May 15, the Senate agreed to a major piece of legislation that promises to have a significant impact on Mississippi’s ports and waterways.  The Water Resources Development Act is a substantial step forward in the construction and maintenance of critical water infrastructure projects across the country.

As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I have been actively involved in the bill’s process and am encouraged by its progress.  A Water Resources Development Act is long overdue, with Congress last passing an update in 2007.  The bill, which passed by a vote of 83 to 14, now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

From flood control to maintenance dredging, projects related to our country’s water resources are important to public safety and the financial livelihood of millions of Americans.  The expansion of the Panama Canal is a key reason why our ports must be competitive.  Larger cargo ships carrying more goods provide greater opportunities for trade, economic growth, and job creation.  Without modern ports, America misses the boat.

Dredging Needs

Deeper channels to accommodate larger ships are among the urgent challenges facing current port infrastructure.  To support the needed upgrades, the Water Resources Development Act would increase the amount of funds drawn from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.  The fund, which is supported by shippers’ fees and currently has a surplus, was established for port maintenance and dredging.  It should be fully utilized for its intended purpose.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has estimated that America’s busiest ports, including the Port of Pascagoula, are operating at their full capacity less than 35 percent of the time.  For other ports around the country, the situation is worse.  To help address this backlog, the legislation includes language to assist ports that have not been properly dredged in recent years.  Under current law, a lack of maintenance dredging creates an unfair cycle, hindering a port’s ability to secure future maintenance dredging.  Coastal ports, such as the State Port at Gulfport, have been disadvantaged as a result.

Other provisions I championed in the Water Resources Development Act would support dredging needs at Mississippi’s smaller inland ports, including Rosedale, Greenville, Vicksburg, Yazoo, and Claiborne.  During last year’s severe drought, we saw disruptions in commerce far and wide along the Mississippi River, raising prices on commodities and putting even greater financial burdens on American families and businesses.

Public Safety Goals

It is important to recognize the goals of the Water Resources Development Act go beyond economic growth and development.  The bill also seeks to improve the ways we protect our communities from extreme flooding.
Two years after record floods along the Mississippi, we remain thankful for the success of the Mississippi River & Tributaries Project.  Its flood-control mechanisms protected millions of lives, ultimately averting an even greater disaster.
For our coastal communities, the Water Resources Development Act would advance beneficial storm protection projects.  Many of these projects, developed after Hurricane Katrina under the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program, have been left unfinished for years.  Their completion would help create more resilient coastal communities and lower the risk of future hurricane and storm damage.

The overwhelming showing of bipartisan support in the Senate for passage of the Water Resources Development Act demonstrates the potential it has to make a real difference for all Americans. Keeping our water resources strong and competitive in today’s global market is a priority we must fulfill.

# # # #