Loading…
H.R. 7268119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jan 28, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 7268 removes federal liability for the Army Corps of Engineers during approved waterway sediment cleanups, potentially accelerating stalled projects.
60-second read · 5 questions answered below
HR 7268 removes the legal liability the Army Corps of Engineers currently faces under federal environmental law when pollutants spread during sediment cleanup projects. The liability shield applies only when the Corps follows an approved cleanup plan developed with a state or local partner and approved by the EPA. The plan must detail how contaminated material will be removed and disposed of, assign responsibilities, and outline funding.
The bill primarily affects the Army Corps of Engineers and the state or local governments that partner with them on waterway cleanup projects. People living near polluted rivers, harbors, or other waterways may also be affected, as may businesses or individuals originally responsible for the contamination.
Reducing legal risk for the Corps could make it easier and faster to move forward with sediment cleanups that have been stalled. The bill does not eliminate accountability for original polluters, who can still be sued by the government to recover cleanup costs under existing environmental law.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.