UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN GARY MILLER Proudly Serving California's 31st District

Washington, Oct 23, 2013 -  

Rep. Gary G. Miller (CA-31), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had the following remarks on today’s passage of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources, Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA).
 
“As a member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I am pleased the House passed legislation to support our nation's critical infrastructure. WRRDA’s passage is a vital step forward for our country’s economic development, especially for Inland Empire businesses and families. Eliminating red tape and improving America’s competitiveness in our nation’s ports and waterways is particularly significant for the Inland Empire, which relies heavily on the movement of goods for jobs and economic prosperity. This is exactly the type of bipartisan legislation Washington must continue to produce to expedite our economic recovery.”
 
WRRDA cuts federal red tape and bureaucracy, streamlines the project delivery process, promotes fiscal responsibility, and strengthens our water transportation networks to promote competitiveness, prosperity, and economic growth. The bill also improves environmental protections by consolidating or eliminating duplicative or unnecessary studies and requiring concurrent environmental reviews to increase efficiency, a reform that Congressman Miller has long championed.
 
Previous Water Resources Development Act projects have supported critical flood control infrastructure improvements along the Santa Ana River Mainstem, including the raising of the Prado Dam. Today’s bill will continue to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers’ key missions in order to preserve and protect our Nation’s vital waterway and flood protection infrastructure.