Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020

Statement

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passage of S. 1811, the final Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA):

"This bipartisan legislation, which Congress has developed and passed on a biennial basis since 2014, is important to improving our ports, harbors, and waterways, as well as ecosystem restoration and flood mitigation in both rural and urban communities across our country, including in the Virgin Islands. The legislation is the result of House negotiations with the Senate.

"I applaud the House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020. This bill includes provisions to build more resilient communities; address affordability concerns for communities; unlock the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund; and see that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers carries out projects in an economically and environmentally responsible manner while keeping equity in mind.

"For the Virgin Islands, WRDA 2020 will help to recover our economy over the long-term, upgrade our water-related infrastructure and safeguard our environment. I was pleased to have a number of important provisions included for the Virgin Islands. This legislation:

1. Reauthorizes the federal projects for navigation in the harbors of St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie) and Christiansted. The reauthorization of these projects will provide the harbors access to federal resources for maintenance dredging, and improvements to navigational systems, which will allow them to accommodate more and larger cruise ships over the long-term, and thereby allow them to better compete in the competitive Caribbean market.

2. Authorizes construction of the Savan Gut Phase II and Turpentine Run projects for flood control on St. Thomas.

3. Requires the Army Corps to expedite the project for storm damage reduction and shoreline erosion protection at Bolongo Bay on St. Thomas.

4. Increases for inflation the cost share waiver eligibility of water resources development projects in U.S. territories.

"WRDA 2020 is a great example of common sense, bipartisan policy in action. Water infrastructure is essential to our daily operations, whether you live in downtown New York City or in the Virgin Islands. I've collaborated with my Transportation and Infrastructure Committee colleagues to put together a bill that moves critical water infrastructure projects forward, including in the Virgin Islands. I'm happy to see all of Congress working together on this bill to get it to President Trump's desk. I look forward to seeing it implemented across the country."

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