The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, included as Title I of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021) providing for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection and other water infrastructure improvements throughout the country, was signed into law Tuesday October 23, 2018. The President’s signature ensures a wide variety of port, harbor and waterway projects critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and U.S. global competitiveness will move forward.

WRDA 2018 authorizes at least $9 billion for Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects and Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water and sewer-overflow control programs.

The bipartisan leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee released statements Tuesday applauding passage of the legislation.

Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called the law “a win for our nation’s coastal communities. 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.”

Garret Graves, R-La., chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, said, “The status quo gives Washington job security, but it doesn’t represent the priorities of the American people. We’re changing that.  “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,” Graves said. “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.” (Source: American Shipper)