Hoeven’s bipartisan bill supports water infrastructure updates across America

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) on Jan 23 introduced a bipartisan reauthorization bill designed to spur investments in water project development across the nation.

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2018, S. 2329, which reauthorizes the current program known as WIFIA, would supplement federal funding of water infrastructure projects — including wastewater treatment, flood control and storm water management — with long-term, low-cost loans and loan guarantees, according to Hoeven’s office.

“WIFIA represents an opportunity to advance vital projects across North Dakota, like comprehensive flood protection in the Red River Valley and the Minot Region, while also helping to reduce costs,” said Sen. Hoeven.

The 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act authorized WIFIA under the jurisdiction of both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). S. 2329 would streamline and consolidate oversight of the agencies’ WIFIA programs, and authorize loans through fiscal year 2024, according to a summary provided by Hoeven’s office.

By giving the EPA administration over the combined programs under S. 2329, the Corps could rely on that foundation to start finding projects that are eligible for support under WIFIA, according to Hoeven’s office, which explained that the Corps so far hasn’t been able to implement the program while the EPA has granted $2.3 billion in loans.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Hoeven in introducing the bill and said an update to the law will “go a long way in expediting funding for critical projects that protect communities from flooding,” an issue too well understood in his home state of New Jersey. Since Superstorm Sandy hit the Garden State in 2012, causing $30 billion in damages largely due to storm surge and flooding, concerns about similar flooding have been ongoing. In fact, the governor declared a state of emergency earlier this month in four counties when a blizzard struck, citing flooding as a major concern.

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) introduced the House companion bill, H.R. 4492, on Nov. 30, 2017, which is pending before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.

The Senate bill is awaiting consideration by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.