U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) led legislation that would address the nation’s transportation and water resources needs to approval on Wednesday in the House of Representatives.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303, is part of a multi-year effort by Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to improve the nation’s harbors, locks, dams, and flood protection and to address other water resources initiatives.
“Pennsylvania has emerged as a leader in a number of new and exciting areas,” Shuster said. “From the innovative tech and healthcare industry in the west to the construction and distribution industries in the east, we need to have the infrastructure to move our goods and services. Our water resources infrastructure is critical to maintaining America’s competitiveness, and by passing WRDA, we are opening the doors for the 9th District’s economy.”
Shuster said that the bill, which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects and studies across the nation, would ensure that America remains competitive in the 21st century.
After passage of WRDA, U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) applauded provisions of the bill that would address the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and would ensure the long-term stability of the Great Lakes.
“I applaud my House colleagues for coming together on this bill to ensure we are focused on long-term investments in the Great Lakes, as well,” Bishop said. “From reauthorizing our Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to securing priority funding for our waterways, this legislation takes the right steps to protect Michigan priorities.”
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, noted that WRDA would also institute oversight to prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and that it would follow a new approval process established by Congress in 2014 with transparency in mind.
“(On Wednesday), the House acted decisively to provide critical funding and support for folks in Flint,” Upton said. “We all know what happened in Flint was a tragic failure at every level. But the Flint community now deserves answers, action, and results. Today we delivered. This bipartisan bill also strengthens and supports our Great Lakes. I applaud the House for coming together to advance key Flint funding in a responsible manner.”