Rep. Bresnahan’s legislation to improve oversight of river basin commissions passes House

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said on Tuesday that legislation he proposed would increase congressional oversight of three river basin commissions, ensuring they implement the necessary practices to serve as good stewards of taxpayer resources.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Bresnahan’s legislation — H.R. 3428, the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act — this week.

“Over the years, rivers in the Mid-Atlantic have grown in importance as our populations have grown and water usage has increased,” said Bresnahan. “Due to this expansion, the commissions that manage these rivers have been handed a growing amount of responsibility that has largely gone unchecked by the federal government, despite their involvement across state lines.”

Bresnahan said this lapse will be resolved by directing studies for recommendations and increasing federal oversight on these organizations. He said he looks forward to advocating for its passage in the U.S. Senate.

The commissions included in the legislation are: the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC); Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC); and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB).