Industry Groups, Lawmakers Laud WRRDA Passage Into Law
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act will give the go ahead to 34 water infrastructure projects nationwide, including initiatives to deepen the Boston Harbor and the Port of Savannah, President Barack Obama said as he signed it into law on June 10. Lawmakers across the political spectrum and industry groups praised the passage of the law.
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The port projects will prove critical in accommodating vessels following the expected completion of Panama Canal expansion at the end of 2015 (see 14051306). “As more of the world’s cargo is transported on these massive ships, we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got bridges high enough and ports that are big enough to hold them and accommodate them so that our businesses can keep selling goods made in America to the rest of the world,” said Obama. “Meanwhile, many of America’s businesses ship their goods across the country by river and by canal, so we’ve got to make sure that those waterways are in tip-top shape.”
The law requires full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor maintenance and dredging by 2025, with annual increases in use over the next 10 years. “This WRRDA legislation will produce a more efficient maritime infrastructure that strengthens our position as a global trade leader,” said American Association of Port Authorities President Kurt Nagle. The reforms enable “expedited navigation project studies, creates more flexibility for capital investment and advances construction on the nation's 21st century maritime infrastructure.”
Conservative groups over recent months criticized the legislation for its alleged failure to address inefficiently executed Army Corps of Engineers projects, including the Olmsted Lock and Dam project (see 13102238). The critics labeled the project the “Kentucky Kickback.” The Water Resources Reform and Development Act provides a minimum of $150 million in funds each fiscal year until construction of the project is completed. But Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, insisted the law contains no earmarks, while commending its passage into law. “Maintaining our ports and waterways is vital to our economy, and this common-sense jobs bill will support stronger economic growth and help keep America competitive,” said Boehner. “It also marks a significant break from the past, when both parties loaded up this bill with billions in taxpayer-funded earmarks. I’m proud that it contains absolutely zero earmarks.”
During the signing ceremony, Obama emphasized U.S. global competitiveness is contingent on comprehensive infrastructure maintenance and development. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leadership introduced on May 12 the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (here), which would fund Federal-aid highway programs for six years at current funding plus inflation (see 14051308). The Highway Trust Fund will run out of money in August, according to assessments (see 14050625). "If Congress fails to act, then federal funding for transportation projects runs out by the end of the summer," said Obama on June 10. "That means more than 100,000 active projects, nearly 700,000 jobs would be at risk. Fortunately, we’ve got some leaders here who I think can work with us to make sure that doesn’t happen."