On Wednesday, the Senate moved to consider a bill that would authorize more than $10 billion in federal spending for water infrastructure projects across the country. The Water Resources and Development Act, WRDA, authorizes the investigation and construction of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation and flood control projects. Among the projects authorized for construction by the legislation are the West Sacramento flood control project and the American River Common Features flood control project in northern California.
Each project is estimated to cost over $1 billion, split between federal and non-federal partners. Typically, WRDA bills only authorize Corps projects, but the Senate has added assistance to Flint, MI for the removal of and rehabilitation of old lead water transmission lines. The bill also reauthorizes the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, programs run by the Environmental Protection Agency which help rural and low-income communities replace aging water infrastructure. The additional provisions added to this year’s WRDA bill could delay its passage as Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have already signaled their disapproval of the additional language. The Senate is expected to take a week to finalize work on the bill but the bill faces a far less certain future in the House.