Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (TN-04) today voted in favor of H.R. 3080: The Water Resources Reform & Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA). This legislation will provide important financial resources for repairs to the Chickamauga Lock by prioritizing water infrastructure spending and reforming the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. WRRDA passed the House 412-4.

“It is important that we fund and maintain critical infrastructure like the Chickamauga Lock,” said Congressman DesJarlais. “Not only is maintaining Tennessee’s waterways important for our state, it is important for the overall health of our nation’s economy. The federal budget is rife with reckless government spending. Rather than continuing to waste taxpayer dollars on unnecessary bureaucracy, we should prioritize our spending so that we are only funding projects that provide a good return on our investment. Today’s legislation is a step in that direction.”

WRRDA 2014 Highlights

The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 is one of the most policy and reform focused measures of its kind in the last two decades.  WRRDA streamlines the project delivery process, promotes fiscal responsibility, and strengthens our water transportation networks to promote competitiveness, prosperity, and economic growth.  WRRDA contains no earmarks and makes major reforms to increase transparency, accountability, and Congressional oversight in reviewing and prioritizing future water resources development activities.

Fiscally Responsible

·         Deauthorizes $18 billion of old, inactive projects that were authorized prior to WRDA 2007

·         More than fully offsets authorizations with deauthorizations

·         Sunsets new authorizations to prevent future project backlogs

·         Reduces the inventory of properties that are not needed for the missions of the Corps

Increases Flexibility for Non-Federal Interests and Leverages Private Sector Investments to Multiply the Effect of Federal Funding

·         Maximizes the ability of non-federal interests to contribute their own funds to move studies and projects forward

·         Expands the ability of non-federal interests to contribute funds to expedite the evaluation and processing of permits

·         Establishes a Water Infrastructure Public Private Partnership Program and new options to expand the local role in project implementation

·         Creates innovative methods to invest in and finance water resources infrastructure and municipal drinking water and wastewater needs

Improves Competitiveness, Creates Jobs, and Strengthens Water Resources Infrastructure

·         Authorizes needed investment in America’s ports, strengthens ports that move the majority of the Nation’s commerce, and ensures equity for those ports that contribute the most to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund

·         Reforms and preserves the Inland Waterways Trust Fund

·         Authorizes priority water resources infrastructure improvements recommended to Congress by the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to improve navigation and commerce and address flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction,           and environmental restoration needs