33 U.S.C. § 2281b — Corps of Engineers support for underserved communities; outreach

(a) In general. It is the policy of the United States that the Corps of Engineers try to understand and accommodate the water-resources development needs of all communities in the United States. In coordination with non-Federal interests, the Corps must seek to address those needs.

(b) Outreach and access. (1) In general. At Federal expense, the Secretary must develop, support, and carry out public-awareness, education, and regular outreach and engagement efforts for potential non-Federal interests about the Secretary’s water-resources development authorities. The efforts must particularly emphasize—(A) technical-service programs, including the authorities under (i) section 709a of this title, (ii) section 1962d–16 of title 42, and (iii) section 2269 of this title; (B) continuing-authority programs, as that term is defined in section 2282d(c)(1)(D) of this title; and (C) making a potential non-Federal interest aware, before a feasibility study begins, of the roles, responsibilities, and financial commitments connected with a completed water-resources development project, including responsibilities for operations, maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation.

(2) Implementation. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary must—(A) develop and make publicly available, including on a publicly available website, technical-assistance materials, guidance, and other information about the Secretary’s water-resources development authorities; (B) designate and make publicly available a community project advisor at each Corps of Engineers district and division office. The advisor must handle (i) inquiries from potential non-Federal interests about the Secretary’s water-resources development authorities and (ii) any other responsibilities that the Secretary determines are appropriate to carry out this section; (C) conduct regular outreach and engagement, including seminars and community information sessions, with local elected officials, community organizations, and previous and potential non-Federal interests about opportunities to address local water-resources challenges through the Secretary’s water-resources development authorities; (D) issue guidance for, and provide technical assistance through technical-service programs to, non-Federal interests to help them pursue technical services and develop proposals for water-resources development projects; (E) at a non-Federal interest’s request, help research and identify existing project authorizations or authorities that could address local water-resources challenges; and (F) to the maximum extent practicable—(i) develop and continue to make publicly available, through an existing publicly available website, information about the projects and studies within each Corps district’s jurisdiction; and (ii) ensure that this information is consistent and made publicly available in the same way across all Corps districts.

(3) Guidance. The Secretary must develop and issue guidance to ensure that community project advisors designated under paragraph (2)(B) adequately fulfill their responsibilities under that paragraph.

(4) Prioritization. In carrying out this subsection, and to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary must prioritize awareness, education, and outreach and engagement for economically disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Secretary under section 160 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. 2201 note). This includes economically disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas.

(5) Authorization of appropriations. This section authorizes appropriations of $30,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this section.