ASCE commends Congress on passage of WRRDA

Washington, D.C. — Randall (Randy) S. Over, P.E., F.ASCE, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), issued the following statement regarding final passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

“Today’s congressional passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) is a defining moment for the nation’s ports, inland waterways, dams, levees and clean water infrastructure. The bill will provide significant funding — $12.3 billion over 10 years — to modernize critical infrastructure while also promoting economic growth and job creation.

“ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure graded the nation’s ports a C, inland waterways a D-, dams a D, and levees a D-. Since the release of our 2013 Report Card, we’ve urged Congress to pass water resources legislation that would revitalize these languishing sectors. After seven years with no legislative action to modernize the nation’s water resources, this bill will definitively move the ball forward to help raise the grades on America’s infrastructure.

“ASCE applauds Congress for its decisive and bipartisan action in getting WRRDA over the finish line. This bill will ensure that our nation’s ports, waterways, dams and levees receive the funding they require so that the United States remains competitive in the 21st century. We look forward to the legislation being signed into law by the president in the coming days.”