Today, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026.  Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) led the effort to include a provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expedite a Chief’s Report evaluating a single large underground water conveyance tunnel to reduce flood risk around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and along Buffalo Bayou. 

WRDA 2024 required USACE to complete a Chief’s Report on the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study (BBTRS).  Instead, USACE produced a report of findings that presented three options: take no action, construct one large tunnel, or construct a series of smaller, modular tunnels.  USACE then requested additional funding to study the difference between the large-tunnel and modular-tunnel options, rather than completing the legally required Chief’s Report.

WRDA 2026 closes that gap.  The bill's new language specifically directs USACE to expedite the Chief’s Report on the single large tunnel option—the solution regional stakeholders have identified and supported as the most effective way to protect Houston-area communities from flooding, whether from a single catastrophic storm or the cumulative impact of frequent, smaller flood events.

“Since my first term in Congress, meeting the need to protect our community from flooding has been central to my work, and completing the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study is essential to that effort,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “This project reflects an effort to think big about how to protect our entire community from the cumulative toll of more rain and more storms.  I’m grateful to Congressman Luttrell for his partnership in this effort, and to community leaders across Texas’ Seventh Congressional District for their years of collaboration and advocacy.  I’m glad WRDA 2026 will finally require USACE to deliver the Chief’s Report on the solution our community has identified and supported.”

"Houston families have waited too long for real protection from flooding around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and Buffalo Bayou,” said Congressman Morgan Luttrell.  “Today's committee passage of WRDA 2026 is a step forward towards ending the delay and requiring USACE to finally deliver the Chief's Report on the large tunnel solution.  I want to thank Congresswoman Fletcher for her years of advocacy and partnership on this fight.”

Since her first term in Congress, Congresswoman Fletcher has advocated for the completion of BBTRS.  Following her advocacy, Congress included language requiring USACE to complete BBTRS in the Water Redevelopment Act (WRDA) of 2024.  In January of 2024, she testified before the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and urged the Committee to include language to complete the BBTRS.  In 2021, she wrote a letter to USACE supporting an exemption to allow USACE to complete the BBTRS. 

In 2020, she successfully called on the USACE to extend the public comment period for the BBTRS Interim Report.  She then submitted a public comment on the interim report urging the USACE to incorporate public feedback from residents of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.