(Washington—Sept. 17, 2026) — The House of Representatives this week passed three bipartisan, Audubon-supported bills that would significantly improve habitat that birds, people, and communities rely on.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497) supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ work to restore aquatic ecosystems, encourage natural and nature-based solutions, and strengthen the resilience of communities across the country. The legislation would help advance restoration in critically important ecosystems that birds, people, and our economy depend on, including the Everglades, Great Lakes, Rio Grande, Lower Mississippi River, and Great Salt Lake.
Lastly, the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act (H.R. 6893) reauthorizes science, habitat restoration, monitoring, and environmental education programs administered by NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, supporting continued efforts to restore the Bay and the rivers and streams that flow into it.
Together, the bills would invest in a connected network of places that birds depend on throughout their lives—from the communities where they stop during migration to the rivers, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems where they feed, breed, and shelter. All three bills now move to the Senate for consideration.
“House passage of these bills demonstrates that lawmakers from both parties can find common ground around practical conservation solutions,” said Felice Stadler, vice president of government affairs at the National Audubon Society. “Together, these measures give communities more tools to restore habitat, sustain healthy rivers and wetlands, and protect the watersheds that birds and people rely on. We thank the sponsors of the bills and House leaders for this bipartisan momentum and urge the Senate to act quickly so Congress can send these bills to the president’s desk before the end of the year.”
Media contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org
