Dam Safety Act of 2006

The Dam Safety Act of 2006 (H.R. 4981) was designed to strengthen the oversight and maintenance of the nation’s water infrastructure by updating the National Dam Safety Program. The bill would have required the federal government to maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of all U.S. dams, including safety assessments based on state and federal inspections. It also aimed to provide funding for state-level safety programs, research, and staff training to ensure that potential hazards are identified and managed effectively.

For the average citizen, this legislation focused on public safety and disaster prevention by ensuring that the dams in their communities are regularly monitored and meet modern safety standards. While the bill provided resources for inspections and strategic planning, it specifically prohibited the use of these federal funds for the actual physical construction or repair of dams. Although the bill passed the House of Representatives, it did not advance through the Senate during the 109th Congress and did not become law.