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Thu December 19, 2024

By Press Release

Politics State

Water Infrastructure Resources Bill Containing Boozman Provisions Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk

Water Infrastructure Resources Bill Senator John Boozman
Water Infrastructure Resources Bill Containing Boozman Provisions Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, applauded Senate passage of legislation to strengthen water resources in Arkansas and across the country. The measure has already passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

 The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) authorizes water and wastewater projects, invests in ports and inland waterways, and improves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) programs.

 “Reliable, efficient water infrastructure underpins our entire economy. It is incredibly important for Congress to come together in a bipartisan way to preserve and enhance it so our economy can grow and our quality of life continues to improve. I’m proud to have secured crucial support for projects in Arkansas that will impact communities across our state,” Boozman said.

 Several Boozman-authored provisions make key investments in Arkansas water infrastructure by:

  • Advancing the reallocation study for the Beaver Water District;
  • Modifying the federally authorized area of Osceola Harbor to manage the increased barge traffic, supporting the growth of the port and regional steel industry which significantly contribute to economic development in the region;
  • Prioritizing funding for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System to mitigate cost overruns with a cost-share adjustment. This would allow the nation to realize sizable economic returns, reduce the supply chain’s environmental footprint and address uncertainty in the global agricultural and energy markets;
  • Creating a comprehensive approach to managing the Lower Mississippi River and implementing restoration practices to support animal habitats in Arkansas and Tennessee;
  • Addressing levee safety guidelines under development and ensuring adherence to congressional intent;
  • Examining digital infrastructure and real-time data collection by authorizing a study on water distribution optimization;
  • Encouraging the Corps to reinvest recreation fees to improve facilities where the funds were collected to maintain facilities and provide quality recreational opportunities on our public lands; and
  • Reauthorizing the Economic Development Administration and its subsidiary, the Delta Regional Authority that strengthens economic opportunity in the eight-state Delta region, and establishing an Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience – a bipartisan initiative Boozman led to formalize the agency’s role in economic recovery efforts within communities impacted by natural disasters.
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