Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/221076
View from the Hill Jobs and Economic Security Pour in With Water Bill Delivering bona fide reform for water infrastructure projects, WDDRA wins bipartisan support. BY CONGRESSMAN RICHARD HANNA (R-N.Y.) Nearly two centuries ago in upstate New York, our nation embarked on its first major transportation project – the Erie Canal. Construction began from the city of Rome to the Hudson River. This single project made boomtowns out of cities like Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and connected New York to the Midwest in a way like never before. The canal shipped the bulk of our nation's manufactured goods and raw materials from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast and on to America's global trading partners. The Empire State was born. Today, America's water infrastructure is no less important to our economy. Thanks to the bipartisan work of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House overwhelmingly approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Not only will this bill create jobs by updating and reauthorizing water infrastructure projects across the nation, but it reforms the outdated process that the Army Corps of Engineers uses to approve projects. I am grateful to Associated Equipment Distributors for its support of WRRDA. I was in the construction business for more than 30 years in upstate New York. Like you, I know WRRDA will create jobs and support economic growth while delivering substantial benefits to our nation's competitiveness. Importantly, the bill streamlines and focuses how the Corps does business for water-related projects. Army Corps project feasibility studies can take up to 15 years to complete and currently have no limit on how much they can cost. WRRDA would mandate that these studies be completed in three years at a cost of no more than $3 million, and be worked on by all three branches of the Corps – district, division, and headquarters – concurrently rather than consecutively. Most notably, WRRDA restores constitutional congressional oversight of these reports without yielding decisionmaking authority to the executive branch, putting the power to approve project construction back in the hands of elected representatives. The House WRRDA bill also helps to revitalize America's ailing economy and allow state and local partners of the Army Corps more control in the project construction phase. Generally, state or local partner agencies provide a cost-share on Army Corps projects. Provisions in WRRDA allow for nonfederal interests to start spending their share to begin a project and receive reimbursement down the line. Also, WRRDA expands the use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund dollars, which are primarily to be used for upkeep of our harbors. Currently, only around 50 percent of these funds are being utilized for their intended purpose; WRRDA would incentivize that 80 percent of the dollars are being used by 2020. This important change will give shippers who pay harbor taxes more confidence that their hardearned dollars are being used to do just as the fund's name suggests – maintain harbors. This legislation cuts $12 billion from a backlog of outdated projects. It is fiscally responsible and doesn't include a single earmark – a strong and much-needed departure from water resources bills of yore. Recently, we have seen Washington's dysfunction. But on WRRDA, Congress came together to approve a bipartisan, reform-minded bill that brought members from both sides of the aisle together for the sake of increased economic competitiveness. The Erie Canal still operates today, moving cargo ships from the Great Lakes across upstate New York and southward to the Atlantic Ocean. Water infrastructure like the canal transfers billions of dollars in goods and raw materials throughout the country each day and supports thousands of good-paying agricultural, manufacturing and transportation jobs. The United States' economy was built upon a proud maritime heritage. In 2013, we find ourselves in a highly competitive global trade environment. By passing WRRDA, we ensure that our 21st century water infrastructure projects are as efficient as possible to facilitate trade, keep products moving across America, and create jobs in communities in every corner of our nation. I look forward to continuing to work with equipment distributors both in New York and across the country to ensure necessary investments in our nation's crumbling water infrastructure. CONGRESSMAN RICHARD HANNA is in his second term representing New York's 22nd congressional district. He is a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, including the Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment, and the House Small Business Committee. December 2013 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 65