Bustos Provisions To Modernize Area Locks And Dams Signed Into Law By President

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, key provisions of Congresswoman Cheri Bustos’ (IL-17) bipartisan legislation to help speed up needed repairs and upgrades to the aging locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers was signed into law by President Obama. 

“I’m elated that our bipartisan, common sense idea to help modernize our region's aging locks and dams is now the law of the land,” said Bustos, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a member of the WRRDA Conference Committee.  “I want to thank Senators Durbin and Kirk and Congressman Rodney Davis for joining with me in this bipartisan effort to save taxpayer dollars, create jobs and boost the economy of our region of Illinois.  Our success on this job-creating effort shows what it possible by putting politics aside, rolling up your sleeves and working across the aisle on real solutions that benefit the hardworking people of our state.”

In March 2013, Bustos joined with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act.  This bill would create a pilot program to explore agreements between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as alternatives to traditional financing, planning, design, and construction models.  Key provisions of this legislation were included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act that passed both houses of Congress earlier this spring and was signed into law by the President today.  This is the first water resources update in seven years. 

An op-ed from Bustos on her legislation can be found HERE and a floor speech can be found HERE.  

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