Corps of Engineers workforce

(a) Sense of Congress on Corps of Engineers workforce needs It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Corps of Engineers should maintain a professional workforce capable of addressing the varied statutory responsibilities entrusted to the Corps of Engineers in a timely manner, including— (A) the technical expertise necessary to design and deliver complex projects for navigation, flood and storm risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, water supply and water conservation, hydropower, and recreation; (B) the ability to partner with State and local governments and Indian Tribes in providing technical and planning assistance to communities in addressing local water resources challenges; the personnel required to meet its emergency response authorities; and (C) the regulatory expertise to administer statutory reviews and approvals; and (2) the Corps of Engineers should— (A) improve its recruiting efforts; (B) offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through postgraduate school; (C) offer clear paths to Federal careers for recent graduates; (D) promote the appropriate utilization of volunteers; and (E) provide meaningful training, mentoring, and career development opportunities, including apprenticeships, to ensure that future Corps of Engineers workforce needs are met. (b) Evaluation of Corps of Engineers workforce needs (1) In general The Secretary shall seek to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to carry out a comprehensive review of workforce demands and needs of the Corps of Engineers, which shall include— (A) an evaluation of the professional workforce needs of the Corps of Engineers necessary to meet the statutory responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers, including— (i) ensuring the full staffing of positions that support missions, projects, or operations, including such positions that are— (I) inherently governmental or related to public safety, navigational capacity, or national security; or (II) necessary for the review and resolution of statutory reviews and approvals in a timely manner; and (ii) challenges facing the Corps of Engineers related to recruitment, retention, reductions-in-force, retirements, credentialing, professional development, on-the-job training, and other readiness-related gaps; (B) an evaluation of how increased use of public-private partnerships and other efforts by non-Federal interests to carry out responsibilities related to the study, planning, design, and construction of authorized water resources development projects affect future Corps of Engineers workforce needs; (C) an assessment of the existing technology used by the Corps of Engineers, the effects of any inefficiencies in the use of technology by the Corps of Engineers, and recommendations for improved technology or tools to accomplish the missions and responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers; and (D) recommendations based on the review under this paragraph to improve the capacity and preparedness of the Corps of Engineers workforce to ensure that such responsibilities are fully and competently addressed in a timely manner and increase the efficiency of the Corps of Engineers project delivery. (2) Submission to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the findings of the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that includes— (A) a copy of such findings; and (B) a detailed response to such findings, including any recommendations the Secretary plans to implement to ensure that the statutory responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers are fully and competently addressed and ensure the efficiency of project delivery.