WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today voted to advance a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 16, 2022. Among other provisions, the short-term funding bill would provide $20 million to support the City of Jackson.

The legislation moved forward in the Senate after Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., pulled his controversial “permitting reform” provisions from consideration. The provisions had been advanced as part of a deal Manchin made with Senate Democratic leadership, but were strongly opposed by many Republicans.

“Senator Manchin’s backroom deal on ‘permitting reform’ paved the way for Democrats to pass a disastrous tax and spending bill, but he thought he could ask Republicans to help him complete the arrangement. Republicans stood strong and let Senate leadership know that they would not support a fatally-flawed proposal that would have created new regulatory risks for traditional power and further undermined our energy independence. Senate Democrats were forced to accept reality and withdraw this counterproductive proposal,” Wicker said.

After voting to advance the continuing resolution, Wicker shared his support for provisions in the package that would provide $20 million to support Jackson’s water infrastructure.

“I support providing additional resources to help the city of Jackson address its water infrastructure needs. The $20 million included in this funding legislation would build on the initial $5 million provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers earlier this year through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I recognize this funding will not be enough to address the long-standing water infrastructure issues in Jackson, but this is a good start.”

The 2007 Water Resources Development Act authorized $25 million for the City of Jackson’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs. This authorization was provided through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Program. The city received an initial $5 million appropriation from that authorization earlier this year, which will enable the Corps of Engineers to complete projects in partnership with the city.