A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently led efforts to finalize the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, noting the bill is essential to Americans and the nation’s economy.
Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Sam Graves (R-MO), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), and Bruce Westerman (R-AR) forwarded correspondence last week to their colleagues urging them to finalize their priorities for the measure.
DeFazio chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Graves is ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Napolitano chairs the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, and Westerman is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
“Nearly 80 percent of traded goods move through our nation’s ports, harbors and inland waterways,” the legislators wrote. “Projects for flood damage reduction help protect both our rural and urban communities, thus benefiting millions of Americans. And ecosystem restoration projects restore and maintain our vital natural resources. This important work, carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is made possible through the enactment of WRDA.”
The lawmakers said there would be a Member Day hearing on WRDA requests on February 27, 2020, noting House Members would be asked to submit project, study, and policy requests for consideration in a Water Resources Development Act of 2020.
“Biennial enactment of WRDA legislation also provides Congress with a regular opportunity to oversee Corps policy on the development and implementation of Corps studies and projects,” the lawmakers concluded.
Congress successfully enacted three consecutive WRDAs in 2014, 2016, and 2018.