House Transportation and Infrastructure Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) delivered the following opening statement during today's hearing titled, "Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2022: Administration Priorities:"
I am pleased that our first hearing of the year is on the development of further legislation to benefit our nation's economy, its environment, and the well-being of communities in every one of our congressional districts.
Today, we will begin the development of a new Water Resources Development Act for 2022, also known as WRDA, and I am pleased we will start with hearing from the Biden administration and the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers.
This committee, on a bipartisan basis, has now completed work on four consecutive WRDAs since 2014. Today's hearing marks the beginning of our work on the fifth WRDA in a row.
This committee has been successful in enacting a WRDA every two years because our members recognize how critical the Corps' work is to meeting the unique water resource needs of our communities.
Through biennial enactment of WRDA legislation, this committee has addressed local, regional, and national needs through authorization of new Corps projects, studies, and policies that benefit every corner of the nation.
However, all of the projects and studies authorized in WRDAs need appropriated funds for communities to realize the full navigation, flood control, and environmental benefits these projects provide.
Last year, the Congress approved, and the president signed into law, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This critical legislation provides $17.1 billion to the Corps to address the backlog of vital construction and operation and maintenance activities on projects throughout the nation.
Additionally, the Jobs Act follows the Biden administration's Fiscal Year 2022 budget request--which I remind my colleagues, was the largest single budget request for the Corps in its history.
I was pleased that the Biden administration recommended sufficient funds to complete a dam safety project at Whittier Narrows in my district and I trust and hope that Corps will keep that in mind as it develops a spend plan for funds from the Jobs Act.
The combined funding from Jobs Act and annual appropriations and emergency supplemental bills is historic by any definition. This funding will allow for a game-changing, once-in-a-generation investment in our critical water resources infrastructure.
This critical funding will enable the Corps to carry out authorized projects across the country, which will finally help communities to address local flooding needs, will ensure sustainable and predictable water supply needs for arid regions, and will help to restore our nation's environmental treasures.
In addition, we have all seen the impact that COVID-19 has had on our economy and supply chains. These investments will advance projects, especially dredging, in our coastal ports and inland waterways that are so critical to our economy. These projects will make it easier for American businesses to export their goods around the world and fuel our economy for the future.
I am very pleased to have the top leadership for the Army Corps of Engineers before the committee today. Both Assistant Secretary Connor and Lieutenant General Spellmon bring years of experience and knowledge in managing the nation's water resources needs.
I welcome you here today and look forward to hearing from you on priorities we should consider for the next WRDA, plans you have for the historic funding included in the Jobs Act, and updates on implementing policies from previous WRDAs, including one that I authored to review adding water supply to your core mission areas.
The committee also thanks you for transmitting the annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development for 2021 or 7001 report this past November. These statutorily required reports help us as we seek to authorize studies and projects in WRDAs. I hope that you will both commit today that the 2022 Report will be submitted to Congress on time at the beginning of February of this year.
As I said earlier, this is our first hearing on WRDA '22 and our subcommittee plans to hear additional perspectives in the weeks and months to come. I strongly encourage every member and their staff to work with their local Corps district to learn about projects in their communities.
I am fully committed to continuing our track record and completing another bipartisan WRDA and I value and appreciate the cooperation of the Ranking Member and your staff.
At this time, I am pleased to yield to my colleague, the Ranking Member of our subcommittee, Mr. Rouzer, for any thoughts he may have.