Legislation authorizing new Army Corps of Engineers projects—and funds to upgrade the Flint, Mich., lead-tainted water system—has advanced on Capitol Hill with the House’s strong approval of a new water resources measure.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which the House passed by a convincing 399-25 vote on Sept. 28, authorizes about $9 billion for 31 Corps flood protection, harbor dredging, environmental restoration and other projects that received favorable reports from the Army’s Chief of Engineers.
接下来的众议院措施必须通过95-3票的投票来调和参议院于9月15日通过的更广泛的法案。这两个账单的军团项目清单几乎相同。新利18备用网址但是，最棘手的问题是，众议院是否至少接受参议院版本的一些规定，授权了数十亿美元的环境保护局饮用水和废水处理计划。
众议院比尔（Bill）唯一的非corps资金提供的弗林特（Flint）饮用水为1.7亿美元，而两党的第11小时进行了艰难，十一小时的谈判才能使该语言进入该措施。参议院法案包括1.7亿美元，但也包括额外的饮用水提供。
Mark W. Woodson, American Society of Civil Engineers president, said in a statement that the final bill must include such items as the Senate measure’s new trust fund for wastewater treatment projects. That isn’t in the House version.
尽管本月的WRDA行动发生了爆发，但基础设施的拥护者仍必须等到众议院大会大会之后才能正式召集。国会将在第二天或两天内休息，直到11月8日大选。但是，众议院和参议院工作人员在休会期间开会进行一些会议前讨论就不足为奇了。
Engineering and construction industry groups, unsurprisingly, praised the House’s strong vote for what is one of the most important infrastructure measures in the current Congress.
但是，他们知道，WRDA法案中的授权也受年度拨款。过去WRD新利18备用网址A中授权的许多项目仍然缺乏拨款。
不过,众议院的投票是一个明确的进步的迹象ss. Lawmakers and industry organizations pointed out that, if a WRDA becomes law this year, it would mark a return to a past practice of biennial water resources measures. The last WRDA was signed in 2014, but the previous one became law in 2007.
The House bill’s prime architect, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), said in a statement, “Enacting a WRDA bill every two years is essential to maintaining an efficient transportation system, moving commerce effectively and promoting economic growth throughout the country.”
Major waterways and industrial groups also hailed the port and river projects contained in the new WRDA. Waterways Council Inc. noted three projects it sees as priorities are in the House and Senate WRDAs: river lock modifications in Louisiana; a harbor dredging in Texas; and a study of expanded locks on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh.
美国铁与钢铁学院总裁兼首席执行官托马斯·吉布森（Thomas J.
