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Water Resources Bill Advances in House, Includes Additional Graves Priorities

Washington, DC, July 2, 2024

U.S. Congressman Graves (South Louisiana) issued the following statement in response to the passage of H.R. 8812 – the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) in the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The WRDA bill addresses important issues such as hurricane protection, coastal restoration, flood control, as well as ports and navigation. The legislation advanced out of committee with strong bipartisan support and includes key provisions that are particularly vital for Louisiana’s public safety and environment.

“The importance of WRDA to Louisiana cannot be overstated – our state has so much water, drains so much of the United States, is experiencing record coastal land loss, and has five of the top ports in the nation. This legislation is critical to Louisiana, and the entire nation,” said Congressman Graves. “Its passage demonstrates our commitment to bolstering resilience through strategic water infrastructure investments – which is essential for flood control, hurricane protection, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and economic growth. I’m proud to support this bill and look forward to seeing its positive impact in South Louisiana.”

In addition to numerous provisions Graves secured in the base text of the legislation, the committee accepted six amendments he supported:

  • Puts the Larose to Golden Meadow hurricane protection system on track to reenter the federal levee program – helping with insurance rates and federal funding
  • Creates a new parish-wide flood protection program for Livingston Parish
  • Reduces cost for the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District and State of Louisiana by an estimated $100 million on the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection Project in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes
  • Expedites cost savings measures for Jefferson and Orleans Parishes related to the Southeast Louisiana (SELA) Urban Flood Control project
  • Algiers Canal Levee: confirming (yet again) that the federal government is responsible for all costs associated with the project (U.S. Congressman Troy Carter led amendment)
  • Helps to reduce conflict and reduce costs related to land acquisition for coastal restoration projects