Public Access Protection Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9348 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9348

To require the Secretary of the Army to include in any final recommendation for a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers a plan to maintain equivalent levels of access to existing public recreational amenities, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Ms. Friedman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

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A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Army to include in any final recommendation for a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers a plan to maintain equivalent levels of access to existing public recreational amenities, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Public Access Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that, during construction of a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers that affects a public recreational amenity, including a park, a trail, a green space, a recreational waterway, and any other public open space, the Secretary of the Army should-- (1) maintain an equivalent level of recreational access to such public recreational amenity; (2) minimize temporary disruptions to such access through project planning and coordination with affected communities; and (3) provide alternative public access where necessary to ensure continued recreational opportunities for the duration of such construction.

SEC. 3. RECREATIONAL ACCESS PRESERVATION PLAN.

To the maximum extent practicable, in carrying out a feasibility study for a water resources development project of the Corps of Engineers, the Secretary shall-- (1) review the potential impact of construction of the project on existing public recreational amenities, including facilities for hiking, biking, walking, and waterborne recreation; and (2) include in any final recommendation for such project a plan to maintain an equivalent level of access to such amenities during construction of the project. <all>