Plans for new water resources legislation are moving ahead in the House, with committee approval of a bill that authorizes about $25 billion to help finance 20 new or modified Army Corps of Engineers projects for flood and hurricane protection, dredging, ecosystem restoration and other construction efforts.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the new Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, on May 18 on a voice vote.

[View YouTube video of committee markup session这里。]。

The next step would be a House floor vote. Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said at the end of the panel's lengthy voting session that the measure is expected to go to the floor in June.

In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee on May 4 unanimously approved its version of a 2022 WRDA. It, too, awaits floor action.

The Senate panel’s bill is slightly larger than the House committee’s version, authorizing federal funds for 21 new or modified Corps construction projects.

它的政策规定包括变更河流和大坝项目的资金股票。18luck官网这将使一般基金在此类项目中的份额从目前的65％增加到75％，并将内陆水道信托基金的份额减少到25％。18luck官网该规定还将使资金变更永久性。

That inland waterways funding shift was not included in the House committee leaders' version, as introduced.

DeFazio said in his opening statement, "This bill was developed in a bipartisan manner with input and ideas from both sides." He added, "Projects and policy provisions included reflect not only members of the committee but from the entire House of Representatives."

DeFazio said that in addition to the new construction authorizations, the WRDA bill includes 72 new Corps feasibility studies and it directs the Corps to complete 15 ongoing studies.

Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican, in his opening statement, noted the importance of infrastructure for ports and inland waterways.

Graves补充说：“在我们目前的供应链危机中，支持水基础设施比以往任何时候都更为关键。”

In a May 17 statement, Graves said, “This common-sense bill takes a big step forward in making flood control and navigation the top priorities in managing our rivers.”

包括大型18luck官网投资

众议院和参议院法案中最大的项目授权是德克萨斯州沿海地区的一项重大飓风和防洪计划的192亿美元。

Other major project allocations in both bills include $1.5 billion in federal funds for a hurricane and storm protection project in the Florida Keys and $1 billion for a storm protection project in Louisiana's Barataria Basin.

The list of projects could well grow as the Corps finishes work on reports recommending authorizations for additional projects. The Army's Chief of Engineers would have to sign off on those "chief's reports" before submitting them to Congress to be included in the 2022 WRDA.

John Doyle, special counsel with law and lobbying firm Jones Walker LLP, says, “There’s still at least the possibility, if not the probability, that more projects are going to be added as weeks and months go by."

Construction industry groups also support a new WRDA.

Michele Stanley, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs, said in astatementthat the bill "gives two years of certainty for funding that allows producers to supply the critical building materials that [go] into each of these projects."

通行年底目标

Lawmakers in both chambers want to see Congress complete work on a WRDA measure by the end of the year.

这将继续最近按计划批准WRDA账单的做法。自2014年以来，WRDA每隔一年就每隔颁布一次。

今年的国会会议将在11月的选举和候选人竞选前的选举前休息时缩短。这可能会在选举之前挤出可用的时间来完成WRDA措施。

但是最近的轩e and Senate actions are viewed as positive steps. Doyle, a former senior Army civil works official, said in an interview with ENR, “It’s always possible that problems could arise to delay things, but it certainly strikes me as increasing the likelihood and the ability of Congress to finish their work on this legislation before taking off to try and extend their contracts with the American people in November.”

The text of this article was updated on May 18, 2022 to reflect the House committee's vote and statements from the panel's markup session.