An aerial view of the Port of Savannah in Georgia. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg News)
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In a show of bipartisanship, senators voted to inject billions into the nation’s ports, dams and canals, passing a sweeping water infrastructure bill.
On Aug. 1, the Democratic-led chamber easily approved its version of the biennial Water Resources Development Act 2024. Bill sponsors said they will meet with House counterparts after the August recess to negotiate a final version. Congressional transportation policymakers expressed interest in clearing the bill for the president’s signature before 2025.
The House passed its version July 22 by a vote of 359 to 13.
“The U.S. Senate passed crucial bipartisan legislation to invest in our nation’s water infrastructure, protect our communities and support good-paying jobs,” Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) said Aug. 1.
“This bill addresses the diverse water resources needs of our nation and directs the Army Corps of Engineers to continue its work to make our communities more resilient in the face of extreme weather,” Carper continued.
“This year’s bipartisan Water Resources Development Act supports the important work the Army Corps of Engineers does in states, cities and towns across America,” added EPW ranking member Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). “By passing this legislation, the Senate took a significant step toward strengthening our water infrastructure, supporting our national economy, better protecting communities from flood risks, and helping the [Army Corps of Engineers] carry out its mission now and in the future.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). (Al Drago/Bloomberg News)
The Senate bill would authorize 83 feasibility studies and 13 new or modified construction projects. It would direct the Army Corps to finalize existing congressionally approved projects while requiring Government Accountability Office studies on the measure’s implementation. Projects on the bill’s radar pertain primarily to ports, dams, waterways, canals and locks.
The EPW panel’s background information indicates that the bill aims to expedite ongoing Army Corps studies and projects. It also modifies the corps’ environmental infrastructure authorities to address water and wastewater needs in communities nationwide.
On the House side, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) anticipates a final version of the bill to reach the White House for enactment. “WRDA delivers critical water resource infrastructure improvements for communities across America — from ports to levees to navigation channels, and more,” Graves affirmed. “The bill also makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get projects done faster.”
“The investments in WRDA 2024 will work to strengthen flood control, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure — keeping people healthy and communities protected,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member on the T&I committee.
The House bill would reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national dam safety program. It would authorize 160 feasibility studies and update aspects of a federal environmental permitting system. Stakeholders endorsing the biennial legislation include the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, Dredging Contractors of America, the International Liquid Terminals Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the Agricultural Retailers Association and the American Association of Port Authorities.
RELATED: Congressional Committees Eye Water Resources Act for 2024
In a statement the sponsors of the bill provided, AAPA president and CEO Cary Davis said, “As a nation, we move incredible amounts of trade and cargo in large part because of the timely and regular passage of the Water Resources Development Act. House Transportation and Infrastructure committee members deserve tremendous credit for their bipartisan work to make continued investments in our nation’s maritime infrastructure.”