Shuster, Graves lead water resources infrastructure bill to committee approval

U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Sam Graves (R-MO) helped lead bipartisan legislation that would improve water resources infrastructure to committee approval on Wednesday.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303, to meet the infrastructure needs of harbors, locks, dams, flood protection and additional water resources across the country.

“This bill is about strengthening our nation’s infrastructure so we can remain competitive. It’s about economic growth. It’s about jobs,” Shuster, the chairman of the committee, said. “Water resources infrastructure is fundamental to a sound economy, and WRDA 2016 gets Congress back to basics and the business of regularly addressing the needs of our ports, waterways, lock and dam systems, flood protection and other infrastructure.”

Under the bill, approximately $5 billion in federal funding would be authorized for Army Corps of Engineers water resources infrastructure projects. The funding would be offset by approximately $5 billion in de-authorized projects.

“This bill contains no earmarks, follows the process reforms established in the water resources bill two years ago, and maintains congressional oversight of Corps of Engineers’ work,” Shuster said. “I commend my colleagues for their bipartisan work on this bill and look forward to moving ahead with this important legislation.”

Graves, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, pushed for funding for Missouri River levees and the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan to be included the bill.

“Two of America’s major rivers run through North Missouri and the district I represent in Congress,” Graves said. “These rivers help support thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in agriculture exports, but flooding and outdated waterway infrastructure could jeopardize all of that. I’m glad to see the WRDA bill clear the Transportation Committee with specific policies to fund levee projects, protect homes and businesses, and support Missouri’s agriculture industry.”

Graves called for the critical funding to be included in the bill earlier this year in letters to legislative leaders.