Legislative Advocacy

Priority Legislative Issues and Goals

ASDSO's Priority Legislative Issues

Increased appropriations for the National Dam Safety Program.
Program revisions and full appropriations for the National High-Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Act.
Increased appropriations to continue the success of the USDA Small Watershed Dam Rehabilitation Program.
Support and appropriations for the National Levee Safety Program.
Support for State Dam Safety Programs including strong statutes, funding and staffing.

Federal Legislative Goals

Reauthorize the High Hazard Dam Rehabilitation Grant Program for an additional five years through 2031.
Further improve upon the National Dam Safety Program by reforming the Maintenance of Effort requirements to make it less of an obstacle for State Assistance Grants.
Advocate for state dam safety programs to be able to use their own risk-based prioritization tools for HHPD grant applications.
Advocate for an audit of the National Dam Safety Program by the Government Accountability Office focused on program management and increased partnership with state dam safety programs.
Work with congressional allies on the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee to increase oversight of FEMA in its duty to administer the National Dam Safety Program.
Work with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on a standard operating procedure for license surrender of a hydroelectric dam to the state dam safety program.
Partner with the National Hydropower Association on license reform legislation.

State Legislative Goals

Work with stakeholders and FEMA to further develop Alabama’s dam safety program and achieve eligibility for participation in the National Dam Safety Program.
Advocate for the creation and implementation of state rehabilitation grants programs.
Continue to provide legislative and regulatory support to state dam safety agencies.
Build up state-based stakeholder coalitions that can provide grassroots advocacy support to ASDSO and state dam safety programs.
Increase general awareness at the state level of the importance of dam safety.

How Can You Participate in ASDSO's Advocacy Efforts

Find Your Legislator's Contact Info:

Senate Contacts
House of Representatives Contacts

Federal Advocacy

You can help support strong dam safety programs at the federal level by educating your Senators and Congressmen about the need for policies and resources that improve dam safety and, therefore, reduce the risks associated with dam failure. ASDSO works with Congress, with key administrative staff and with other non-governmental organizations to improve legislation and regulations and to ensure that funding is appropriated for these programs. It is important that you stay informed and build our advocacy efforts. From time to time, we ask our members to contact your Congressional delegation to educate them about the need for strong dam safety programs at the federal level and to support specific legislation that will improve dam safety nationwide.

Watch this page for alerts and issue briefs or contact Cody Holt at ASDSO to become a part of the Federal Legislative Advocacy Interest Group. [email protected].

Federal Priority Issues:

Continued implementation of the National Dam Safety Program (current version expires in 2028). Increase annual appropriation. Administered by DHS, FEMA. Authorized currently at $13.9 million a year.

Increase annual appropriations for the National Levee Safety Program. Administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers and DHS, FEMA. Authorized currently at $54 million a year.

Refine the elements of, reauthorize for another five years through 2031, and increase annual appropriations for the National High-Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Program. Administered by FEMA through the National Dam Safety Program. The 2016 law authorizes the program at $40 million for FY20 and $60 million for each year thereafter thru 2026.

State-Specific Advocacy

ASDSO works with the state programs and with local stakeholders in developing state-by-state advocacy coalitions. If you would like to start advocating for strong dam safety programs in your state contact Cody Holt, (205) 757-7911 or [email protected].

Partners Increase Support for Dam Safety

Partnering with other organizations allows for a stronger voice in Washington and in State Capitals. ASDSO current partnerships include:

Read More About Legislation & Policy

Funding for Dam Safety, Removal and Retrofit in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Over $2 Billion was included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for dams and injected millions of dollars into the National Dam Safety Program as well as other federal programs. ASDSO - IIJA Summary for Dams.pdf

The National Dam Safety Act

The National Dam Safety Program Act was reauthorized as part of the Water Resources & Development Act of 2024 through 2028. The High-Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Program was added in 2016 and is up for review and reauthorization in 2026.

Read the text of the National Dam Safety Act - (2018 version as it is viewed in context with the 1996, 2002, 2006 and 2014 language).

This modest yet vital program (app. $13 million total) enables the states to improve their dam safety programs, which translates into reduced risks to life and property. The NDSPA provides training; technical assistance; research funding; public awareness; and support to states through incentive grant awards that encourage states to improve their programs. No funds under this act may be used to repair any dams. The funds are targeted to support states and to advance the national effort to improve dam safety.

The NDSA will expire in 2028 and will need to be reauthorized.

The National Dam Rehabilitation Program

The National Dam Rehabilitation Act was signed into law in late 2016 as Section 3004 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements to the Nation Act (WIIN 2016). Amendments were passed in 2020 and 2024 to refine the program. The program is currently authorized at $60 million a year through 2026. It will need reauthorization in 2026.

Read the text of the National Dam Rehabilitation Act

Levee Safety Legislation

Status - 2018: The National Levee Safety Initiative was reauthorized in 2018 thru the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, thru 2023.

2014 - The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) 2014 included language to start a "levee safety initiative."

2007 - The National Levee Safety Program is promulgated within the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, which was signed into law in November 2007.

The Watershed Dam Rehabilitation Program

Funding provides matching grants to watershed districts to rehabilitate their dams. For more information about this program go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/WSRehab/.

The National Watershed Coalition (of which ASDSO is a member) and ASDSO advocate for full funding for the Small Watershed Programs.

Contact Gene Saurborn at NWC for more information:
Gene Saurborn, Interim Executive Director, National Watershed Coalition, 1023 Manvel, Suite D, P.O. Box 556, Chandler, OK 74834, (304) 288-1031, [email protected]; www.watershedcoalition.org

The National Inventory of Dams

The US Army Corps of Engineers administers the National Inventory of Dams (NID), a database of general information on US regulated dams. The Corps' authorized funding level for this program is $500,000 a year. Current administration funding levels are considerably lower than this.
Currently: ASDSO supports full funding for this program.

USGS Streamgage Program

This program is underfunded routinely within the Department of Interior, US Geological Survey's budget. ASDSO supports the continuation and adequate funding to maintain U.S. streamgages.

ASDSO Testimony

Selected testimony and letters submitted to the Administration, to Congress or to State Legislatures

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation Recommendation 2021 - Letter to the FEMA Administrator

Letter to members of the Georgia Senate opposing SB 440- a bill which would reduce the safety of the public relating to dam regulation in the state. Read Example Letter 2022

Testimony before the Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate, March 1, 2017

Letter to the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee regarding a Hearing entitled “Examining Conference and Travel Spending Across the Federal Government.”

Statement on The Water Resources Development Act, United States Senate, Committee on Environment and Public Works, November 15, 2012

Statement on The Water Resources Development Act, United States Senate, Committee on Environment and Public Works, September 20, 2012

Statement before the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on The FY 2012 Budgets and Priorities of the Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service: Finding Ways To Do More with Less, March 8, 2011

Testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the Water Resources Development Act of 2010: Legislative and Policy Proposals to Benefit the Economy, Create Jobs, Protect Public Safety and Maintain America’s Water Resources Infrastructure, November 17, 2010

Testimony on the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2011 before the United States Department of Agriculture before the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, March 19, 2010.