(a) State of levees

(1) In general

Not later than 1 year after December 16, 2016, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary in coordination with the committee, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report describing the state of levees in the United States and the effectiveness of the levee safety initiative, including—

(A) progress achieved in implementing the levee safety initiative;

(B) State, regional, and tribal participation in the levee safety initiative;

(C) recommendations to improve coordination of levee safety, floodplain management, and environmental protection concerns, including—

(i) identifying and evaluating opportunities to coordinate public safety, floodplain management, and environmental protection activities relating to levees; and

(ii) evaluating opportunities to coordinate environmental permitting processes for operation and maintenance activities at existing levee projects in compliance with all applicable laws; and

(D) any recommendations for legislation and other congressional actions necessary to ensure national levee safety.

(2) Inclusion

Each report under paragraph (1) shall include a report of the committee that describes the independent recommendations of the committee for the implementation of the levee safety initiative.

(b) National dam and levee safety program

Not later than 3 years after June 10, 2014, to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary and the Administrator, in coordination with the committee, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that includes recommendations regarding the advisability and feasibility of, and potential approaches for, establishing a joint national dam and levee safety program.

(c) Alignment of Federal programs relating to levees

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Not later than 2 years after December 16, 2016, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on opportunities for alignment of Federal programs to provide incentives to State, regional, tribal, and local governments and individuals and entities—

(1) to promote shared responsibility for levee safety;

(2) to encourage the development of strong State, regional, and tribal levee safety programs;

(3) to better align the levee safety initiative with other Federal flood risk management programs; and

(4) to promote increased levee safety through other Federal programs providing assistance to State, regional, tribal, and local governments.

(d) Liability for certain levee engineering projects

Not later than 1 year after December 16, 2016, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that includes recommendations that identify and address any legal liability associated with levee engineering projects that prevent—

(1) levee owners from obtaining needed levee engineering services; or

(2) development and implementation of a State, regional, or tribal levee safety program.