Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
Water resources infrastructure touches every American, from protecting homes against flooding to keeping goods moving through our ports and waterways. Every other year, Congress works to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that makes critical investments to strengthen these essential systems.
As a water-rich state, Arkansas depends heavily on the passage of WRDA. This week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure successfully voted to send this piece of legislation to the House Floor.
One thing I really stressed in this year’s WRDA legislation is access to recreation areas – especially at the Dardanelle Lock and Dam so that the Arkansans who enjoy fishing below that Lock and Dam can still have access, regardless of an ongoing Army Corps of Engineers project. This is an issue that has been raised countless times by constituents who enjoy recreating in that area and as a fellow outdoorsman, I consider it a great win to have been able to secure that provision in the bill.
Additionally, Arkansas' ports and inland waterways move billions of dollars in goods every year. We often don’t pay much notice to our transportation systems – especially those like the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) that moves approximately 11 million tons of cargo annually. But when we don’t invest in up-to-date maintenance for our waterways like the MKARNS, a large part of that 11 million tons ends up travelling across the state on our highways and interstates, creating more traffic and safety issues for commuters.
Through my proposed provisions in WRDA, the legislation will greatly benefit the MKARNS through increased efficiency requirements for inland waterway project management within the Corps, enhanced dredging coordination and beneficial use policies improving sediment management in navigable waterways, and improve contracting efficiency that accelerates navigation construction and maintenance.
This year’s WRDA package will deliver much-needed improvements to our locks and dams, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure that Arkansans depend on to function properly and efficiently.
Because each WRDA package reflects the infrastructure needs identified by individual communities across the country, it was great to see several priorities for Arkansas cross the finish line. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the Natural State as House Republicans craft commonsense, conservative legislation.
