and
(B)
the extent practicable, prioritize the completion of maintenance dredging in waters used for commercial and navigation activities, maintenance dredging that is needed for emergencies, maintenance dredging that is needed to accommodate environmental windows (as defined by the Secretary), and maintenance dredging that supports other activities in which there is an important national interest before the completion of maintenance dredging in waters used primarily for other activities, such as recreation, or for purposes other than to facilitate commerce or navigation; and
(2)
notwithstanding paragraph (1), may determine the scope and performance timeline to be included in such contract without consultation with stakeholders that are not a party to such contract, if the Secretary determines that an emergency exists or there is an important national interest at stake.
(b) Communication
Upon receiving information about changes with respect to the performance of maintenance dredging and determining that such changes are reasonably likely to affect the period of performance of a contract for such dredging, the Secretary shall notify the applicable non-Federal sponsor of such changes not later than the third business day after the date on which the Secretary received such information.
(c) Capability numbers
With respect to any maintenance dredging activity, the Secretary shall, upon request, make the respective capability numbers for such activities available to the non-Federal sponsor of such activity.
(d) Secretary defined
In this section, the term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers