Press Releases

Washington, DC—December 8, 2020….Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today supported the passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, which includes Third District priorities and will help strengthen ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs, and other water infrastructure. The legislation includes several Womack-supported provisions that will greatly benefit Arkansas, including the advancement of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) channel deepening project.

Congressman Womack said, “This year’s WRDA makes great investments in the Natural State’s water infrastructure. I was proud to work alongside the Arkansas delegation to help secure advancement of the MKARNS channel deepening project and ongoing levee modernization following last year’s severe storms. By increasing capacity of one of the region’s greatest economic assets and enhancing flooding resiliency, we are ensuring the longevity and protection of our navigational systems and communities.”

Womack-supported WRDA policies include provisions that:

• Advance the MKARNS 12-foot channel deepening project, a key priority that Womack has advocated for and helped secure. The completed project is expected to allow for an additional 630 tons per barge to be transported and estimated to save more than $43 million in annual shipping costs;
• Adjust the cost share for Inland Waterways System projects to help expedite the completion of ongoing and future projects;
• Increase flood resiliency by streamlining U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction authority for communities that experience continual flood loss; and
• Strengthen opportunities for the Corps to provide needed projects and feasibility studies in rural communities.

With nearly 80 percent of traded goods that Americans rely on being moved through our nation’s ports, harbors, and inland waterways, WRDA is essential legislation that focuses on strengthening America’s water infrastructure and resources. The comprehensive package is reauthorized every two years. The final version of the bill will now advance to the Senate for consideration.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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