Charleston Leader

Tuesday evening, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, along with Chairman Tom Carper, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, and Ranking Member Rick Larsen announced a final agreement on the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA).

“WRDA is the result of bipartisan cooperation and our shared desire to address the water resource challenges that our nation faces,” stated Ranking Member Capito. She highlighted that the bill "provides the tools that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to further enable their work across the country" and supports crucial projects in West Virginia communities.

The WRDA legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program for projects aimed at improving ports, harbors, inland waterways navigation, flood protection, and other aspects of water resources infrastructure. These projects are designed to deliver regional and national benefits by enhancing global competitiveness, supply chains, economic growth, and community protection from flooding.

The legislative agreement also includes measures to increase efficiency in federally-owned office space use and provisions for fiscal responsibility in highway funding through unspent Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program funds.

Additionally, it reauthorizes and modernizes the Economic Development Administration (EDA) alongside other regional commissions focused on spurring economic development in distressed areas.

Senator Capito emphasized her pride in reaching an agreement with House colleagues and expressed her intention to support the bill when it comes up for a vote.