Bresnahan’s Legislation to Improve Federal Oversight of River Basin Commissions Passes House

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Rob Bresnahan's, Jr. (PA-08) legislation, H.R. 3428, the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act. The legislation, which passed by a unanimous vote, would increase Congressional oversight of three river basin commissions, ensuring they implement the necessary practices to serve as good stewards of taxpayer resources.

"Over the years, rivers in the Mid-Atlantic have grown in importance as our populations have grown and water usage has increased," said Rep. Bresnahan."Due to this expansion, the commissions that manage these rivers have been handed a growing amount of responsibility that has largely gone unchecked by the federal government, despite their involvement across state lines. My legislation will address this lapse by directing studies for recommendations and increasing federal oversight on these organizations, and I look forward to advocating for its passage in the Senate."

The commissions included in the legislation are the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). Under this legislation, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct a review focusing on each river basin commission's ethics practices, communication with the public, and how each commission carries out federal responsibilities. The legislation first passed out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) on June 11, 2025.

"Congressman Bresnahan's good government bill ensures that federal river basin commissions for the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac rivers are properly using their federal resources and spending taxpayers' dollars wisely," said T&I Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06). "Congress has a duty to conduct its oversight responsibilities over the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions. This legislation increases accountability and oversight of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, especially after a state-level audit of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission raised concerns about ethics compliance and appropriate use of funds. I want to thank Rep. Bresnahan for his work on this bill and his leadership on this issue."

You can read the full text of the legislation here.

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