Press Releases

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, included as title I of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021), was signed into law today.  The new law will provide for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection, and other water infrastructure improvements throughout the country.

The bipartisan leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee released the following statements on the Senate’s passage of the legislation:

“I am proud of the fact that our Committee, the House, and the Senate have worked together to send bipartisan WRDA legislation to the president in each of the last three congresses,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).  “These laws are essential federal commitments to improving the harbors, ports, waterways, locks, dams, and other water infrastructure that makes our transportation network more efficient, the country competitively stronger, and our communities safer from flooding.”

“Passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 is a win for our Nation’s coastal communities,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR).  “This critical legislation authorizes water infrastructure projects developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will strengthen our ports, harbors, and waterways, and will create and sustain jobs.  This bill is the product of a strong bipartisan, bicameral effort and I applaud my House and Senate colleagues for their hard work to get this legislation signed into law.  In particular, I want to thank Chairman Shuster who is retiring and under whose leadership we have passed a WRDA bill every two years.”

“The status quo gives Washington bureaucrats job security, but it doesn’t represent the priorities of the American people.  We’re changing that,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (R-LA).  “This bill is about delivering proactive solutions so that communities actually benefit from enhanced flood protection instead of having to endure decades of studies and inaction; so state, local and other folks on the ground can play a larger role in getting projects built faster and at lower costs to taxpayers; so permitting starts to make sense and we stop paying for redundant studies that only delay projects and the restoration of the environment, and; so our economy keeps growing through investments in our shipping capabilities that allow us to keep pace with global trends.  With transparency and accountability, we’re shifting the focus away from pushing paper and putting it where it belongs: on turning dirt and getting the work done.”

“This law builds on the work we have begun in previous WRDAs at focusing the Army Corps of Engineers on water supply in arid regions, such as Southern California.  It also improves EPA programs for storm water, water recycling, and sewer overflow projects, increases water workforce training to address new technologies and a retiring workforce, and it creates a national standard for water-efficient products,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA).  “I am proud to have worked with Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and Chairman Graves, as well as our Senate counterparts, in a true bipartisan manner to meet the water infrastructure needs of communities throughout America.”

Click here for more information about the America’s Water Infrastructure Act, which includes the Water Resources Development Act of 2018.