WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Carper (D-DE) released the following statements on the House of Representatives’ passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020). The legislation passed the House by voice vote. The U.S. Senate will now consider the legislation.
The language of WRDA 2020 was negotiated by Barrasso, Carper, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO). The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 supports our nation’s economic competitiveness by increasing water storage, providing protection from dangerous floodwaters, deepening nationally significant ports, maintaining the navigability of inland waterways, and addressing the threat of invasive species across the country. The legislation also cuts red tape, is fiscally responsible, and strengthens our national security.
“Congress has taken a significant step to improve our dams, ports, flood-prevention infrastructure, reservoirs, and water systems,” said Barrasso. “The Water Resources Development Act will help grow our economy and create needed jobs. Increased water storage is critical in the West for America’s ranchers and farmers. By deepening coastal ports and improving inland waterways, the legislation will help ensure American-made goods are shipped safely from one state to another. I will continue to work with Ranking Member Carper to get water infrastructure legislation across the finish line and signed into law.”
“Like the water that moves ships from one port to another, our nation’s water infrastructure is essential to the movement of our economy. Ports, shipping channels and other Army Corps of Engineers projects support economic growth, facilitate commerce, sustain jobs and create new ones, too,” said Carper. “This reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act will expand and enhance investments in Army Corps’ projects throughout the country that help us safely navigate our waters and protect our communities from flooding and storm damage. I thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for working on this legislation.”
Barrasso and Carper serve as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW).
Background Information:
On April 21, 2020, Barrasso, Carper, Capito, Cardin, Cramer, and Duckworth released draft bills of America’s Water Infrastructure Act 2020 and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020.
On May 6, 2020, the EPW Committee unanimously passed America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA 2020).
