The US House of Representatives passed the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This bill aims to improve the US’s waterways policy and project funding.
WRDA is a bipartisan legislation that provides improvements to the US ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure.
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This was the third consecutive Congress to consider WRDA legislation and authorizations of proposed US Army Corps of Engineers civil works activities. WRDA 2018 is based on Corps reforms provided under the successful WRDA legislation of 2014 and 2016.
The bill contains funding for eight major projects across the US, such as a $2 billion for storm risk reduction along Texas’ Gulf Coast and $700 million for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. It passed by a vote of 408 to 2, a margin of 99.5%.
The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) said:
H.R. 8 is important to the nation in keeping water resources infrastructure projects moving forward and in updating policy and provisions that ensure critical infrastructure is modernized and providing the best service to constituents.
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) had released a statement welcoming to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation. However, it noted that the legislation must also include a unique agreement reached among the nation’s major ports that provides equity and fairness regarding the allocation of the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT), which is considered a vital funding source that enables economic growth and keeps US ports viable in the marketplace.
In the new House version, the bill does not include AAPA’s proposed solution for the allocation of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF).
