The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), unveiled its Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 on Thursday.
Committee leaders said the bipartisan bill would reduce federal red tape and bureaucracy and add efficiency to the infrastructure project delivery process. The bill, according to Shuster, would also promote fiscal responsibility and enhance water transportation networks to encourage America’s competitiveness, prosperity and economic growth.
“WRRDA 2013 is the most policy and reform focused legislation of its kind in the last two decades,” Shuster said. “The bill contains no earmarks and makes major programmatic reforms to increase transparency, accountability and Congressional oversight of federal water resources development activities.”
The bill would change the current Congressional process for providing the Army Corps of Engineers direction. Through WRRDA, the Corps would have authorization to proceed with its missions to develop, maintain and support vital port and waterways infrastructure needs. The Corps would also have authorization to support effective and targeted flood protection and environmental restoration needs.
Historically, Congress has passed a bill every other year to provide clear direction to the administration and the Corps, however, no bill has been signed into law since 2007.
“A strong, effective water transportation network is essential to keeping pace with other nations that are improving their own infrastructure networks and gaining ground in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” Shuster said.
Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall, II (R-W.Va.), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gobbs (R-Ohio) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) are cosponsors of the bill.