Pressure continued to mount on the Senate last week to hold a vote on the “Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016” (S. 2848) as a coalition letter signed by 87 different business and municipal organizations calling for fast action on the bill was delivered to Capitol Hill. Organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers, AMWA was one of several water sector organizations to sign on.
“Without action, delays may continue to unnecessarily increase project costs and jeopardize the efficacy of critical flood control structures,” the letter argued. “Project delays increase the price of goods and services which depend on efficient, reliable, and cost effective water borne transportation.”
This latest letter was delivered to the Senate just a week after AMWA and 15 other water, local government and research organizations issued their own call for action on the WRDA legislation. According to the AMWA letter, the WRDA bill will help communities address problems posed by lead pipes while jumpstarting new water infrastructure funding assistance programs.
Senate leaders have not announced any formal timeline for consideration of the WRDA bill, but Senate staff have told AMWA that there remains a chance the bill could be brought to the floor before the Senate departs for its summer recess on July 15.