House Committee Begins Work on New Water Construction Legislation

What happened: The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Jan. 12 heard the administration’s priorities for a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

Why it matters: Congress has considered on a biennial schedule legislation authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)) marine construction activities via a WRDA. The testimony from two Corps officials – Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor, and Chief of Engineering and Commanding Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon – highlighted project resilience, environmental justice, and helping facilitate the nation’s supply chain as top priorities. While much of the Corps’ $109 billion project backlog remains underfunded, Congress and President Joe Biden last year enacted an additional $22 billion in Corps investments – $17.1 billion from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) and $5.7 billion in disaster relief funds.

What’s next: The hearing kicked-off the House action on WRDA. Legislators say they aim to send a bill to Biden for his signature by the end of the year.