Critical Water Bill Passes Senate, Awaits President's Signature

"The Senate on Thursday (May 22) voted 91-7 to pass a $12.3 billion bill that approves infrastructure projects and aims to boost U.S. ports and waterways," write Ramsey Cox and Keith Laing on the historic passage of the the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).

Normally, the act is passed every two years, but no action had been taken since 2007 according to an article penned by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for The Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 

"WRRDA is the vehicle that provides reforms and funding decisions for our nation’s maritime transportations systems. This includes construction of locks and dams on our inland waterways, maintenance dredging of our nation’s ports and harbors, planning and construction of flood control projects to protect our communities, and ecosystem restoration to improve the environment and wildlife habitat."

The legislation, H.R. 3080, which contains no earmarks according to a press release by Speaker John Boehner, had passed the House on Tuesday on a 412-4 vote. [See House press release.] Technically, both houses approved the WRRDA Conference Report because each had "passed separate versions of the water resources legislation last year," writes The Hill's Cristina Marcos.

Conference negotiations lasted for six months as lawmakers hashed out differences over how much authority should be granted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to select which water projects should get funding.

Legislators of both parties praised the bill's bipartisanship.

"This legislation is a reminder — an unfortunately stark reminder — that given a chance to work together in a bipartisan fashion, we can produce results for the American people," said Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

It will be interesting to see if the House can repeat that spirit on the critical reauthorization of the transportation legislation known as MAP-21. So far, the track record looks good with its unanimous passage in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on May 15. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has yet to take the matter up.