Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) secured several provisions that will advance Louisiana's flood control, ports, inland waterways, hurricane protection, coastal restoration and other infrastructure priorities in the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA). Graves, as a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is positioned to advance the Army Corps of Engineers' activities and projects at the local level so our communities, fisheries, ecosystem and economy are more resilient against hurricanes, storms and floods. Several amendments and other provisions in the final legislation were a result of Graves' efforts during the committee consideration.

The WRDA legislation also included the opportunity for the State to renegotiate the payment agreement for hurricane protection and flood prevention infrastructure formally known as the Hurricane Protection System (HPS). That project, which includes levees, floodwalls, gated structures and pump stations, was put in place following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to prevent future damages from flooding and major storms. Congressmen Graves, Scalise and Richmond secured the amendment when the WRDA legislation was marked up by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in July.

Graves Statement:

"This legislation comes on the tail-end of a hurricane season where Louisiana was threatened by seven major tropical storms or hurricanes – a reminder why it's critical that we continue pushing for stronger flood protection and projects to restore the coast and revitalize our economy.

"I was proud to offer a number of key provisions in this bill to improve our state's resilience – authoring provisions to lower payments for the Katrina-era Hurricane Protection System (which will save the state more than half a billion dollars), reengage the Corps in the management of the Louisiana Coastal Area ecosystem (restoring our coast), a transformational study of the Lower Mississippi River's management (other tools to manage water flows), as well as supporting the authorization to construct key local projects. These wins will ensure that the state is able to continue to invest in protecting our communities and restoring our coasts, and I want to thank Congressmen Scalise and Richmond, and Governor Edwards, for working collaboratively to support these opportunities for our state.

"This year too has shown just how important Louisiana's coastal and water future is for America's best interest and long-term economic competitiveness. Our ports and waterways are the vessels that connect dozens of states to global commerce, we take on the nation's water, and are the powerhouse for seafood and energy to the country. This bill advances Louisiana and our country, and I am looking forward to seeing the Senate amplify our needs before it is signed into law by President Trump."

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise Statement:

"Today the House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA), which includes important provisions I added that will strengthen flood protection for families and communities in Southeast Louisiana, and improve the navigation projects essential for the economic stability of Louisiana and America's maritime industry.

"Along with Members of our Congressional Delegation, I fought hard to secure reforms that protect Louisiana families from being forced to pay bloated tabs when critical flood protection and coastal restoration projects aren't delivered by the Army Corps of Engineers in a timely and affordable manner.

"I'm also proud to have secured authorizations for deepening Baptiste Collette, the Houma Navigation Canal, and Port Fourchon Belle Pass, all of which will enhance Louisiana's ability to move commerce on our waterways and strengthen our position as a leading export state and a top producer of our nation's oil and natural gas. Additionally, this year's WRDA authorizes a study for the Tangipahoa River that will produce necessary solutions for flooding in the region.

"An investment in Louisiana infrastructure is an investment in the American economy, and I'm glad Congress is supporting the infrastructure projects that are so important to our state and nation."

Additional statements from Louisiana stakeholders:

"Today's vote is a major win for the State of Louisiana. WRDA is incredibly important to Louisiana and final passage would provide meaningful relief from nearly $600 million in unfair interest accrual during a decade of delays in the construction of the HSDRRS system that protects five coastal parishes," said Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Chip Kline. "The House passing this bill today represents the culmination of years of coordination and collaboration with our congressional delegation, and I applaud their efforts to advance this critical legislation."

"The Houma Navigation Canal Deepening authorization is a feat that industry in South Louisiana has waited over two decades to achieve," said David Rabalais, Executive Director of the Terrebonne Port Commission. "An additional five feet of depth is critical in a very competitive market. Terrebonne Port's partnership with LADOTD along with the CORP's New Orleans District worked diligently for many years to get the study to DC. Once received, Louisiana's Congressional Delegation did an awesome job of getting the approvals needed for the study to be placed in the WRDA Bill. I especially want to thank Congressman Steve Scalise and Congressman Garrett Graves who both continued to push this project along even when it didn't look like we would get there."

Graves' Provisions Included:

• Section 403 – Authorizes construction of both the Houma Navigation Canal and a deepening project to enhance access to Port Fourchon and Bayou Lafourche (working with Congressman Steve Scalise).
• Section 202 – Directs the Corps to expedite flood protection recommendations for the Amite River watershed (most of the Capital Region) and Upper Barataria Basin coastal storm risk management project.
• Section 213 – Requires a plan for improved management of flood waters on the Lower Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau, MO to the Gulf). The provision directs the Corps to utilize all tools (floodways, outlets, reservoirs, locks, dams, etc.) to manage one of the largest watersheds in the world, which includes waters from 32 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
• Section 212 – Creates a federal-state taskforce to coordinate the investment of multiple agencies into the restoration of Louisiana's coast (similar to the Florida Everglades), as well as annual reports detailing progress.
• Section 351 – The language, offered by Graves during committee markup and improved upon following the passage of the bill, creates a path for renegotiating the accrual of interest for the New Orleans-area Hurricane Protection System (HPS), a major storm resilience win for South Louisiana. Renegotiating the agreements will help the State to commit savings to build flood protection and coastal restoration priorities. Some estimates indicate this could result in cost savings and investment of one billion dollars (working with Congressmen Steve Scalise and Cedric Richmond and Governor John Bel Edwards). The provision also includes a path for the state to pay its non-federal cost share in full without the accrual of interest.
• Section 128 – An amendment to ensure that the coastal and tidal waters of Louisiana are included in a program to detect, treat and ultimately eliminate the Gulf of Mexico dead zone caused by runoff from other states.
• Section 125 (d) – This section builds on a Graves-authored provision from the 2018 WRDA which allows the Corps to bundle dredging projects for cost and time savings. The project is expected to increase the efficiency of a major project to deepen the Mississippi River from the Gulf to Baton Rouge.
• Section 134– Expands upon current law to allow the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, parishes and our levee districts to lead Corps projects using federal funds when they can demonstrate cost and time savings.

Highlights of Graves' impacts on WRDA 2018 and WRDA 2016 can be found in the links, respectively.

WRDA, biennial legislation, is part of the president's broader infrastructure package but remains focused on water infrastructure projects, as compared to the recent highway funding bill passed by the U.S. House. The 2020 WRDA legislation authorizes 27 Corps feasibility studies and construction of 60 pending proposed projects with final Chief's Reports within the Corps Civil Works mission areas, including navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration.

More information about the WRDA legislation can be found here.