House Transportation Panel Plans Water Bill
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Democratic leaders on the U.S. House transportation committee are proceeding with an update to the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA.
The legislation is meant to boost funding for ports and waterways, which proponents argue would improve freight movement nationwide.
Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) expressed optimism about the law’s potential benefits to the supply chain. During a hearing on Feb. 8, the chairman said, “We are starting the WRDA 2022 process at a critical time. The global pandemic and the surge in consumer demand have shown the vulnerability of our overburdened ports. We must be investing more in our nation’s ports and harbors in order to keep America competitive in the global economy.”
Watch Chair @RepPeterDeFazio’s opening statement on the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 and how Congress and the Corps will continue to meet the nation’s water infrastructure needs. pic.twitter.com/5P4A2VQF4c — Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (@TransportDems) February 8, 2022
The panel’s aim is to consider the legislation later this year, DeFazio added. “As we authorize new projects, the other side of that coin, as always, is ensuring that the [Army Corps of Engineers] has the funding necessary to complete the work. We all know of the $100 billion backlog of projects due to underfunding of the corps for decades,” he said.
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the subcommittee on water policy, pointed to areas in need of improvements. The water policy bill, if enacted, would approve billions of dollars for flood protection, port dredging and environmental protection. As she put it, “All of the projects and studies authorized in WRDAs need appropriated funds for communities to realize the full navigation, flood control, water supply and environmental benefits that these projects provide.”
The top Democrats also highlighted funding approved in the $1 trillion infrastructure law to upgrade ports, harbors and inland waterways. On the other side of the Capitol, senators kicked off consideration of their version of the water policy bill.
While Democratic transportation leaders pursue a new water bill, the top Republican on the transportation committee renewed calls for the White House to brief members of his caucus on supply chain matters.
The supply chain is a mess.
Our economy is in turmoil.
Transportation Committee Members haven’t heard yet from the Administration about how they’re going to fix this crisis.
That’s why I’ve asked the Administration to come and lay out a coherent plan. pic.twitter.com/Xkg3M78yTV — Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) February 4, 2022
Transportation Committee ranking member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) pressed John Porcari for an update on the White House’s efforts to facilitate the flow of freight across supply chains. Porcari is port envoy to the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, and Graves said he is seeking input on the task force’s collaboration with federal agencies. The ranking member also is focusing on the task force’s outreach to industry stakeholders, its projected timelines to improve supply chain woes, and the utilization of key transportation data.
“With rising inflation currently at 7% — a 39-year high — our economy is in turmoil. While the committee has heard from many entities about efforts to address bottlenecks in the supply chain, we have not heard directly from the [Biden] administration,” Graves wrote Porcari this month.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
“Public outreach and statements aside, our members need to know how you and the task force are working with the Department of Transportation to alleviate this crisis, while at the same time working to implement the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” added Graves. “Communication is critical to address these complex supply chain problems together; however, the committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has not received information on any of the task force’s efforts.”
Graves requested the briefing be held no later than Feb. 16. During Porcari’s tenure, the White House set up the task force to help private sector stakeholders alleviate freight bottlenecks. Those efforts have included dedicating $241 million in grants for ports to facilitate freight connectivity. The White House also points to supply chain-centric funding included in the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as a whole-of-government response to supply chain bottlenecks.
Graves recently sought a similar meeting with Mitch Landrieu pertaining to the infrastructure law’s implementation. Landrieu is a senior adviser at the White House as well as co-manager of the infrastructure implementation task force. The law’s implementation team includes members of the president’s Cabinet.
