Dr. Rand Paul Prioritizes Kentucky Small Harbors

Press Release

Recently, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) which includes Senator Rand Paul's (R-KY) language that directs the Secretary of the Army to develop specific criteria for the annual evaluation and ranking of maintenance dredging requirements for small, remote, and two subsistence harbors.

"Maintaining America's robust inland waterway system means properly caring for harbors of all sizes, as the system's interconnectedness requires dredging smaller connecting harbors to ensure goods are efficiently transported," said Dr. Paul. "The current system prioritizes dredging for larger harbors, hindering economic growth and threatening the future of smaller harbors in Kentucky. These smaller ports are the backbone of local commerce in communities along our waterways, and I am thrilled my language has now been included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 that prioritizes smaller harbors and channels which will increase commerce across the Commonwealth."

This is a continuation of Dr. Paul's commitment to ensuring our waterways remain a vital part of our country's infrastructure and a source of economic growth for all Kentucky communities. Along with the inclusion of Dr. Paul's language in the WRDA, Dr. Paul has also previously introduced his Harbor Equity Act which modifies the existing criteria used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge smaller harbors.

You can read the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 HERE.

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