Authorizing Water Infrastructure Projects for Two Years (H.R. 8)

What is H.R. 8?

(Updated November 30, 2018)

This bill — the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 — would provide for improvements to America’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, and ecosystem restoration by reauthorizing related U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activities for two years through fiscal year 2020. It would also maintain the two year cycle of the Corps proposing, evaluating, and reporting potential projects to Congress so they can be vetted for inclusion in future WRDA bills.

It would authorize work on projects contained in the Corps’ Chief’s Reports received since the last WRDA law of 2016. Such reports detail water resources infrastructure projects that have been proposed at the local level in consultation with the Corps, provide national economic and environmental benefits, and have been vetted by congressional committees. A total of six water resources projects that have gone through this process would be authorized, including:

• Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay (Texas): $2.16 billion in federal funding for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction;

• Savannah Harbor Expansion (Georgia): $677.6 million in federal funding would be authorized;

• Ala Wai Canal (Hawaii): $199 million in federal funding for flood risk management;

• Mamaroneck-Sheldrake Rivers (New York): $53.5 million in federal funding for flood risk management;

• Galveston Harbor Channel Extension (Texas): $10 million in federal funding to improve navigation;

• St. Johns County (Florida): federal funds would total $5.7 million initially with $9.5 million renourishment for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction;

• St. Lucie County (Florida): federal funds would total $7.1 million initially with $8.9 million renourishment for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction;

• Kentucky River Locks and Dams (Kentucky): No funding would be required as this is a modification of an existing project.

All new authorizations would be fully offset by the deauthorization of inactive projects. Specifically, this bill would deauthorize $3 billion in projects that were authorized before November 8, 2007 but haven’t begun planning, design, construction or received funds in the last six years. There would be a 180 day period of congressional review, at which point they’d be deauthorized.

Additionally, the bill would:

• Reauthorize the Levee Safety Initiative and the National Dam Safety Program through 2023.

• Authorize the full use of funds from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor maintenance purposes.

• Allow the Corps to accept funds from non-federal sponsors to advance studies and project elements.

• Require the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the current organizational structure of the Corps’ civil works functions, identify impediments to efficient project delivery, and provide recommendations to Congress.

• Authorize studies for projects included in the Corps’ 2017 and 2018 annual reports to Congress.

Argument in favor

This bipartisan bill would authorize water infrastructure projects that’d improve the nation’s ports, inland waterways, dams, locks, and nearby ecosystems. It’d ensure water infrastructure can continue to support economic activity and mitigate the risk of flooding to communities.

Argument opposed

This bill may be bipartisan but it doesn’t do enough to invest in America’s water infrastructure. Funding for new projects shouldn’t come from deauthorizing previously approved but stalled projects.

Impact

Communities impacted by water infrastructure projects authorized by this bill; and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Cost of H.R. 8

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) introduced this bill to provide for improvements to the nation’s ports, dams, inland waterways, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure:

“Thanks to the bipartisan commitment of our committee, we have enacted water resources infrastructure legislation in 2014 and 2016, and now with today’s bill, we are continuing to demonstrate that WRDA works. WRDA 2018 keeps America competitive, provides a foundation for job growth, fosters a more robust economy, and protects our communities.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) added:

“Today’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 means great things for our Nation’s coastal communities and those located on inland waterways. I’m glad my provision to ensure that funds collected in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will actually go toward harbor maintenance was included in this legislation. This provision will ensure America’s ports and harbors are once again fully maintained, which will save and create jobs, grow businesses, and keep us competitive in the world economy.”

This legislation unanimously passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a voice vote and has the support of three bipartisan cosponsors, including two Democrats and one Republican.

Of Note: The last WRDA bill was approved in the final days of the 114th Congress, which had legislation providing states and communities with resources to reduce lead concentrations in drinking water and provisions related to drought relief attached to it through the amendment process.

Media:

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Press Release
  
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Fact Sheet
  
• Section-by-Section
  
• The Hill