The U.S. House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, authorizing new environmental infrastructure projects for Fort Bend County and two neighboring counties.
The bill cleared the chamber 415-9 with support from Rep. Troy Nehls, the Fulshear-based Republican who represents Texas' 22nd Congressional District, which includes Katy and Fulshear. Nehls championed several Texas-specific provisions in the legislation, according to his office.
Fort Bend County is one of three Texas counties, along with Brazoria and Galveston, that would gain new or expanded environmental infrastructure authority under the bill. The city of Amarillo would also receive increased authority. Specific dollar amounts and project scopes for Fort Bend County have not been disclosed.
"This legislation delivers for Texas by supporting continued growth along the Matagorda Ship Channel and renewing and expanding project authorities in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston Counties," Nehls said in a statement.
What the bill does
The legislation directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study improvements to inland and intracoastal waterways and reauthorizes several Corps civil works programs through 2030. It creates new offices within the Corps' Directorate of Civil Works, including an Office of Inland Navigation Construction Management.
The bill also creates an Office of Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resiliency within the Corps. During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup on July 13, Nehls cited the Brazos River Authority as a local partner that would benefit from that new office. He noted that roughly 33 percent of the nation's Army Corps water supply storage is in Texas.
Water supply and flood resilience are pressing concerns for Katy and Fulshear, two of the fastest-growing communities in the Houston region. Fort Bend County has seen rapid residential development in recent years, straining existing drainage and water infrastructure.
What comes next
The bill now moves to the Senate, where a separate version, S. 4949, is also advancing, according to Legis1's analysis of a Congressional Research Service report. The two chambers must reconcile their versions before the legislation can reach the president's desk. No Senate vote date has been announced.
Residents who want to weigh in can contact Nehls' Fulshear district office at 6510 FM 359 South, Suite 200.
