(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575), a bipartisan bill that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works mission areas for the next two years, which include projects on: navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection and ecosystem restoration.  A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) supported the legislation which passed with broad bipartisan support.

In April, Lamb co-led a bipartisan letter with Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) signed by 78 Members, including many from Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, advocating for an adjustment to the cost-share for inland navigation projects, which was included in H.R. 7575.  This policy change lays the groundwork for faster repairs to western Pennsylvania’s critical locks and dams.  Three inland navigation facilities in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project – the Emsworth, Dashields, and the Montgomery Locks and Dams – are at risk of catastrophic failure.  WRDA 2020 is vital to completing these long-overdue repairs and modernization efforts.

“This legislation is a major investment in jobs and infrastructure for our region.  We can finally rebuild our aging locks and dams system to protect and grow thousands of energy and manufacturing jobs in western PA,” said Lamb.  “This bill also ensures that we are better prepared for increased flooding and protects clean drinking water.”

In an additional letter to Committee leadership, Lamb fought for provisions which were included in H.R. 7575, to raise the funding authorization threshold for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address widespread problems specifically in rural and small communities pertaining to inadequate wastewater treatment, contaminated drinking water, and insufficient water supply.  The bill also allows for Beaver County to access these funds for the first time.

Click here to learn more about the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575) and visit Lamb’s website to see him speak on the House floor in support of the legislation.