Gibbs Statement from Hearing on Implementation of WRRDA

WASHINGTON, DC – One year after the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) was enacted, the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the implementation of the current law.  WRRDA contained bipartisan reforms to the process of project studies, provisions related to private-public partnerships and new mechanisms for project authorizations.

In his opening statement at the hearing, Congressman Bob Gibbs said “One year ago, a strong bipartisan message was sent by Congress and the President with the enactment of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.  Congress made a conscious effort in WRRDA 2014 to enhance America’s competiveness by strengthening investments in the Nation’s water resources infrastructure, including ramping up Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund expenditures for their intended purposes.

Gibbs continued, “While the WRRDA law is transformative, and in some places complicated, we remain disappointed at the pace and the prioritization at which the Corps of Engineers is carrying out the drafting of the implementation guidance.  Today at the one-year anniversary of the enactment of WRRDA 2014, we would hope—and expect—the Corps would put more of a priority in writing the implementation guidance.  After all, WRRDA is the law of the land—it is not a suggestion for the Administration to casually disregard.”

The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and Congressman Gibbs will continue its oversight duties to ensure that the strong bipartisan reforms enacted in WRRDA are implemented fully by the Administration.

Full video of the committee hearing can be found here.

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