WESTERMAN VOTES TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT NATIONAL WATERWAYS

WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024:

“Water resources and its impacts on our nation are imperative to bolstering necessary infrastructure, improving waterways, and providing safety and relief from deadly flooding. Water resources are critical to the Fourth District of Arkansas, which is why I am proud that the House passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. This bipartisan bill works for all Americans, and I am honored to have had several wins for the Fourth District included in this piece of legislation,” said Congressman Westerman. 

“Earlier this year, I introduced the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act, along with my colleagues, Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), and Steve Womack (R-AR-03). This piece of legislation expands opportunities to improve and develop outdoor recreation facilities at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) managed areas. States like Arkansas depend on outdoor recreation as a fundamental part of their daily lives and as a major economic contributor. Because so many of our most beloved outdoor recreation facilities must jump through numerous hoops to maintain and manage their sites, the LAKES Act will correct those discrepancies, cut unnecessary federal red tape, and make it easier for the Corps to manage their sites so that these outdoor recreation areas can be enjoyed for generations to come. I am pleased to have seen many parts of this legislation included in the WRDA package. America and Arkansas win with the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, and I am excited to see it quickly signed into law.” 

BACKGROUND: 

WRDA 2024 is the biennial, bipartisan bill that includes United Sates Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) water resource projects of national, regional, and local significance to help strengthen the Nation’s global competitiveness, grow the economy, ensure the movement of goods throughout the supply chain, protect communities, and create jobs.
 
Primary provisions in the bill include: 

•  Improves Corps recreation facilities, creating a pathway for them to retain certain fees collected and partner with private nonprofit organizations for maintenance and operation activities.
• Strengthens support for small, rural, distressed communities by reforming EDA’s technical assistance, project predevelopment, and planning.
• Redistributes unobligated balances under the TIFIA program to the states through the STBG program.
• Outlines a process to direct the Transportation Secretary to determine the amount of unobligated balances on April 1st under the TIFIA program and redistribute 75 percent of that amount to the states, in FYs 2025 and 2026.
• Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to implement a standard methodology of measuring occupancy and utilization of public buildings and directs the consolidation and sale of underused space.
• Authorizes the construction of 22 locally driven projects and more than 200 feasibility studies to evaluate new projects, which will improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other crucial pieces of water resources infrastructure.
• Strengthens supply chains by prioritizing the infrastructure and maintenance needs of our Nation’s harbors — both big and small – and our critical navigational waterways.
• Reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Dam Safety Program through 2028 and strengthens the effectiveness and accountability of the High Hazard Potential Dam program.

WRDA Fourth District Wins: 

• A modified version of the LAKES Act, which was introduced by Rep. Westerman.
• Encourages restored access to recreational access at Lake Dardanelle for snag fishing.
• Guarantees Arkansas has dredge access when needed most by ensuring the Dredge McFarland and its subsequent replacement stay in “ready reserve” status to assist in emergency events.
• Extends the Independent External Peer Review Program to continue improving the quality and efficiency of project planning at the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
• Increasing the Federal cost share on Inland Waterways projects up to 75%, ensuring that Inland Waterways Trust Fund dollars go farther.

 Read the full bill text here.