Press Releases

Today, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), a bipartisan bill that will improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure throughout the United States.

Congress has regularly approved WRDA legislation every two years since 2014 to authorize water resources infrastructure projects carried out by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).  With the Nation continuing to deal with the impacts of a supply chain crisis, there is an urgent need to move forward projects and policies that strengthen this vital component of the transportation network.

This year’s WRDA, H.R. 7776, focuses on projects that are locally-driven but have regional and national benefits, rather than on significant national policy changes.

“Effective and reliable ports, inland waterways, and flood protection infrastructure helps keep our Nation’s economy moving, and with our current supply chain crisis, supporting water infrastructure is more critical than ever,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican leader Sam Graves (R-MO).  “Flood protection in particular is something my district in Missouri relies on, and when the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are mismanaged, it not only damages navigation channels that are essential to our economy, it also threatens the people and property along the Rivers.  It’s critical to make sure the Corps does not lose focus of its navigation and flood control responsibilities, and this bill does just that.”

“I am pleased the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously voted to advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which includes priorities I fought to include for Southeastern North Carolina,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Republican leader David Rouzer (R-NC).  “From policies addressing flood risk, to initiatives to improve our ports and stabilize our inland waterways, this meaningful legislation is critical to address the unique needs of our communities in North Carolina and to strengthen the entire U.S. economy.  I’m pleased this bill passed out of committee with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to its passage on the House floor in the coming weeks.”

Graves and Rouzer joined Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chair Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) in introducing H.R. 7776 earlier this week.

More information about WRDA 2022 and today’s Committee consideration of the bill can be found here.