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Water infrastructure legislation moves to President

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The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), is headed to President’s Obama’s desk for approval.

The legislation was approved by the Senate Saturday morning and authorizes about $12 billion in new construction projects, $170 million for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and drought relief for California.

Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says the bill provides urgently needed funding to help repair and replace drinking water infrastructure in Flint and other communities affected by lead.  “The engineering firm that that state retained identified about $214 million in priority improvements needed to fix the water distribution system.  We have now been able to secure almost half of that.”

The WRDA bill would authorize 27 new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers including funding for channels, locks, dams and other infrastructure projects.

If signed by the President, appropriations committees would need to approve funding for priority projects which hasn’t happened in the multiple years that the WRDA bill has passed Congress.

AUDIO: Stabenow, Peters, and Kildee Press Call

 

 

 

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