Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I first say thanks to the distinguished chair and thanks to Members on both sides of the aisle for bringing this important bill to the floor, H.R. 4553, our Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Mr. Chair, my amendment today includes funding to the operations and management account under title I of this bill, which is the funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Specifically, I would like to highlight my application that the Little Rock Army Corps has submitted on behalf of a river in my district, the Little Red River, for the Sustainable Rivers Program.

Mr. Chair, the Little Red River has become home to a sizable and attractive wild brown trout population. It is a regional mecca for trout fishing in the mid-South.

For example, the Little Red River is home to the former world record 40-pound brown trout. Over 25 miles of fly-fishing water and over 1,000 fish per square mile brings anglers of all sizes, types, and ages to Arkansas.

Mr. Chair, because of Arkansas' many rivers, lakes, and other natural beauties, recreational fishing that is done on the Little Red River now contributes $1.2 billion and 10,000 jobs to the Arkansas economy. However, despite this beloved place in Arkansas' heritage, this river's existing tail water trout fishery has been struggling for years.

After careful conversations with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Little Rock Army Corps of Engineers, and groups representing recreational fishing, I want to voice my support for the Little Red River's application to the Sustainable Rivers Program.

The Sustainable Rivers Program would allow the Little Rock Army Corps to plan effectively for the environmental stewardship that correctly assesses water trends and helps the Little Rock Corps decisionmakers make good, low-risk decisions for the benefit of this trout fishery.

It also prevents the need for new and required equipment, environmental reviews, such as those required under the National Environmental Protection Act, and changes to the current water control plan.

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, additionally, this program would build upon the previous success that the Arkansas delegation achieved in the last Congress for the White River Basin Comprehensive Study.

Mr. Chair, I thank the leadership of the committee, I thank the Rules Committee, and Chair Foxx for adding this amendment under consideration for the floor today and approved by the Rules Committee. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Well, a 40-pound trout is not anything like the deep freshwater fish of the Great Lakes, but if you had a 26-inch fish, that is a huge brown trout. I was fortunate enough to be out in Wyoming looking for rainbow trout, and if you found one that was 15 inches, you would be flabbergasted. I am proud that Arkansas held the record for the brown trout for about 25 years.

This Sustainable Rivers Program is an important program through the Corps of Engineers for our freshwater fishery in Arkansas and across the country, and I thank the gentlewoman for the consideration.

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