Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act

# Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act Summary **What the bill does:** This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress's independent watchdog agency, to conduct a comprehensive review of three regional water commissions: the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. The GAO will examine their ethics policies, how they communicate with the public, and how they spend money. After reviewing, the GAO must report back to Congress with findings and recommendations for improving transparency and oversight. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill impacts the three commissions themselves and the states and districts they serve (Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.).

A key requirement is that each commission must respond to the GAO's recommendations by submitting action plans to Congress within 90 days of the report, and then annually for five years, detailing what steps they're taking to implement suggested improvements. **Current status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. It is a relatively narrow oversight measure focused on government accountability and transparency rather than changing water policy directly.