[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12760-12761]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  WRDA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another important matter, from the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay to the inland waterways that are 
so important to Kentucky's maritime jobs, America's waterways play a 
crucial role in supporting the economy, transporting goods and people 
from point A to point B, and supplying communities with drinking water.
  As the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, 
Senator Inhofe understands just how critical our waterways are and the 
importance of maintaining them. That is why he has been working with 
Ranking Member Barbara Boxer to craft the bipartisan 2016 Water 
Resources Development Act, or WRDA.
  This responsible water resources bill authorizes more than two dozen 
Army Corps projects from the east coast to the west, and it is expected 
to save taxpayers $6 million over the next decade. It is also 
completely paid for. The projects authorized in this bill range from 
strengthening our waterways' infrastructure to helping support safe and 
reliable drinking water sources. They also invest in priorities each of 
us cares about, such as improving public health and safety, enhancing 
commerce, and supporting America's ecosystems. Here is what I mean: By 
investing in flood control projects, dam maintenance, and drinking 
water infrastructure, this bill will enhance public health and safety. 
By investing in ports, harbors, locks, and dams, it will strengthen 
commerce. By investing in restoration and revitalization projects, from 
the Florida Everglades to the Los Angeles River, it will support 
America's natural ecosystems.
  I am also pleased the bill supports several projects in Kentucky that 
are important to me, to my constituents, and to the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. One will transfer aging infrastructure along the Green and 
Barren Rivers in Kentucky over to State and local entities so they can 
determine the best use of this infrastructure. Another will help my 
constituents in Paducah better protect themselves from

[[Page 12761]]

flooding from the Ohio River by helping complete repairs to the city's 
flood protection infrastructure.
  The bill also includes an important coal ash provision that will give 
States the authority to create their own coal ash permitting 
requirements and systems to ensure that coal ash is recycled and reused 
in a safe and effective way in accordance with current EPA guidelines.
  To quote Senator Inhofe, the top Republican on the committee, this 
bill will ``support our communities and expand our economy.''
  To quote Senator Boxer, the top Democrat on the committee, it will 
provide ``a perfect vehicle to upgrade our water infrastructure.''
  I appreciate their work across the aisle to move this important water 
resources bill forward. Its passage will represent another bipartisan 
win for American transportation infrastructure. It is another example 
of what has been possible with a Senate that is back to work for the 
American people. I look forward to its passage later today, and I would 
encourage our House colleagues to take action soon so we can send the 
bill to the President.

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