water infrastructure bill gets congressional approval

A bill designed to give the Army Corps of Engineers the needed authorization to maintain the nation’s water infrastructure has now won the approval of committees in both the House of Representatives and Senate.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2018 allows for work to begin, or continue on, thousands of water infrastructure projects across the country, but also, in a move to reduce costs,  takes away authorization for projects that have been idle.

The legislation, passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, will allow work to continue on any number of inland waterways projects, the upgrading of aging drinking water systems, ecosystem restoration, and Native American irrigation initiatives.

“This is infrastructure that strengthens our global competitiveness, grows the economy and creates jobs,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster in a statement after the legislation was approved by his committee.

That legislation is now being considered by the full Senate.

By Garry Boulard