Rep. Mike Collins Named Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10) has been appointed as Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06).

The Subcommittee has direct oversight of issues that pertain to water resources, conservation and management, water infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, as well as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, and the EPA. 

“It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the crucial Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. I look forward to increasing our global trade competitiveness and hitting the ground running to cut the bureaucratic red tape that is hurting our nation,” said Rep. Collins. “Our efforts will build up America’s ports, including the Port of Savannah, to their highest potential and reign in the Army Corps of Engineers. We need to bring back America First policies and start reforming the broken regulatory environment that has held our country back for too long, and right now is our best opportunity to make generational changes.”

“Mike Collins has rolled up his sleeves and become a leader on the Committee, and I’m excited to name him as the Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee,” said House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves. “I look forward to working with Mike in his new capacity as Subcommittee Chairman as he leads our efforts to improve our nation’s water infrastructure – from ports and waterways to flood protection and wastewater infrastructure – and to ensuring a reasonable and balanced approach to protecting water quality that doesn’t stifle economic growth or the need to build America’s infrastructure.”

“The Georgia Ports Authority congratulates Congressman Collins on this important new role. Georgia’s seaports are critical economic drivers for the United States, and we look forward to working closely with Chairman Collins throughout his tenure,” said Georgia Ports Authority CEO & President Griff Lynch.

The highest priority of Chairman Collins and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee is the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which gives the Army Corps of Engineers authority to plan and execute flood control, navigation, and other improvement projects under the Corps’ Civil Works division. 

Rep. Collins’ appointment as Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee shows Collins’ continued commitment to growing Georgia’s economy. In WRDA 2024, Rep. Collins was able to secure key provisions that:

• Protected the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam from the government’s plan to reduce Augusta’s water storage and limit recreational activities on the Savannah River.
• Directed the deepening of the Port of Savannah, a project to maintain the port’s global competitiveness and ensure that Georgia remains a top-tier global trading hub.
• Lowered hydropower rates, which will reduce energy costs for Georgians who rely on hydropower. 

This appointment also gives Georgia’s farmers a seat at the table as the committee investigates the regulatory burden caused by the EPA’s “Waters of the United States” rule and other legacy regulations that have held back Georgia’s agribusinesses. 

Rep. Collins is one of six Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members with a subcommittee gavel and has served on the committee since joining Congress in 2023. He also sits on the House Natural Resource Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.