Ranking Members Larsen, Napolitano Statements from Hearing on Past and Future Water Resources Development Acts

Floor Speech

"Thank you Chairman Rouzer and Ranking Member Napolitano for holding this hearing.

I want to welcome back the panel as well, and thanks for your flexibility in coming back.

Since 2014, this Committee has honored its commitment to meet local water resources needs across the country, carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), through the bipartisan and biennial enactment of Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs).?

Predictable WRDA enactment supports projects that address local water resources challenges creating jobs in construction and supporting industries and the businesses that benefit directly from Corps' projects.

Regular enactment of WRDAs also allows for the implementation of critical and timely policy reforms that improve the function and flexibility of the Corps to respond to local water resources challenges, including section 214 on which I will have a question for you regarding its implementation.

WRDA 2022 provides a good blueprint for future WRDAs.

This legislation successfully authorized the construction of 25 new projects, covering every facet of the Corps' missions, as well as almost 100 new feasibility studies for future water resources development projects.

WRDA 2022 also authorized a historic total of more than $6.5 billion in environmental infrastructure assistance for community-driven projects, including $200 million for water and wastewater infrastructure requested by local officials in western Washington state.

These federal, state and local partnerships are critical to help address the growing water and wastewater infrastructure needs throughout the country.

Lastly, WRDA 2022 continued to expand America's navigational capacity, strengthen its supply chains, ensure our communities are resilient to the challenges posed by climate change, and increase the coordination between the Corps and Tribal, minority, and economically disadvantaged communities.

Beyond the regular enactment of WRDAs, Congress also needs to provide sufficient funding for project planning, construction, and operation and maintenance so that communities can quickly realize the benefits of water resources improvements.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a great example of how this should work. The BIL provided a massive downpayment--a total of about $17 billion--for critical WRDA projects.

The Corps has shown exactly how and where they spent that money--nearly all of it has already been allocated.

These BIL dollars are hard at work, making a positive impact on communities, and creating and supporting good-paying American jobs and the U.S. economy.

Now, Congress must ensure the seamless implementation of critical water resources development projects, while providing the Corps with sufficient funds to carry out its mission.

I look forward to a continued partnership with Chairman Graves, Chairman Rouzer, and Ranking Member Napolitano, in developing a new, bipartisan WRDA 2024, and welcome the leadership of the Corps here today as part of that discussion."

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