Press Releases

HOUSE MARKS UP AND PASSES WRDA BILL - CONSTRUCTION/MAJOR REHAB COST-SHARE ADJUSTED

July 15, 2020   Deb Calhoun

(301) 332-0813   dcalhoun@waterwayscouncil.org

July 15, 2020

 

HOUSE MARKS UP AND PASSES WRDA BILL - CONSTRUCTION/MAJOR REHAB COST-SHARE ADJUSTED

 

Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) voted the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) favorably out of Committee.  The bill now heads to the House Floor for a potential vote the week of July 27. 

 

Section 108 of the House T&I bill (H.R. 7575) addresses WCI’s top WRDA priority to adjust the cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways projects.  The bill modifies the inland waterways project cost-share to 65% from the general fund of the Treasury/35% from Inland Waterways Trust Fund (from 50%/50%). 

 

The House T&I Committee’s WRDA bill’s cost-share adjustment sunsets at the end of Fiscal Year 2027, with a provision that any project that begins construction within this timeframe will carry the 65%/35% cost-share all the way through to the end of its construction.

 

The bill also authorizes the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks.

 

“WCI is grateful to the House T&I Committee for continuing the biennial process of WRDA.  This bill is a step in the right direction for inland waterways infrastructure by adjusting the cost-share to 65%/35% for seven years. We look forward to working with the Committee as this bill proceeds to the House floor and then to Conference,” said WCI President/CEO Tracy Zea.

 

###