Senate Passes Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization
Measure Goes to White House for Anticpated Veto Showdown
The Senate on Monday approved the conference report reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act by an overwhelming 81-12 veto-proof margin. On August 1, the House of Representatives approved the measure by an overwhelming 381-40 margin.

The long-overdue measure, which AGC has strongly advocated, would authorize approximately $23 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects on navigation, flood control and environmental protection. Major waterways infrastructure projects authorized by the legislation include $1.9 billion for restoration of coastal Louisiana and $3.6 billion for projects on the upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway system.

In a move to address "Corps Reform" the bill would also establish an independent peer review process to oversee controversial corps projects with a cost over $45 million, or if the governor of an affected state requests it. The National Academy of Sciences or a similar organization would conduct the reviews.

The measure, which is suppose to pass every two years, has not been reauthorized since 2000.

Although President Bush has repeatedly said he will veto the bill, House and Senate leaders from both parties said they will override any veto.

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