U.S. Senate passes the Water Resources Development Act of 2016

By Ben Nuelle

The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act Thursday on a 95-3 vote.

The bill authorizes, de-authorizes, and revises various U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development and conservation projects, feasibility studies, and relationships with non-federal project sponsors.

Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) work to urge the complete of the Cedar Rapids Flood Control Project was included in the bill.

“The provision emphasizes to the Army Corps of Engineers that Congress wants this project to remain a priority. I will continue working to ensure the Army Corps of Engineers understands the great need for this long-standing project to be completed in a timely and efficient manner.”

The the Water Resources Development Act authorizes 29 Army Corps of Engineers projects in 17 states.

“It will strengthen our infrastructure through critical dam restoration and flood mitigation, and provides grants and loans to address water quality issues facing many communities across the country,” Ernst says.

The House is yet to take up the bill.