Washington, D.C.— This week, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Bruce Westerman (R-AR) sent a letter to their colleagues urging them to finalize their priorities for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. The letter also announced the Committee will hold a Member Day hearing on WRDA requests on February 27, 2020.
WRDA is legislation that is essential to the everyday lives of Americans and our economy. Nearly 80 percent of traded goods move through our Nation’s ports, harbors, and inland waterways. Projects for flood damage reduction help protect both our rural and urban communities, thus benefiting millions of Americans. And, ecosystem restoration projects restore and maintain our vital natural resources. This important work, carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is made possible through the enactment of WRDA.
Congress successfully enacted three consecutive WRDAs in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
For more information on WRDA 2020 click here.
A full copy of the Dear Colleague can be found below.
Dear Colleague:
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is the comprehensive water resources development law successfully enacted in each of the last three Congresses.
Specifically, WRDA authorizes studies and projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works mission areas, including navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration. Regular consideration of locally-driven, rigorously-studied, and nationally-significant Corps infrastructure is key to preserving our Nation’s economy, to protecting our communities and businesses, and to maintaining our quality of life. This work, typically carried out by the Corps, is made possible through enactment of WRDA.
Biennial enactment of WRDA legislation also provides Congress with a regular opportunity to oversee Corps policy on the development and implementation of Corps studies and projects.
The Committee will soon be asking House Members to submit project, study, and policy requests for consideration in a Water Resources Development Act of 2020. The Committee hopes to introduce and consider a WRDA 2020 later this year and will be providing additional information on this submission process shortly.
In addition, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hold a Member Day hearing on WRDA requests on February 27, 2020.
Should you have any questions regarding the WRDA process or the upcoming WRDA Member Day hearing, contact the Subcommittee Majority staff at (202) 225-0060 or the Minority staff at (202) 225-4360. General information regarding past WRDA legislation, Corps reports, and other related information can be found on the Committee website at: https://democrats-transportation.house.gov/committee-activity/issue/water-resources-development-act-of-2020.
Sincerely,
Peter A. DeFazio, Chair
Sam Graves, Ranking Member
Grace F. Napolitano, Chair, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Bruce Westerman, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment