WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) offered and passed an amendment to H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026, which further expresses congressional intent in support of spot dredging the Vermilion River.
The amendment increased and decreased the Army Corps’ Operations and Maintenance account by $50 million to emphasize the importance of dredging the Vermilion River and maintaining its authorized parameters. While the river is intended to be 9 feet deep and 100 feet wide, the Army Corps has not performed dredging activities since 1997, despite having the funds to do so.
In 2019, Congressman Higgins’ office secured funding and helped coordinate an extensive hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) analysis of dredging scenarios through the Army Corps and UL Lafayette. The H&H analysis included 500,000 data points and clarified that spot dredging of the Vermilion River would increase retention and help mitigate flooding. In 2021, Congressman Higgins secured the inclusion of $50 million in the Army Corps’ Work Plan for spot dredging of the river. However, despite clear intent, statutory obligation, and available funding, the Army Corps has not removed one bucket of sediment.
During his debate on the House floor, Congressman Higgins remarked, “They have been sitting on that money, Mr. Speaker, for four years. And we’ve had enough. I believe the Corps of Engineers is not in compliance with federal law, nor are they in compliance with the will of this body, nor are they performing according to the funding of this body, and I intend to do something about it.”
Watch the full speech here.
