TAKE ACTION: Urge Senate to Pass WRDA NOW

Next week, the Senate will consider passage of S. 601 – the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA). If passed, WRDA will help provide funding to address our nation’s aging navigational system of inland waterways, coastal harbors and ports, locks and dams, and flood control protections. It will also provide funding for the restoration of many critical environmental areas in our country. Take action NOW and urge your senators to pass WRDA. The bill’s project authorization process will modernize and quicken the approval process for these critical project investments.  In addition, further leveraging government funds for water infrastructure projects through the bill’s innovative financing pilot project program can help our nation meet its water infrastructure improvement needs. The bill also includes a commitment to help ensure that the nation’s harbor and port navigation channels are fully maintained by expending Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund revenues for their authorized and intended purpose. AGC continues to actively engage Congress on this important piece of legislation. This week, AGC helped lead multiple coalition efforts to press for WRDA passage. On April 29, AGC and 50 of its chapters joined a total of 168 organizations—comprised of construction industry associations, labor unions, and farm groups, among others—in a letter supporting Senate passage of the WRDA bill. The AGC co-chaired Transportation Construction Coalition and Water Resources Coalition also plan to send letters to the Senate urging passage of WRDA. In addition to these efforts, AGC members from across the country stormed Capitol Hill to press for WRDA passage in conjunction with AGC’s Federal Contractors Conference last week in Washington, D.C. Your contractor voice is essential to highlight the importance of WRDA reauthorization. Again, NOW is the time to take action and urge your senators to pass WRDA. For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at 703-837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.