[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 146 (Monday, September 8, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3879-H3880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MID-ATLANTIC RIVER BASIN COMMISSIONS REVIEW ACT
Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3428) to require the Comptroller General of the United
States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions,
and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3428
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mid-Atlantic River Basin
Commissions Review Act''.
SEC. 2. MID-ATLANTIC RIVER BASIN COMMISSIONS.
(a) GAO Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall initiate a review of the Mid-Atlantic River
Basin Commissions.
(2) Requirements.--In conducting the review under paragraph
(1), the Comptroller General shall--
(A) review the ethics policies and practices of each Mid-
Atlantic River Basin Commission;
(B) review the practices each Mid-Atlantic River Basin
Commission uses to communicate with the general public;
(C) review current Federal responsibilities at each Mid-
Atlantic River Basin Commission, including the types of
actions taken by relevant Federal agencies in carrying out
such responsibilities;
(D) describe the level and sources of Federal and State
funding received by each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission;
(E) identify duties and responsibilities of each Mid-
Atlantic River Basin Commission that may be duplicative of,
or overlap with, other Federal authorities; and
(F) review policies and best practices of each Mid-Atlantic
River Basin Commission for reporting activities of the
Commission.
(3) Report.--Upon completion of the review conducted under
paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate a report containing--
(A) the findings of such review; and
(B) any recommendations, including any recommendations for
statutory or administrative changes or changes to ethics
policies and practices, to increase the transparency or
congressional oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin
Commissions.
(b) Plan for Compliance.--Not later than 90 days after the
Comptroller General submits the report required under
subsection (a)(3), and annually thereafter for five years,
each Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing actions such
Commission has taken to comply with the recommendations
contained in such report.
(c) Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission Defined.--In this
section, the term ``Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commission''
means--
(1) the Susquehanna River Basin Commission created by the
Susquehanna River Basin Compact to which consent was given by
Public Law 91-575 (84 Stat. 1509);
(2) the Delaware River Basin Commission created by the
Delaware River Basin Compact to which consent was given by
Public Law 87-328 (75 Stat. 688); and
(3) the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
created by the Potomac River Basin Compact to which consent
was given by Public Law 91-407 (84 Stat. 856).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Barrett) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 3428.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Bresnahan), for his hard work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, for the
Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac Rivers, came into existence before
the creation of the EPA and mandated Federal involvement in the
commissions.
H.R. 3428 is a good government bill that directs the GAO to review
the ethics, practices, funding, and Federal responsibilities of the
commissions.
Congress has a duty to conduct oversight of these commissions, and I
thank Mr. Bresnahan for ensuring that we fulfill that role.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3428, a bill to direct the GAO
to review the three Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions and report on
the practices and Federal responsibilities of each commission.
The Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions serve an important role in
the region by managing, protecting, and improving their respective
river basins.
[[Page H3880]]
The commissions were created to consolidate a complex web of State,
interstate, and Federal efforts into one.
For example, the history of the Potomac Basin Commission reminds us
how the commission was formed in response to extreme pollution levels
in our Nation's River that required a regional, cooperative response by
all jurisdictions.
Similarly, the Delaware River Basin Compact, signed in 1961 by
President John F. Kennedy and the then-Governors of Delaware, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, created a commission with the force
of law to oversee a unified approach to managing the river without
regard to political boundaries.
As a result of these commissions, water quality on the Delaware,
Potomac, and Susquehanna Rivers has, in many ways, vastly improved, but
threats such as population increases, land use changes, and the growth
of impervious surfaces, chemical contaminants, and nutrient and
sediment enrichment still require focused, regional attention.
This GAO study will review these partnerships and how
responsibilities are split between the commissions and the Federal
agencies, as well as examine the transparency and communication
practices of the commissions.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3428 and urge my colleagues to do the
same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1730
Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan).
Mr. BRESNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce H.R. 3428, the
Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act.
This legislation will bring much-needed oversight and clarity to the
activities and funding streams for the Delaware River Basin Commission,
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin.
The river basin commissions in the Mid-Atlantic work across State
lines to regulate the river systems within a watershed. Since their
inceptions after World War II, the rivers they manage have grown in
importance as our populations have grown and water usage has increased.
Millions of people rely on these rivers for water and wastewater
needs, including my constituents in Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional
District.
These commissions also play a role in protecting rivers from
pollution and ensuring the ecosystems remain vibrant and resilient.
As their roles have grown, Congress has not always had insight into
the exact responsibility and tasks the river basin commissions are
undertaking.
My legislation directs the Government Accountability Office to
conduct a study and compile recommendations for the Mid-Atlantic river
basin commissions to ensure they have proper ethics policies in place,
conduct an inventory of their Federal responsibilities, and look to see
if any of their responsibilities have become duplicative since their
inceptions.
My legislation then directs these river basin commissions to report
back annually on how they are complying with these recommendations. GAO
is the gold standard for Federal reports and has conducted numerous
reports and studies of government agencies. In fact, according to the
GAO, 75 percent of their recommendations are implemented over a 4-year
period.
I trust this proper oversight will help these river basin commissions
find ways to improve their services to their citizens and the rivers
they serve.
I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.
Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for
his leadership on this issue. I support H.R. 3428, and I urge my
colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3428, the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions
Review Act, is legislation that will ensure important rivers in our
communities have proper oversight and utilize taxpayer resources to
carry out their missions responsibly.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill and yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barrett) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3428.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________