FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2014
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) joined President Barack Obama at the White House bill-signing ceremony for the Conference Report to H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development (WRRDA) Act of 2014. Congresswoman Edwards was a conferee to the WRRDA Conference Committee.
“The Water Resources Reform and Development Act is critical for the economic and environmental future of Maryland: creating jobs, meeting unmet water transportation infrastructure needs, and protecting our vital natural resources and public health. With the fourth longest coastline in the continental United States, this new law is important to our state. The Chesapeake Bay and several of its tributaries, including the Anacostia, Patuxent, Potomac, and Severn Rivers, flow through the Fourth Congressional District. It was an honor to serve as a conferee and to attend today’s signing ceremony at the White House.
“For Maryland specifically, the conference agreement includes over $2.1 billion in funding for projects including:
- Reauthorization of the 18-year-old Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration Program, in which the Army Corps of Engineers works to restore bay ecosystems;
- Reauthorization for the Poplar Island Expansion;
- Restoration of the 75-25 cost-sharing for Poplar Island Expansion;
- Authorization of Mid-Bay Islands;
- Full access to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to allow necessary dredging of the Port of Baltimore.
“While I would have preferred that the environmental provisions in the conference report were not included, I believe the final product was improved significantly. The conferees ensured the public will still be able to participate effectively as part of the NEPA process on water projects that have a profound effect on their health, safety, and well-being. This law also reauthorizes the State Revolving Fund for the first time since 1987 and includes innovative financing of water infrastructure projects. As part of both programs, I am proud to say that we will for the first time consider an idea that I have championed: the use of innovative, green, and low impact technologies. These types of projects are usually less expensive, require less operations and maintenance, and reduce risk. I thank President Obama, and congratulate Chairmen Boxer and Shuster and Ranking Members Vitter and Rahall on enactment of this important law.”
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