Hearing

Opening remarks, as prepared, of Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR):

I’d like to welcome Members of Congress from off the Committee here today to share their priorities for an upcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

The foundation of each WRDA bill is to authorize Army Corps’ Civil Works project and study recommendations that have been delivered to Congress since the last WRDA was signed into law.  In this case, that’s the WRDA 2018 law.

Each one of those projects was proposed by non-federal interests in cooperation and consultation with the Corps.  All of the reports, while tailored to meet locally developed needs, have national and regional economic and environmental benefits.

But equally important are the priorities and support – both from a project and policy standpoint – that Members bring before the Committee.  That is why I am glad to see such robust participation here today.  

Since 2014, a WRDA bill has been passed every two years on a bipartisan basis.  We expect to continue that strong tradition of bipartisanship in 2020. 

I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues to develop and pass this important legislation over the next several months.