Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Requests PDF Print

Dear Oregonian:

 

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is crafting a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).  WRDA is the comprehensive water resources law typically authorized every two years.  Specifically, WRDA authorizes studies and projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission areas including navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and environmental restoration.

 

On November 8, 2007, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-114) was enacted into law.  This law addressed a backlog of project authorizations, modifications, and studies that had accumulated since the law’s previous authorization in 2000.  It is now appropriate that Congress develop a Water Resources Development Act for the 111th Congress to address new project studies and authorizations that have arisen over the past two years.  Members are given an opportunity to request authorization for water projects and it is Committee policy that projects must be feasible and justified on the basis of Corps policy and regulation.  It is important to note that WRDA only authorizes projects; it does not provide any funding.

 

To ensure the water resources needs of Oregon's 4th Congressional District are addressed in this legislation, my office accepted requests for WRDA projects.  You can access a full list of my requests for WRDA projects by clicking on this sentence .  The requests are organized by alphabetical order.  These projects will improve and construct wastewater treatment facilities, protect our communities from flooding, and protect Oregon’s shores by rehabilitating our jetties and breakwaters.  These projects demonstrate the tremendous need in Oregon’s 4th Congressional district for funds to improve our water infrastructure.

 

To ensure transparency and accountability for WRDA project requests, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee established the following principles:

 

•Members are required to certify that neither the Member nor his or her spouse has any financial interest in a requested project;

•Members are required to post requests for projects on their  website;

•A list of all Member-designated projects that are included in the bill will be posted on the Committee website; and,

•A copy of all Member financial interest certifications for WRDA projects included in the bill will be posted on the Committee website.

 

It is important for Congress to fund needed projects in a fiscally responsible way.  The reforms implemented by the Democratically-controlled Congress to the earmark process will help this cause immensely. I will continue to advocate for full transparency, accountability, and restraint for congressional earmarks.

 

Sincerely,

Peter DeFazio

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