Corps of Engineers Modernization and Improvement Act of 2005

The Corps of Engineers Modernization and Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 753) was designed to overhaul how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans, evaluates, and funds large-scale water infrastructure projects. The bill would have required stricter economic and environmental standards, including a mandate that a project’s projected benefits be at least 1.5 times its cost and that all environmental damage to fish and wildlife habitats be fully mitigated. Additionally, it sought to increase transparency and accountability by requiring independent expert reviews for controversial or expensive projects and establishing a system to automatically cancel older projects that had not received funding for several years.

For everyday citizens, this legislation aimed to ensure that federal tax dollars were spent more efficiently on flood control, navigation, and restoration projects that provided clear public value. By requiring independent oversight and updated planning guidelines, the bill intended to reduce the risk of wasteful spending on outdated or environmentally harmful infrastructure while prioritizing the modernization of vital inland waterways and ports. Although the bill was introduced and discussed in the Senate, it did not advance into law during the 109th Congress.