House Committee Approves Authorizing Bill For Water Infrastructure Projects, Processes

摘要

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (H.R. 3080) by voice vote Sept. 19. The bill was written by Republican and Democratic leadership on the committee as a bipartisan bill. Several Democrats expressed misgivings about the bill's provisions on environmental review streamlining and litigation restraint, but they agreed the bill was a good one and didn't oppose passage by the committee. The bill would authorize projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction and maintenance of dams, locks, levees, river channels and harbors and other work supporting commerce and flood control. "This bill is about strengthening our infrastructure, so we can remain competitive," Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the committee, said as he began markup of the bill. Several Democrats similarly described the bill as essential to the economic health of their districts and the nation.