I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016.

In 2014, Congress overhauled the water resources development process to increase oversight, reduce onerous bureaucracy, incorporate greater local participation in projects, and bring much-needed improvements to our nation’s water infrastructure. This bill is a continuation of this important process, authorizing the Army Core of Engineers to begin 27 new water projects and to start conducting feasibility studies on an additional 29 projects.

The bill also makes important reforms to the project authorization process to increase congressional oversight and maximize public input. Under the bill the Army Corps of Engineers must ensure that adequate support and educational resources are provided to applicants applying for consideration for water projects. It also requires the Corps to develop an electronic system for tracking key information and data. An amendment I supported also reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is aimed at protecting and improving the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Returning to a two-year authorization cycle for water infrastructure projects will ensure that a predictable and productive process is in place to upgrade and maintain our nation’s harbors and waterways. This bill lays out a fiscally responsible and fully offset approach for making continued investments in our infrastructure and the reforms made by this bill will continue to make it easier for the Port of Oswego to apply for and receive support from the Army Corps of Engineers.

This legislation was approved by a vote of 399-25.