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Bipartisan legislation that will improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure throughout the United States was approved June 8th in the U.S. House of Representatives.
H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), authorizes water resources infrastructure projects carried out by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Congress has regularly approved WRDA legislation every two years since 2014. With the nation continuing to deal with the impacts of a supply chain crisis, there is an urgent need to move forward projects and policies that strengthen this vital component of the transportation network.
This year’s WRDA, H.R. 7776, focuses on projects that are locally driven but have regional and national benefits, rather than on significant national policy changes.
“Effective ports, inland waterways, and flood protection infrastructure all help to strengthen and keep our economy moving, and with the current supply chain crisis, it’s more critical than ever to support water infrastructure and protect our communities,” says Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican leader Sam Graves (R-MO). “Flood protection in particular is something my district in Missouri relies on, and when the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are mismanaged, it not only damages navigation channels that are essential to our economy, it also threatens the people and property along the rivers. It’s critical to make sure the Corps does not lose focus of its navigation and flood control responsibilities, and this bill does just that.”
“The bill passed by a vote of 384-37, very significant indeed!” added GMA lobbyist firm Whitmer & Worrall.
“Today’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 is a win for the U.S. economy and our communities throughout the country,” says Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Republican leader David Rouzer (R-NC). “This WRDA bill brings focus and priority to important projects in North Carolina and throughout the country that will help to better protect families from flood risk and includes initiatives to improve the strength and durability of our ports and inland waterways. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to help craft this important bill with critical input from my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I especially want to thank Chairman DeFazio, Ranking Member Graves, and Subcommittee Chair Napolitano for their leadership and work to help ensure bipartisan support and timely passage of this important bill.” Graves and Rouzer introduced H.R. 7776 along with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) on May 16, 2022.