NE Missouri News

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves has praised the U.S. Senate for passing the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). This legislation aims to enhance the nation's ports, harbors, inland waterways, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure.

The House had previously approved the measure on December 10, 2024, with a vote of 399 to 18. The bill now awaits the President's signature to become law.

WRDA authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to execute locally-driven projects that provide regional and national benefits. These projects are intended to boost global competitiveness, improve supply chains, stimulate economic growth, facilitate goods movement across the country, and protect communities from flooding.

Since 2014, Congress has passed WRDA legislation on a bipartisan basis every two years. WRDA 2024 continues this tradition by allowing Congress to have input into projects undertaken by the Corps.

“Getting this legislation signed into law means that Congress has maintained the schedule of regularly passing WRDA improvements and reforms every two years,” said Chairman Sam Graves. “WRDA 2024 makes much needed reforms at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to streamline processes, reduce cumbersome red tape, and get projects done faster. The bill also provides critical water resource infrastructure improvements for communities across America – from ports to levees to navigation channels, and more.”

In the House, WRDA was introduced by Graves along with Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA).